You can’t imagine apartment living without your pet. While some apartment communities have a strict no-pets rule, most of our Camden communities are pet-friendly! Tampa communities even allow up to three pets per apartment. As a pet owner, you have a duty to make sure your pet is happy and healthy, and also to make sure that your apartment is in good shape. Read on to learn 5 apartment maintenance tips for pet owners!

1. Read and understand your lease and community policies

Make sure to carefully read what your duties and responsibilities are as a resident and a neighbor. Many leases include pet clauses that explain policies such as picking up after your pet, keeping your pet on a leash, being responsible for damages caused by your pet, and quiet hours.

2. Consider your pet’s personality

Cats can be independent and low maintenance and certain breeds of dogs are high energy, in which both pets can scratch or chew furniture if they are bored. Some dogs may bark at noises like the air conditioning kicking on, a gate opening, or neighbors walking by. Set realistic expectations and train your loved one to get accustomed to apartment living!

3. Change your air filter more often

In a blog called 4 Tips to Maintain Your Apartment, we suggested changing your air filter monthly. However, if you have a pet that sheds a lot, it’s a good idea to change the air filter twice a month. If someone in the home has allergies, changing it every other week can improve the air quality by keeping pet hair and dander from collecting in the air handler. Your Camden community’s Welcome Center provides free air filters for you!

4. Clean up messes right awayIt’s inevitable at some point, especially if you are a new pet owner. Make sure to clean it up immediately, as leaving it could make the damage worse. If you need help properly housebreaking your dog or puppy, check out tips from The Humane Society. If you have trouble housebreaking your cat, check out these tips from WikiHow.

5. Treat any persistent stains

Some messes can’t be cleaned right away or some odors still linger after cleanup. I learned from one of my maintenance supervisors that getting an empty spray bottle with two parts water and one part of Listerine can cut through odor, as well as prevent your pet from creating a mess in the same spot. Most pets hate the smell of mouthwash! Let the concoction sit for a few hours and absorb with newspaper or paper towels when you’re done.

Owning a pet can be challenging, but also very rewarding. If you follow these tips, you’ll be sure to keep your apartment in tip-top shape. Read here for more Camden pet blogs and tips!