Pets & Property Peace

Whether your best friend has paws, claws, or floppy ears, sharing a building with other humans means thinking beyond your front door. From scratching and shedding to barking and… well… "marking," pets can leave more than pawprints behind if we’re not careful.

So let’s walk through a few loving, practical tips to keep your home—and our community—clean, respectful, and free from smells that haunt property managers in their dreams.

🐱 1. Keep Cats Indoors—It’s Safer for Everyone (and the Carpet)

We love cats. They’re soft, opinionated, and suspicious of everything. But when your cat becomes an indoor-outdoor wanderer, they can cause more mischief than you’d think.

Why Indoor Cats Are Best in Apartments:

• No scratching walls or door frames trying to be let back in

• No “marking” other tenants’ porches or planters (yes, cats mark too)

• No tracking dirt—or worse—back across the carpet

• Safer for them, and kinder to neighbors

🐾 Tip: Keep your cat entertained indoors with scratching posts, climbing trees, and window perches. Your carpet—and your security deposit—will thank you.

🐶 2. Dogs Go In and Out—So Let’s Keep It Clean

Unlike cats, dogs need outdoor time. But their “business” should never turn into your neighbor’s problem—or your landlord’s invoice.

Golden Rules for Dog Owners:

• Never let your dog relieve themselves near the building entrance. It stains the walls, leaves smells, and creates a welcome no one wants.

• Don’t let your pup pee or poop under first-floor windows. We promise—no one wants to open their blinds to a morning “gift.”

• Rotate potty spots to avoid grass burn and dead patches. Bonus points if you carry a water bottle to rinse spots down.

🐾 Tip: Dogs can be trained to do their business in specific spots away from high-traffic areas. Use treats and consistency—it works!

🐾 3. Rabbits, Ferrets, Guinea Pigs—Small Pets, Big Impact

Small pets don’t bark or roam the hallways, but they can still do serious damage to your unit if unsupervised.

Bunny Trouble Checklist:

• Baseboard nibbling? Give them approved chew toys.

• Loose litter habits? Keep a tidy, contained pen area.

• Smell issues? Clean litter areas daily—and don’t let hay go wild.

🐾 Tip: Even tiny animals leave big impressions on carpet and floors. Protect your space with mats and waterproof liners under cages.

🧽 4. Clean Daily, Not Just When Guests Come Over

Let’s be honest—pet smells build fast. And if your apartment has a lingering scent, so will the hallway, the elevator, and eventually... your reputation.

To Avoid Odors and Move-Out Charges:

• Scoop litter daily. Not every-other-Tuesday.

• Wash bedding and clean pet areas weekly.

• Vacuum fur from shared hallways if you accidentally bring it along.

• Use pet-safe deodorizers—just not the kind that chokes Mildred from 1A.

🚫 5. Don’t Turn Entrances Into Doggy Potty Zones

This one’s important. No matter how cold, rainy, or late it is—building entrances are not bathrooms. Not for peeing. Not for pooping. Not for “just this once.”

Why It Matters:

• Urine stains concrete permanently.

• The smell lingers—and grows.

• It’s impossible to explain the smell of “welcome mat pee” to new tenants on a tour.

🐾 Tip: Create a “go before we go” routine. Take your dog to a designated grass spot before heading to the main entrance.

😇 6. Be a Hero—Avoid That Move-Out “Pet Damage” Bill

You’ve seen it in lease agreements: charges for scratched doors, stained carpets, chewed trim, and mystery smells. That’s not fictional. That’s the invoice waiting if things go sideways.

Avoid the Drama With These Tricks:

• Use protective mats or washable rugs in high-traffic pet areas.

• Trim claws regularly (cat scratch = $$$ door repairs).

• Use baby gates to keep curious pets out of trouble spots.

• Cover baseboards if you’ve got a bunny with an attitude.

❤️ Final Thought: Happy Pets, Happy Place

Living in a shared building with pets is absolutely doable—and joyful! But it takes a little extra love and a lot of common sense. If we all train our pets with care, clean up after them promptly, and respect each other’s space, we’ll keep our community peaceful, beautiful, and a whole lot less smelly.

So give your furry friend a treat, take them out (or in!), and give yourself a gold star for being the kind of pet parent your neighbors are glad to have.

With love, laughs, and lint rollers,