Renting an apartment as an animal-lover can be a real challenge sometimes! Apartments are often small spaces that are generally not well-suited to animal life, but when you want a place of your own and a buddy to share it with, you can make it work. When you rent with pets, it comes with a few extra steps. You will often have to find a landlord who is comfortable allowing pets on their property, and you will have to go out of your way to ensure that the products you buy for your pet will keep them entertained in your apartment without damaging your space. It may seem difficult, but it's not an impossible task.

Cats

  • Ten Tips to Keep Your Cat Happy Indoors: The United States Humane Society has created a list of tips for cat owners on how to keep a cat healthy and satisfy their stalking instinct indoors. 
  • Making Your Home Cat-Friendly: This article discusses ways to make your home or apartment cat-friendly so both your home and your cat are happy and well cared for. 
  • How to Keep Indoor Cats Happy in Small Apartments: No matter how big of a space you have, cats are incredibly adaptable! There are plenty of tips and tricks you can use at your place to satisfy your cats' needs while still being in compliance with your lease. 
  • Feline Care Tips in Your Apartment: If you're considering getting a cat when you move into your new apartment, this page offers a list of items you'll need to keep them busy and happy. You should consider where you will put all of these items before you purchase your new pet. 
  • Keeping Your Cat Happy Indoors: Cats love to explore the outdoors, but when you live in an apartment, letting them spend time outside isn't always feasible. Luckily, it doesn't take too much effort to keep them safe inside while still keeping them happy and entertained. 

Dogs

  • Best Dogs for Apartments: The American Kennel Club has put together a database of dogs that are good for apartment living. You can compare breeds so you can be sure that whatever dog you add to your family will be the perfect fit for your home. 
  • Do's and Don'ts for Keeping a Pet in Your Apartment: It's hard to find the perfect apartment for your home and pet, but if you keep in mind this list of do's and don'ts, you can make it easier. That way, you, your dog, and your landlord will all be happy. 
  • Tips and Tricks for Raising a Dog in an Apartment: It's true that apartment living doesn't exactly lend itself well to having a dog, since they have a lot of energy and need to be taken out for walks, not to mention that if you aren't home all day, it can be difficult to give them the exercise they need. This guide covers all the do's and don'ts of buying a dog when you live in an apartment. 
  • Tips for Canine Apartment Life: Many apartment dwellers are choosing to buy dogs as companions, and while it's an adjustment, many canine companions are able to adapt well to apartment life. It may take some time to find the perfect dog and the perfect spot to live, but with a little ingenuity, you can find the perfect place that you and your dog will enjoy for years to come. 

Reptiles

  • Are Reptiles Allowed in Apartments? When people search for apartments, there are plenty of mentions of whether dogs and cats are allowed, but there's rarely a note on whether or not reptiles are welcome. This page goes into detail about what to look for in lease agreements to determine whether or not reptiles are accepted. 
  • Tips on Renting With Herps: If you have reptiles or amphibians and you are looking for an apartment, this article discusses how to choose an apartment that allows your pets. 
  • Unique Apartment Pets: Reptiles: Reptiles are ideal apartment pets due to their size, habitats, and relatively simple care routines. If you are planning to rent an apartment and are considering a pet, this page goes into the pros and cons of reptiles and which reptiles to choose for beginners. 
  • Seven Things to Know About Moving With Reptiles: Moving with a pet can be a difficult experience, but this page has put together some key suggestions for moving with reptiles to ensure that your little buddies are kept safe and happy for the duration of the move. 

Fish

  • Considerations for Placing a Fish Tank in an Apartment: Fish are relatively easy pets for apartment living, but if you have anything more than a small fishbowl, you may need to consider if your apartment can handle a large tank. 
  • Best Pet Fish for Apartments: While most fish are low-maintenance, some require special care and food, so if you're considering purchasing fish, you should think about what kind of supplies you'll need to properly care for that fish and if it is doable in your apartment. 
  • Apartment Aquariums: No matter what kind of fish you are considering getting, they'll need a place to live just like you do! A fishbowl is a good choice. but not always the best one for certain types of fish. This page gives an overview of which aquariums are generally suggested for apartments. 
  • Apartment Aquarium Guide: Adding an aquarium to your home is a great way to make your apartment look nice as well as give yourself some companions that are easy to care for. 
  • The Pros and Cons of Mini Aquariums: Fish are great pets, but it's important to research what kind of aquarium you'll need and how to set it up and care for it to ensure that your fish live long and satisfying lives. 

Other Small Pets

  • Are Small, Caged Pets Allowed in Apartments? This complete guide covers caged pets and how they are usually handled in apartment leases. Animals like gerbils and hamsters are relatively small, easy to care for, and don't usually create a mess, so landlords are usually more likely to allow them. 
  • What's the Best Pet for a Small Apartment or Flat? This list covers a wide variety of small animals that you may not have thought about that can be perfect for apartment living. 
  • Are Birds Allowed in Apartments? Learn about the rules and regulations for having birds in apartments. 
  • Four Quiet Bird Breeds for Apartment Living: Birds can be rather loud and social creatures, which is fun if you hate a quiet home, but it isn't always conducive to apartment living. This article lists several birds that aren't as noisy as others, which could make them ideal choices for living in cramped quarters with a lot of other people. 
  • Are Ferrets Good Apartment Pets? While dogs and cats may be the go-to choices for pet owners, ferrets can be surprisingly good pets. They are just as cuddly as cats and dogs but are smaller and much quieter, which can make them ideal for apartment living. 
  • Birds and Small Apartments Can Work: Don't discount birds just because they are louder than other pets. Birds can be great pets for an apartment if you follow these tips. 
  • Keeping Ferrets as Pets: Ferrets are incredibly small, clean, and easy to care for. If you plan to rent an apartment and would like a quiet pet that is a great companion, a ferret might be the right choice for you! 
  • Best Parrots for Apartments: Not all parrots are loud and chaotic; some are just as quiet as other animals, which makes them ideal choices for pets in apartments, especially apartments where sound can easily travel between units. 
  • Apartment Rental With Guinea Pigs: Guinea pigs make great apartment pets because they are small, don't take up much space, and are relatively clean, so they don't smell. However, keep in mind that some landlords aren't as comfortable with guinea pigs in their apartment units. so you should mention them before signing your lease agreement.