Cats, rabbits and dogs have pros and cons when it comes to apartment life
By Kim Campbell Thornton
Andrews McMeel Syndication
Last week we discussed some of the best pets for apartment life. But not everyone loves reptiles or pocket pets. Here’s what to know about some more common apartment denizens.
Cats have a lot going for them as apartment pets -- they’re small and generally quiet, have plenty of purr-sonality, and come in a range of coat types from furry to chamois-smooth. But they’re not as easy-care as you might think.
Consider litter box placement (it’s best to have one per cat, plus one extra); whether you can provide vertical play space, such as a tall cat tree in front of a window or climbing shelves attached to the wall that give cats a room with a view; and the potential for damage. Scratching is natural for cats, and without proper scratching outlets and training to use them (no squirt bottles or tossed cans, please), they can destroy furniture, curtains and carpets. Cats need play, attention and companionship to be happy, and they can start spraying urine to relieve stress or stop using their litter boxes to express displeasure. Understand a cat’s physical, mental and emotional needs before committing to one.
Rabbits, too, have a reputation as low-maintenance pets, but that’s far from the truth. They should live indoors in a large cage or pen containing food, water and a litter box filled with paper pellets and layers of fresh hay, all of which is changed daily, rather than scooped like a cat’s litter box.
Bunnies should be spayed or neutered to help prevent problem behaviors such as aggression or urine spraying. And they can be destructive chewers when not provided with interesting, tough chew toys or safe branches to meet their natural need to gnaw. You’ll need to protect electric cords, furniture legs, baseboards and carpet corners from bunny chompers -- which need regular veterinary care to keep them from overgrowing -- as well as those powerful paws, equipped with tough toenails, which are great at digging. Pet rabbits should have a box, mat or other area where it’s OK to scratch and dig.
Rabbits need daily playtime and attention outside their living quarters in a rabbit-proofed room. An outdoor play area is nice, too, as long as bunnies are supervised and safe from predators such as cats, dogs or raptors and corvids. Rabbits are usually quiet, but bored bunnies can thump and rattle loudly. They are social and will enjoy another bunny playmate. Learn more about bunnies here: uexpress.com/pets/pet-connection/2021/09/20.
Dogs are highly adaptable, but not all of them are suited to apartment living unless you’re prepared to make special accommodations for their exercise needs. Size is important, too: If your Irish wolfhound gets sick or injured, will you be able to carry them up or down stairs -- especially if your apartment building doesn’t have an elevator?
But certain breeds in an array of sizes can make excellent apartment buddies because they generally have a low or adaptable activity level. They include any toy breed, such as Chihuahuas or Shih Tzu, because of their small size and companionable spirits; greyhounds, nicknamed the “45-mile-per-hour couch potato”; the Keeshond, a medium-size spitz breed with moderate activity levels; the small but sturdy Lhasa apso, who is satisfied with a couple of brief daily walks (although he’s game for more and longer walks if you are); and the medium-size Skye terrier, with a moderate activity level.
What’s the downside of these breeds? Most have the potential to be barkers, although greyhounds are usually quiet. Greyhounds are like living with giant cats, except they need a much larger (and outdoor) space for the five minutes of zoomies they typically engage in daily. A nearby fenced park is a bonus if you adopt one of these long-legged beauties. And animals are individuals, even within breeds. Tell the breeder or adoption counselor what you’re looking for as far as personality and energy level to ensure that you get the best match for your apartment life.
Q&A
Talking birds:
How to get started
Q: I want to teach my bird to talk. How do I get started?
A: A lot depends on the type of bird you have. Not all birds talk -- not even those from species who are known for their ability to chat up a storm. If you have one of those breeds, such as a double-yellow-headed or yellow-naped Amazon or an African grey, the best way to teach them to talk is simply to start a conversation.
Speak to your bird frequently in a clear voice, and repeat words or phrases you want them to learn. Use words in their proper context and set up associations that are easy for your bird to grasp. For instance, when you give your bird something tasty, say, “Yum!” Or when she lowers her head for a scratch, say, “Want a scratch?” as you perform the action. Name foods as you give them. “Have some apple!” When she takes a bite, say, “Good apple!” Attach names to toys and other objects, too, such as “Keys” or “Perch.”
Be sure to learn your bird’s other vocalizations as well. They can tell you a lot about your bird’s feelings. Talking, singing and whistling are the sounds of a happy, contented bird. Some birds “purr”: making a low, growly noise with meanings that range from contentment to displeasure, depending on context. Tongue-clicking is often a request for a head or neck scratch or to be picked up. Some birds -- typically African greys, Senegals or Meyer’s parrots -- will growl -- and not in a friendly way. “Settling down” noises, usually heard in the evening, include chattering, muttering, mumbling and barking (a louder version of “Here I am” chatter).
Remember that talking should be considered a bonus behavior, not a must. If you insist on having a talking bird, buy an older one who already demonstrates the skill. -- Kim Campbell Thornton
Do you have a pet question? Send it to askpetconnection@gmail.com or visit Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker.
THE BUZZ
Beagle wins special
performance award
-- Ten years ago, Frankie was an adorable puppy full of promise. Now the conformation Grand Champion and Agility and Rally Champion (MACH2, PACH, RACH) has retired the National Beagle Club Iron Beagle Challenge award after winning it three years in a row, says proud owner Denise Nord, a dog trainer and beagle lover in Rogers, Minnesota. The Iron Beagle title is awarded to the beagle who competes and qualifies in the most performance events at each year’s national specialty show. This year’s events were agility, rally, obedience, scent work and hunt test. “Due to scheduling, we couldn’t try the hunt test, but Frankie qualified in eight out of eight agility runs, three out of three rally runs and two out of three scent work runs, all at the highest levels,” Nord says. The perpetual trophy is retired after a handler wins it three times, but Nord donated it back to the club so it can be won again in 2023 and beyond.
-- Holidays are always inspiration for pet names, and Halloween is no exception. The most popular classic names are Pumpkin, Ghost, Boo, Candy and Salem, according to pet health insurance company Embrace, which tracks pet name trends. Each name belongs to more than 4,000 pets. Riffing on the name Ghost, more than 5,000 pets are named Casper. More classics include Bones, Monster, Magic and Spooky, each held by more than 1,500 pets. The movie “Hocus Pocus” spawned more than 5,000 Winnies, nearly 4,000 pets named Binx and more than 350 named Winifred. Six cats, who apparently live with horror film aficionados, are named Freddy Krueger, a name inspired by “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” (Not sure we’d want to live with them.) More than 70 dogs and nearly 50 cats are named Beetlejuice after the iconic Tim Burton-directed classic. -- Dr. Marty Becker, Kim Campbell Thornton and Mikkel Becker
ABOUT PET CONNECTION
Pet Connection is produced by a team of pet care experts. Veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker is founder of the Fear Free organization, co-founder of VetScoop.com and author of many best-selling pet care books. Kim Campbell Thornton is an award-winning journalist and author who has been writing about animals since 1985. Mikkel Becker is a behavior consultant and lead animal trainer for Fear Free Pets. Dr. Becker can be found at Facebook.com/DrMartyBecker or on Twitter at DrMartyBecker. Kim Campbell Thornton is at Facebook.com/Kim.CampbellThornton and on Twitter at kkcthornton. Mikkel Becker is at Facebook.com/MikkelBecker and on Twitter at MikkelBecker.