Best Pets for Apartments – Plenty of Choice

There’s nothing like the joy of owning a pet. If you don’t have a lot of space, you needn’t miss out. From cute and cuddly to active or lazy, here’s our guide to the best pets for apartments.

And if we haven’t nailed it for you in this article why not head over to part two, where we cover off the lowest maintenance pets for apartments.

What to consider first with the best pets for apartments

Pets can have a positive impact on our mental and physical health, and usually become a much-loved part of the family. But it’s important to find the right pet to suit your lifestyle. Apartment living will not suit all animals, so ask yourself a few questions before you decide on your newest family member.  

How much time do you have?

It’s important to think realistically about how much time you can commit to caring for your pet each day. Most dogs in apartments will require daily or even twice daily exercise depending on the breed, whereas animals like fish and birds are lower maintenance.

The key to happy pet ownership is finding a pet you realistically have time to care for. A cranky pet does no one any good!

How much space do you have?

The size of your apartment will help to determine what type of pet you should get. If you live in a cosy studio apartment, a small dog might be ideal, but you might not be able to fit a bird cage, reptile tank or a larger breed of dog.

Indoor cats enjoy scratching posts and climbing equipment, so consider whether you have space for those. As well as the kitty litter, of course.

Every pet also needs its own space to escape to. This could be simply a pet bed or something more elaborate – what can your apartment accommodate?

DOGS: Best pets for apartments

If it’s a loyal best mate you want, it’s hard to go past a dog. They are wonderful company and can get out and about to enjoy the wide world with you. Dogs are a big commitment, however, especially in an apartment where they’ll need to be taken for regular toilet and exercise breaks.

They are social creatures and are not suited to long periods of time left alone. There are services for dog walking and doggy day care, which can be a big help for people working full time. Of course, some breeds are better suited to apartments than others.

Here’s just a few good options:

Cavoodles

A cross between a cavalier King Charles spaniel and a poodle, the Cavoodle makes a gentle, fun-loving pet. Their wool-like coat is non-shedding – ideal in smaller living spaces – but does require clipping around three times a year.

Cavoodles range in size from 8-12kg, and like most ‘oodles’ are gentle, affectionate and love to snuggle on the couch. These cute pets need daily or twice daily exercise and be sure to purchase ethically. Read about ethical dog breeders here.

Border Terriers

Unlike many terriers, border terriers are known to be obedient, easy to train and gentle-natured. They’re a small to medium-sized breed and are not big barkers so won’t drive your neighbours mad.

A border terrier will need twice daily exercise and they thrive off the company of their chosen humans so are not suited to being left alone for hours. Their scruffy coat is not only totally adorable but also low-maintenance – they don’t shed much and don’t require regular grooming.

Greyhounds

This may surprise you given their large size, but greyhounds make excellent apartment pets. Despite being bred for speed they are placid, even lazy, dogs that are most happy when playing lounge lizard while you binge on Netflix.

Read about retired greyhounds adoption in NZ and you might be convinced to give one a wonderful life.

They will require a daily walk and toilet outings, and their cumbersome size means they might not be suited to tiny apartments. Adopting an adult greyhound is not only a terrific way to give a dog another chance at a happy life, but means you can bypass the high maintenance puppy phase.

CATS: Best pets for apartments

When it comes to cuddly and cute pets for apartments, cats are an obvious choice. Easier to care for than a dog, they make affectionate and quiet pets.

And, while some are more than happy to spend the day hanging out by themselves, some do need a higher level of daily affection and play.

There are naturally clean animals that bathe often and are easy to toilet train (especially if you read our cat litter box training article). Excellent qualities in any roommate. Just be aware you’ll need to make room for kitty litter, and if you don’t want the smell to waft through you’ll need to clean it often.

Like dogs, some breeds of cats are especially well-suited to smaller living spaces. Let’s take a look:

Persians

Curiosity won’t get this fluff-ball into too much trouble because they’d much prefer to nap than get into mischief exploring. What’s more, they adore meeting new friends so are perfect for the apartment-living socialite.

If you’re an allergy-sufferer however, you may want to consider a different breed. Persians are known for their long, luxurious coat and will need grooming on the reg.

Burmese

It might be said that one of the highest praises for a cat is the phrase ‘it’s just like a dog’. That’s certainly true of Burmese. They are curious, playful and affectionate cats that like engaging with their human-folk more than many other breeds.

Burmese are medium-sized cats with short, glossy coats. They love to climb and scratch, so a cat climbing gym would be an excellent addition to your apartment to enrich their lives (and help save your couch from clawing).

Maine Coons

Ever wanted to take your cute pet cat for a walk on a leash? Well, this large breed might be for you. Maine Coons are easy-going, socialites who love spending time with their humans – even outdoors.

They’re also less demanding than other breeds, and enjoy some alone time. Purrfect for pet parents with hectic schedules. A few toys and access to a window to watch the world go by will keep them entertained for hours.

Read about the Maine Coon personality and more here.

Ragdolls

Bred to be mega chillers, the Ragdoll Cat is perfect for unit-dwellers (so too, the Exotic Shorthair cat). As the name implies, these funny and cute pets literally go floppy when picked up. They are hugely charismatic cats and a wonderful choice if you want a real snuggle bug of a pet.

Ragdolls are known to follow their owners around adoringly, just like a dog. They are a largish cat with medium to long hair that will shed, so that’s something to keep in mind.

Rescued moggies

Why not save a cat’s life, and adopt your feline friend from a shelter? You could find yourself with your very own Garfield. Your lasagne-loving tabby will be curious, clever and full of personality. He’ll be a professional bird-watcher, foodie and film critic who loves snuggling on the sofa watching Netflix with you.

Keep him entertained with an enclosed netted space on your outdoor deck, with a climbing and scratching tree, equipped with a range of feathery wands, and he’ll reward you with lots of purry lap time and film-worthy outrageous antics.

Importantly – be sure to ask the shelter which they think will be more suitable for an apartment, as well as any quirks they may have, or feline BFFs they want to stay with.

Need even lower maintenance?

You might have read this article and thought ‘hmmmm maybe I need something even easier to take care of’. No worries, we have you covered – see our article on the lowest maintenance pets for apartments.

Protecting your best pet’s apartment living situation

As you can see, living in an apartment shouldn’t put you off becoming a pet parent and at PD Insurance we want your pet to live a long, happy life. If the unthinkable happens and you have unexpected vet bills, our pet insurance will protect your cute pet (and your pocket) against all kind of medical mishaps. Why not get a quick quote? It’ll only take a few minutes.