I recently adopted a two year old cat called Bart. Unfortunately, I live in a small apartment with two other women and my landlord made it clear there were some rules I had to follow including keeping his litter in my room and not letting him out of my room unattended. Since I’m a student, I have the advantage of short hours so the longest Bart has to stay in my room is 7 hours on Tuesday and Thursday. Due to the small amount of space and the time Bart needs to stay happy in my room, I have some tips in order to keep both me and Bart happy. Here are some tips on having a cat in a small apartment.
- Keep the Litter Box Clean
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While it’s tempting to skip cleaning the litter when you’re rushing to class in the morning, or if your cat uses it right before you go to bed, this is both to your cat’sand your own detriment. If you are keeping your cat’s litter in your room, like myself, you need to be changing it every time they use it. Ammonia poisoning can kill you if you keep the litter dirty for too long, and when your cat poops, the smell will fill up the room instantaneously.
- Make sure you have a Litter that you can Stand the Smell of
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I’ve experimented a bit with my litter as I can’t stand the dust that comes off of clay litter. Instead I am currently using wood pellets which are cheaper than your average kitty litter costing $6 Canadian for a 40 pound bag, and have a fresh woody smell to them.
- Keep Lots of Toys and Opportunities for Entertainment in your Room
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Before I leave for school, I make sure Bart has a ton of self play toys strewn around my room in order to prevent boredom. I will also make sure to open up the curtains on my window so he can watch the birds outside. On days I am gone for a long time, I’ll leave him a treasure hunt in the form of treats hidden around my room. All of these are simple things you can do to keep your cat entertained and less lonely without you there.
- Make Time for Cat when you’re Home
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When you adopt a cat as a university student, often you are its only owner and that’s a responsibility both in making sure they’re well cared for with clean litter, food, and water, but also in your responsibility to keep them active and happy. Making sure you have cuddle time set aside for your cat will make sure that they get the care they need and deserve. This does not mean your cat will always want affection on your terms. Sometimes it’s a good idea to take a moment to give them attention instead of shoving them off of the computer before you continue working.
I hope these suggestions will help you and your cat stay happy and healthy. Enjoy!