Starting to feel lonely in your new apartment? You might want to consider getting a pet. They can provide companionship and have beneficial effects on your physical and mental health. Finding the perfect furry or feathered friend is a source of immense joy. That being said, you should do some research before running to the pet store. Some animal companions are not suitable for apartment life. Getting the wrong pet can cause you and your neighbors a lot of frustration. If you’re wondering what sort of pets are best for apartment dwellers, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a guide to some apartment friendly pets. 

Fish 

Fish are one of the quietest pets you can get. Aside from the occasional splashing noise, you won’t ever hear a peep out of your fish. You can make room for a small fish tank in even the tiniest of apartments. Fish need to be fed once a day, but aside from that, they are fairly low maintenance. Tanks only need to be cleaned every couple of weeks. In addition, having pet fish is good for your health. Watching fish swim is calming and can lower your blood pressure. 

Dogs 

Small dogs can make great apartment companions. The toy poodle, a small breed that is easy to train, is one of the most popular dogs in Japan. These adorable, stuffed-animal-like dogs are well behaved and will fit nicely into your small apartment. If you love big dogs, don’t despair. There are some large breeds, like greyhounds, that are decent apartment pets (as long as the apartment is large enough for them to live safely and comfortably). These types of dogs tend to snooze and lounge around all day. As long as you take them out for exercise, they won’t become destructive or noisy when living in a smaller space. 

Hedgehogs 

You aren’t allowed to keep pet hedgehogs in some parts of the world, but luckily Japanese law is pretty lax when it comes to exotic pets. Like hamsters and fish, they don’t require much space. Since they’re solitary creatures, they won’t get upset if you’re busy working most of the day. As long as you clean their cages regularly, hedgehogs don’t smell. You can live in a studio apartment with a hedgehog without your place developing an animal odor.  

Cats

Cats make excellent apartment pets, and are one of the most popular pets in Japan for this reason. Unlike small dogs, cats are suitable for those with busy lifestyles. While some breeds, like Bengals, are quite vocal, most cats tend to be fairly quiet. Usually, their meowing isn’t loud or frequent enough to anger your neighbors.

They’re also great pets for people with busy lifestyles. You’ll need to feed your cat and clean their litter box, but you don’t have to take them out for exercise. 

Birds 

Some birds make great apartment pets, but others are quite noisy and might annoy your neighbors. Loud species, such as Cockatoos and Macaws aren’t good for apartment life unless your walls are really thick. Quiet birds, such as Bourke’s Parakeets and Senegal Parrots are best for apartment dwellers. If you still want a vocal bird, Canaries, Finches, or other songbirds with tiny voices are best for you. You’ll get to hear their singing, but no one else in your building will. 

Rabbits

Although they can be difficult to housetrain, rabbits are great apartment pets. You’ll probably want to litter box train yours, so plan on them needing about as much space as a cat. Rabbits are one of the quietest pets you can own. They’re ideal pets for those who like a calm, relaxed lifestyle. Furthermore, they don’t give off much of an odor, so your tiny apartment won’t start to smell like a petting zoo. Unlike dogs, you don’t need to take rabbits out for exercise. They do need to be let out of their cage for a few hours a day, but most apartments have enough space for a rabbit to run around. 

Hamsters 

Hamsters take up very little space and are ideal pets for those living in cramped apartments. They aren’t the quietest pets; you might want to get a different animal if the sound of hamster wheels drives you crazy. However, hamsters are fairly low maintenance pets.

As long as you feed them and clean their cages regularly, they don’t require much human interaction. They are nocturnal, so you may want to reconsider getting a hamster if you live in a studio apartment or are a light sleeper. 

Small Reptiles 

Having a pet snake isn’t for everyone, but small snakes do well in apartments. They’re quiet and happy to hang out in their tank all day. Other apartment friendly reptiles include small turtles, lizards, iguanas, and chameleons. Reptiles are very quiet and will never lead to noise complaints. However, they aren’t the easiest to care for. Putting together a reptile habitat often involves purchasing special lamps and regulating humidity levels. Feeding reptiles isn’t for the faint of heart – many of need to be fed insects and mice.