There’s no better companion for an apartment than a cat.
Unfortunately, not everyone appreciates the joy that cats can bring us.
You may be living in an apartment complex with high pet fees, or you may even be living in an apartment with strict pet rules.
Fortunately, given the indoor nature of cats, they can easily be confined and concealed to your apartment without anyone knowing, even as kittens.
Here are some tips to know how to keep a cat in an apartment secretly.
keeping your kitten under control
One of the main reasons that cats are prohibited from some apartments or why some apartments require a pet fee is because of the potential damage cats can do.
Cats have been known to claw at walls, carpeting and furniture which is problematic for landlords looking to rent out the apartment in the event that you leave. Preventing damage from cats, including kittens, is relatively easy to prevent, however.
If you are so inclined, the easiest way to prevent cat-scratching damage is to have your cats declawed. There are some people who object to this practice, so diverting your cats attention from components of the apartment and towards more cat-friendly surfaces is a sensible alternative.
Cat-scratching posts offer an excellent outlet for your kitten’s clawing tendencies. Likewise, there are a variety of toys that can keep your kitten engaged so they are less likely to feel compelled to damage property.
The other concern cats pose is regarding potentially harming other tenants. This is probably the easiest problem to avoid if you keep you kitten inside at all times and away from other tenants.
It would be sensible to inform all guests of your cat’s presence, but more likely than not you won’t be living with a violent kitten anyway, so they shouldn’t be in too much danger.
keeping your kitten from being detected
The other problems that arise that often lead landlords to assign a pet fee or prohibit pets in general is because cats are known to shed and because cats can be inclined to meow. Fortunately, if you are starting out with a kitten, you are in luck.
Kittens don’t shed regularly until they develop their adult coat, which can appear anywhere from 6 to 12 months of age. During this time, there isn’t much to worry about regarding shedding.
It would be wise to get into the habit of vacuuming regularly so that any hair that is shed, and when hair is eventually shed, is immediately removed so that none will be present in the event of a surprise inspection.
Cat’s often meow or yowl when they want attention or if they’ve realized that you feed them when they start to make noise. In order to cut down and hopefully eliminate your kitten’s voice lessons, the best technique is to avoid them when they start to make noise.
This may be somewhat risky in the beginning because the noise will be detectable, but your kitten will quickly learn that making noise is not the manner for cultivating a meaningful relationship (especially if they’re a stowaway!).
Feeding your kitten at regular intervals will also help your kitten to realize that their behavior is under your control. In order to prevent your kitten’s initial meowing from being detected, find a well-concealed closet with adequate ventilation to place your cat until the meowing subsides.
This way, the meowing will be muffled from any passing ears. It would also be wise to not have anything valuable in this closet, in case your kitten feels compelled to retaliate and scratch up a storm.
hiding your kitten from inspections
Since landlords often perform inspections, some with little advance notice and some randomly, it’s best to have a kitten concealment plan. If you regularly leave your apartment for work, family visitation or for any extended period, arrange with someone to watch your cat while you are out or even to come over and monitor your cat while you are gone.
In the event that you can’t leave your cat with someone else, put your cat in a carrying case with plenty of ventilation and keep your cat in a concealed area or even a closet that has ventilation.
This way, in the event there is a surprise inspection, your kitten will be concealed and there won’t be much risk to your kitten being detected. It’s also a good habit to make sure any toys or cat paraphernalia or put away so that they aren’t discovered in the event your landlord or other property personnel enter your apartment.
In the event that that you are in your apartment and your landlord arrives unexpectedly for an inspection, use any tactic you can to convince your landlord to wait outside while you hide your kitten.
You can say that you are changing or are sick, which will generally give your landlord pause from barging in. Since impromptu visits are not usually necessary nor are the most ideal arrangement between tenants and landlords, this scenario is not as much of a concern.
hide your kitten from your neighbors
While kittens are a joy that you probably want to share with everyone and anyone, if you are trying to conceal the identity of your kitten, it’s wise to keep its identify mum. On the first day that you are moving into your apartment, don’t bring your cat, for your neighbors will probably be out and about and might even try and assist you only to encounter your precious cargo.
When you bring your cat, try and bring some other light items that you can use to conceal the carrier or the kitten itself while you are bringing it into the apartment.
It’s also wise to bring your kitten into the apartment either late at night or early in the morning while everyone is out at work so that there is less of a likelihood that your fellow tenants will encounter your secret companion.
don’t mention your kitten to your landlord
If you are interested in hiding a kitten in an apartment, then you can’t mention it to your landlord at all. Aside from concealing your kitten during any inspections, it’s wise to deter your landlord from conducting any business in the apartment.
If you need to have a meeting, recommend the leasing office or some other location. Maintenance personnel may also pose a problem if they find a cat and report it, but if you’ve been notified of the maintenance and your kitten is concealed, this isn’t as great of an issue.
When you are moving in, don’t ask your landlord if you can have pets, especially if there is a high fee or pets are prohibited. If you ask and you’ve been warned not to bring them, then you’re liable in the event that they are detected and can’t risk losing your security deposit, or you can be evicted. In the end, unless it’s explicitly stated that you can bring pets, or even if you cannot, just don’t mention it.
the ultimate backup plan (when things don’t go as planned)
If you are someone found with a kitten or cat and haven’t been warned otherwise, then it’s best to plead innocence. You can claim some of the following reasons why you have a cat:
- A friend gave it to you and you are watching it until they come back.
- A family friend is lending it to you.
- Someone passed away and you were designated to inherit this cat.
- Your significant other just left you with the cat and you need it for emotional purposes.
- You just got the cat and weren’t aware of the policies
- You just found the cat and are preparing to bring it to the shelter.
There are a variety of reasons you can claim to have a cat or kitten in your possession.
As long as you indicate that it’s a temporary situation, and haven’t been previously warned not to have a cat, then your landlord may ignore this issue entirely or you can claim sentimental reasons to oppose giving up your furry friend.
Just remember that signing a lease is a legal liability and if it stipulates a pet policy, whether inclusive of a fee or prohibiting them entirely, then you may risk paying a belated pet fee or losing your security deposit.
In the end, kittens and cats are low maintenance creatures that are generally well-behaved and easy to conceal. If a cat is causing problems for you, you probably wouldn’t be trying to keep it anyway.
The above guidelines are general recommendations for how to keep a cat concealed; it’s always recommended to disclose a cat if you can or choose an apartment that permits pets. This arrangement is not always feasible, especially if you never planned on getting a cat when you moved in, so these tips will help to keep you and your cat calm as you navigate the hidden world of apartment pet ownership.
As long as you follow a few precautions, keeping a cat or kitten concealed is a relatively easy task. It’s probably not the most ideal scenario to keep your kittie incognito, but in the end there’s no better bonding experience than joining in the secret life of your cat.
13 Kitten Keeping Must-haves
- High Protein Grain-Free Dry Kitten Food
- High Protein Grain-Free Wet Kitten Food
- Stainless Steel Food and Water Bowl
- Kitten Health Record Keeper
- Van Ness Small Litter Pan
- Kitten Training Cat Litter
- Kitten Dental Care Toothbrush Toy
- Cat Tongue Textured Grooming Brush
- Pioneer Pet Ultimate Scratching Post
- Kitty City Cat Tunnel Bed
- Cat Tracks Chasing Balls Cat Toy
- Rainbow Cat Dancer Toy
- KitNipBox – Monthly Cat Subscription Box of Cat Toys, Treats and Goodies