apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Is your home domininated by your pets? Is it hard for them to comfortably fit in?

I'd say half/half. Just like having kids, pets do play a HUGE role on outfitting the house; matter of fact we've had to skip on many really cool fabric choices and furniture materials that otherwise our cats would go thru faster than they go thru their litter. Now with that said, the other half is sort of "bargaining" with the pets; you get treats, I can keep my rug stratch, puke, hairball, and fur-free. It never really works 100%, but a little destruction in small patches sorta makes the place looked a little more "lived in". lol Again, just like having kids; only problem is, these b*tches never grow up. lol

Seriously, if you have a way to teach your pets to barf only in designated areas I'd love to know. :-/

We only have a small box turtle. Luckily she has her own large habitat that is the size of a small dining table.

i finally bought a runner for the kitchen and within 20 friggin' minutes there was a huge pile of puke on it.

so yeah, i'd say my home is dominated by my cats...the little buggers!!

SisterRae, when I was younger I used to run to my cat with a stack of paper towels when he would show the signs that he was about to barf. I hated having to pick it up cause it just felt gross.
He eventually started coming to me when he needed to throw up, expecting me to lay down a paper towel for him to puke on. So instead, I kept a little paper towel mat by his food and water and he'd go over there an puke on the paper towel.
He didn't throw up very often though, and was usually only after we let him hang out outside and he'd sneak down off the porch and eat some grass before we'd catch him.

My five furballs rule. It's their house (just ask them). I hated cleaning up hairballs and vomited food so I had carpeting pulled up in all but three rooms thinking laminate wood and tile would be easier to clean. It probably would, but my cats obviously prefer to barf on carpet!!

I have two cats with completely opposite personalities. One likes to hide most of the day and will sleep on anything, the other likes to be in your face all.the.time. and takes up more space than either my husband or myself. Both of them are pretty laid-back, so they will make anything their bed. In fact, they really hate cat-specific furniture and beds and avoid them at all costs. I learned to stop buying them beds and pillows and just save cardboard boxes.

I have a pet peeve, so I answered "other".

Cats suck.

I want a dooooogggg.... but my husband wont let me. Big meanie. (and also our apartment is not dog-friendly, only cats)

My home is dog friendly and I wouldn't have it any other way.

I find I constantly search for cat-friendly fabrics. Comforters seem to be particularly difficult (they are either fur-magnets or too delicate for kneading paws). Faux fur comforters/coverlets were great but sometimes difficult to fit in with the room decor. I also make little cat beds for them to specifically match the room decor.

I have white rugs in 2 rooms and knowing the feline preference for leaving hairballs on carpets/rugs, I scotchguarded them both quite a bit. Don't know if that's the reason or not, but (*knock on wood*), they've instead chosen to leave all deposits on the $6 generic hallway runner instead - fine by me!

I had a rabbit for awhile too and he required a lot more sacrifice and home-adjustments then the cats do (which was fine, an interesting challenge).

My cats pretty much rule the apartment, but I'm going to have to put an end to some of their freedom soon. They've completely destroyed our cheap IKEA crap-couch, so when I invest in a much better sofa in the next few months, they're going to have to start wearing Soft Paws. I'm not spending that much money just to give them another pretty scratching post! They won't like it, but they'll have to get used to it... Their (now deceased) older brother did, after all.

Cat scratching? One word: SOFTPAWS
www.softpaws.com
pretty amazing. If you clip your nails already, it just takes another second to apply the nail tips and they seriously are amazing.

3 cats, a turtle and a lizard
Yay pet month!

not relevant to the thread, but I enjoy this picture every time I see it

I want a dog so badly it's bordering on obsession. Unfortunately our landlord doesn't allow dogs. No cat either, because although they do allow cats, they have to have a vet's certificate saying that they are declawed. I think this is very cruel; and I have also heard that declawed cats tend to have other problems, such as peeing on furniture or biting, because they have no other way to really exert themselves or defend themselves.

Hey Splaine
get a used cat that someone else has declawed. check out your local shelter and rescue organizations. with the rescue orgs you should be able to bring up behavior issues, peeing, howling and potted plant removal. FYI Atlanta has an abundance of evacuated pets maybe some make it your way.

