Are you interested in getting a cat or dog but have concerns because you live in an apartment? Cats can be a great choice for people who live in apartments.

First, cats are naturally clean animals. They actually prefer to use a litter box for toileting instead of making messes on your carpet. Cats clean themselves, so they rarely require you to give them a bath.

Cats are generally quiet creatures. Yes, they can meow and yowl sometimes, but when compared to a barking dog, the cat's amount of noise pales in comparison. You won't have the issue of a dog barking endlessly from separation anxiety and neighbors calling the apartment office to complain.

Third, cats do not have to be taken outside to use the bathroom. Apartment communities may not have convenient places for dog-walking, and there may be safety issues involved with walking a dog after dark. Also, there can be a lot of dogs in a small area which can increase the likelihood of diseases being transmitted to your pet.

You will have more choices of where to live if you get a cat. Some apartments will allow cats but won't allow dogs. Sometimes pet-shy landlords can be convinced to let you keep a cat but would never consider a dog. You can live in a high-rise and not have to worry about your dog having an accident while you are waiting to catch an elevator to go outside.

Cats allow more freedom for their owners. If you are single and have to work late, you don't have to worry about your dog being in agony from having to wait to go outside or making a mess. Often, people who live in apartments have fewer obligations and are more likely to want to travel. A cat can be left overnight if plenty of food and water is available. And for longer trips, you could have someone stop by once daily to check on the cat where a dog would require at least two daily stops and probably more, or you might have to pay for boarding at a kennel.

You may be worried that a cat can't be as good of a companion as a dog. Cats can be very affectionate, but this depends on the individual cat's personality and how the cat was handled as a kitten. Many like to be right where you are when you are home such as on the couch with you while you are watching TV. Cats can even be trained to do tricks such as fetch.

I have lived in apartments with both cats and dogs. While I enjoy both, I think a cat is the best choice for apartment-dwellers since they use litter boxes instead of having to go outside, they don't bark, and you don't have to schedule your life around having to be home to take the dog out.