A spacious bedroom at Reflections with plenty of places for a cat to sleep or hide.
When you're moving into apartments near USF with a pet, the most common question asked is whether or not the apartment has a dog park. But what if you're moving into USF apartments with a cat? Cats are very different animals, and while your dog may take the move in stride, a brand-new apartment that your cat is unfamiliar with is likely to make it nervous and fearful. It's impossible to know exactly what your cat is thinking, but this article will give you some helpful tips on how to make your move the most comfortable experience possible for your cat.
Communicate With Your Roommates
The first step is to make sure the people you'll be living with are okay with you having a pet. Many apartments have a convenient roommate matching program that will help assure you don't get paired with a roommate that has allergies, which would prevent your cat from living with you. This program will also let you select other preferred aspects of your future roommates, such as whether they attend the University of South Florida and whether they drink or smoke.
Another thing to communicate to your roommates is the temperament and personality of your cat. Do they like to be pet? Do they get grumpy when their naps are interrupted? Letting your roommates know a little bit about your cat will prevent disagreements in the future over animal behavior. For example, if your cat is reactive and prone to scratch or bite, and you're worried about telling them, it's better to let your roommates know. The knowledge can help prevent any altercations. If your roommates don't have much experience with animals, let them know the proper cat etiquette so no problems arise.
Renovate your USF apartment
There are also some changes you can make in your USF apartment to make the move more comfortable for your cat. To start with, cats have an excellent sense of smell. A cat's sense of smell is fourteen times better than a human! Your new apartment will likely smell nothing like your cat's old home, which can cause cats stress and anxiety. To combat this, take some old clothes and blankets and spread them around where your cat will be sleeping. This will make your cat's area smell like home and help your cat to adjust to their new situation.
Cats also have very sensitive ears. While humans can hear 9.3 octaves, cats can hear over 10.5 octaves of sound. It's good to keep this in mind while your cat is settling into your new apartment; in the first couple of days, do your best to prevent making loud and sudden noises that would startle your cat and make them feel unsafe. That means keep your doors and windows closed, and be mindful of your washer and dryer and other appliances that make loud noises.
Cats also love a sense of routine. Be sure to keep your feeding schedule the same in your new apartment, and try to keep your sleeping schedule consistent as well. This will provide your cat with a sense of stability and safety as they settle in. In no time, your cat will be snug in your new home!