I agree with SisterRae. I have 4 cats at home and I hate the hairball and vomit surprises.

dakini20207... You seriously made me lol at "used cat." I've never heard anyone put it that way, but I like it!

I live with a dog, a turtle, and a dwarf bunny. Wouldn't have it any other way!

Since I got a dog last fall I haven't had time to read AT! I heard it was pet month though so I'm excited to be back combining obsessions.

My sweet 18 year old Tom cat is so used to me picking up his hairballs ect.. That if he has one in the middle of the night he will wake me up to clean it Very smart I say.. And yes he rules... I trim his nails and give him a bath . Going to op some of those ledges. Way cool....Maj

I have a rabbit who is a great addition to our home however bunny proofing a rented apt is quite a challenge.

I bartered my cat away from ex-girlfriend, so mine is not "used" she's "boosted". I love the little cow (the cat).

On a 1/4 acre block in the city of Canberra live a happy menagerie. There are Bubbles the bunny and his palace-mate Softy the guinea pig; Pretty Little Leaf and her baby Snowdrop the Brush-Tailed Possums (who live outside in a small disused shed); Sîan the elderly indoor Somali cat, Tabby the outdoors cat (he turned up and announced we were his people); and not to be forgotten the Magpies (8 of them) who knock on the door at 6am to demand their food.

The Possums, Bubbles and Softy take care of vegetable left-overs, the magpies take care of any meat or fish left-overs (and tend to the garden pests). The lucerne bedding and other leavings of the little pets enrich the garden beds. Green pets!

Rabbits in this apartment. (One is currently lounging in the bathroom doorway where she can keep an eye on me.) Rabbit-proofing depends a bit on the individual rabbit (usually the older the rabbit, the less rabbit-proofing necessary, plus the rabbits should be spayed/neutered). It's always wise to cover all cords with aquarium tubing or some other stuff they don't like. Some rabbits chew on other things, some don't; some dig at the carpeting, others don't. Plenty of petting and suitable toys keep most rabbits content enough to keep out of very much trouble. But they're smart and curious, so they like to investigate closets, bedding, laundry, the kitchen trash, etc. No vomiting, though.

it's not what we've voluntarily done for a cat as more of what he's driven us to do.
The one year old siamese that he is has led to take down all the fancy shmancy stuff from the top of bookcases, re- think what gets shelved, and we no longer use our night tables- those are cat tables now!
i would love to get a set of cat stairs or something for the walls so he can stay off of the top of the doors.

Two bunnies: "Yoshi" (half Netherland Dwarf - white - female) and "Shadow" (one mini rex - black - male). Both adopted from the local shelter, both adorable.

Bunny-proofing for them does suck, we have a rented apartment and they have already dug up part of the new carpeting - I guess we won't be getting our security deposit back. They are so cute though that I can't stay mad.

We eat dinner at our coffee table (poor students, small apartment) and they like to come and beg. Shadow will even stand in his hind legs and try to steal food from the table. It's all my fault for feeding them bits of veggies and fruit while we eat. Oh well, it's hilarious! :)

We have 2 dogs - they don't shed like crazy - or they don't appear to, until you get up from the sofa and your black clothes now look like calfhair. Seriously, can ANYONE recommend a hand vaccuum that really works, preferably has an extension hose, and isn't so loud the neighbors think we're running our own electric generator?

Totally dominated - I have a handicapped Bichon Frise rescue (most likely from a puppy mill - so don't buy from pet stores!). He has a hard time walking especially on hardwood floors, so my little house is a puzzle of rugs, long short, square etc. He maneuvers around the place jumping from one "island" to another. I love hardwoods but don't see too much of them any longer, oh well, he's worth it.

I would love to submit an innovative design I have for a raised dog feeder in 4 different sizes and loft, apartment and definitely dog friendly!

I'm also interested in seeing what other people are designing to meet the needs of our living environment and loved animal friends.

There are so many ways to get away from the same ole' thing.

I have 3 dogs and they are not only like family, but they are better than family. I let them get on the furniture. A good tape roller or the upholstery attachment on the vacuum get used regularly but it's worth every second of it. I look for fabrics that are easy to get hair off of and a slip covered piece is always welcome.