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Some animals
need space to roam. Others will be fine in a cozy apartment. As
you try to decide what kind of animal you want, look around and
figure out how much room you have for your new pet. Here are
some guidelines to help you.
For pets in
general
Before you
adopt any pet, try to find out how big the animal is going to be
as an adult. Just like people, all pets grow up. Make sure you
have enough room for your pet, its bed, tank/cage, litter box,
food bowls and toys.
If you live in
a tiny house or a one-room apartment, you might consider
adopting a gerbil, hamster or fish. No matter how small your
living space, one of these pets can live happily in a cage or
tank.
For cats and
dogs
If you live
alone and you plan to adopt a cat/dog, make sure you have room
to live with your new companion. This generally means that you
will need at least two rooms of living space. As with most
roommates, sometimes you will both want to share the same room,
and sometimes you will not.
For cats
Before you
adopt a cat for your one-room apartment, consider whether you
are willing to have him inside with you all day and whether you
are willing to accept the risks of letting your cat roam around
outside. Cats who live in urban or heavily developed suburban
areas should not spend nights or whole days outside. They run
too great a risk of being exposed to deadly diseases such as
feline leukemia, feline infectious peritonitis, and the feline
version of HIV - which is extremely contagious to cats). In
addition, your cat could get picked on by larger neighborhood
bullies or might even be stolen.
For dogs
Conventional
wisdom says that you should not have a dog, especially a big
one, if you live in a small apartment. Generally speaking,
conventional wisdom is right. If you live in a small space and
want to adopt a pet, think first about getting a small, quiet
animal. Big dogs love space to roam and run, and yours will pine
for the outdoors if he is cooped up. He will also bark
constantly. A dog cooped up in a small apartment is likely to
growl and yelp at every rustle and thump in the rooms next door
and at every person who walks by on the street. It is part of
the animal's protective instinct. Do not create a situation
where you and your dog will be uncomfortable.
If you still
want to adopt a dog and live in the city, and you meet the basic
requirement of living in an apartment that is big enough for a
dog, be sure to check out the parks nearby. You will need to
find a park that you like and that is close enough to your home
so that your dog can have a walk there on a regular basis. Some
parks even have fenced-in areas where dog owners can let their
pets run. This is an ideal park for your dog to get exercise and
find playmates.
If you're sure
you want a dog in the city, consider adopting a working dog.
These dogs are generally intelligent, calm, and bred to follow
direction. They are used to dealing with people and they are
less likely to shy away from all the bustle and noise of the
city. They also will be smart enough to understand that they
need to travel on a short leash, which means that they will be
less likely to tug you out into traffic.
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