Having a pet in a New Orleans apartment can be a fantastic joy, especially in the colder months, when more people are spending time indoors! While there’s nothing quite like having our favorite furry friend greet you at the door after a long day, or watching TV with a pet curled up beside you, it can also be difficult keeping your apartment clean with them around!
Pets can scratch up furniture and floors, leave behind hair and dander, as well as make messes in the home that can be tough to clean. If you take a few simple steps, and consistently follow a few routines, it can take a lot of the hassle out of cleaning up after your furry best friend! Not only do you want to ensure that you get a return on your deposit, but it’s important to make your apartment human-friendly while keeping your pet comfortable as well!
First of all, and most importantly, make sure your pet is completely housebroken. If your animal is completely trustworthy indoors, that can go a long way in ensuring that your apartment stays mess-free and odor-free. Accidents in the home can be a huge mess, and stressful for you, the pet owner. If you own a cat, make sure he or she knows how to use the litter box, and keep clean litter at all times. Some first-time cat owners discover to their dismay that cats will leave little “presents” everywhere if their litter is not kept clean. If you have a small dog, make sure they are crate trained or can be left alone while you’re at work, until you can take him or her outside for a walk.
See to it your pets play with pet toys and not your furniture. Not only can pets tearing up furniture be costly, but it can make your apartment look shabby. This can be a big problem, especially if you have a cat that isn’t de-clawed. Break the habit early on if your pet exhibits destructive behavior. Encourage them to play with toys, and scold them if they attempt to chew or claw your possessions. You can also purchase sprays which tend to repel animals away from the area and discourage destruction such as Pet Block, by Nature’s Miracle.
If you own a small dog, it’s important to keep them healthy and happy by allowing them safe access to the outdoors. Whether it’s a small patio, dog park, or other protected space, dogs need exercise and room to roam. Take your dog outdoors often, both to potty and to play!
You’ll probably notice that your pet sheds and excess hair and dander can be a problem. Vacuum your apartment often to ensure that it remains hair-free. Having a small hand-held vacuum can be very useful for sucking up hair from couches, chairs, and other areas where your pet tends to lay. It may also be a good idea to have a lint roller on hand to make sure that your clothes are hair-free before leaving the house! You can also brush your dog or cat to cut down on some of the shedding. Brushing loosens dead hair that’s about to be shed, removes dander, and keeps your dog or cat’s coat healthy from shedding all over your apartment. Brush your pet as often as possible, and try to do it outside, to keep hair from accumulating throughout your apartment.
It’s also important to bathe your pet fairly often so they don’t become smelly. Animal smells can permeate a space quickly, and make your apartment unpleasant to visitors.
Keeping both your pet and your visitors happy can make your living situation a much more pleasant experience. Not only is cleanliness and maintenance important for the look and feel of your apartment, but it’s also helpful to the health of both you and your pet!
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
