Living in an apartment doesn’t mean you can’t have a pet! While traditional pets like large dogs may require too much space, there are plenty of small, low-maintenance animals that thrive in small spaces. These are twelve pets that thrive in small spaces and apartment living.
1. Rabbits
Rabbits are highly adaptable and quiet pets, which makes them perfect apartment pets. Just like cats, they can be litter-trained, which makes them relatively low-maintenance. Rabbits require a minimum enclosure of 2 feet by 2 feet by 4 feet, with plenty of space to hop and explore. You can feed them hay, pellets, and fresh vegetables.
2. Ferrets
Ferrets are playful and quiet creatures that can live comfortably in an apartment. Regular playtime outside of their cage is important for physical and mental stimulation, but when left unsupervised, they are happy to live in large, multi-level cages. They require a high-protein diet that is specifically formulated for ferrets.
3. Rats
Rats are intelligent and social pets that are great for apartment living. They need about two cubic feet of cage space per rat and are highly trainable. These adorable rodents love to interact with their owners and feast on commercial rat food, fresh fruits, and vegetables.
4. Hamsters
Just like rats, hamsters are small rodents that are perfect for apartments because of their small size and quiet nature. They need a minimum cage size of 24 inches by 12 inches, with at least 12 inches of height. They require a diet of commercial hamster food supplemented with small amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables.
5. Leopard Geckos
Leopard geckos are one of the easiest reptiles to look after. They are low-maintenance and well-suited for apartment living. Adult leopard geckos need a 10-20 gallon tank, UVB lighting, and a heating mat. They are small insectivores and mainly eat crickets, mealworms, and other small insects.
6. Bearded Dragons
Bearded dragons are also easy to look after. These friendly reptiles need a 40-50 gallon tank, UVB lighting, and a heating lamp set over a basking spot. Their diet consists of insects and vegetables, with the ratio changing as they age.
7. Hedgehogs
Hedgehogs are quiet, nocturnal animals that can live comfortably in small spaces. They require an enclosure of at least 2 square feet, with a minimum size of 24 inches by 24 inches. Hedgehogs need a diet of high-quality, specially formulated hedgehog food, supplemented with insects.
8. Frogs
Frogs are adorable pets that thrive in small spaces. Depending on the species, they can live comfortably in a 10 to 20-gallon tank. They require a habitat that mimics their natural environment, including proper humidity levels and hiding spots. Most frogs are insectivores and eat crickets, mealworms, and other small insects.
9. Hermit Crabs
Hermit crabs thrive in glass aquariums or plastic terrariums with at least 5 gallons of space for every 2 crabs. These adorable creatures can live comfortably in small homes or apartments. They need freshwater and saltwater pools for drinking and bathing, and they eat commercial hermit crab food, along with fresh fruits and vegetables.
10. Chinchillas
Chinchillas are clean, odor-free, and mostly nocturnal, making them great for apartment living. They require a large, multi-level cage but also enjoy some out-of-tank time. Their diet primarily consists of hay, chinchilla pellets, and small amounts of treats.
11. Millipedes
Millipedes are unusual but fascinating pets that don’t need a lot of space to thrive. They can be housed in small terrariums with a substrate of coconut fiber or peat moss. Millipedes need a humid environment with proper heating. They are detritivores that mainly feed decaying plant matter.
12. Guinea Pigs
Guinea pigs are social animals that make great apartment pets. They require a minimum cage size of 7.5 square feet for one or two guinea pigs, but larger is always better. You can feed your guinea pigs hay, pellets, and fresh vegetables. They are social animals and should be kept in pairs or small groups of the same sex.
