Perfect for pets
A living space can be fitted out for the comfort of the house cat or dog, and for your peace of mind
Our apartment building, like so many others in Hong Kong, has a 'no dogs' policy. When friends dropped by recently after a family outing, and it was too hot to leave their dachshund Klink in the car, enterprising Tony simply popped the hound into the baby's stroller and wheeled him up to our place.
Their flat has a 'no dogs' policy too, so when Klink goes for his twice-daily walk, he is secreted in and out of the building inside a sports bag. Such are the lengths man will go to cohabit with the beast.
Animals and humans might be destined to be together but, as in any shared accommodation, house rules should apply. A rule of thumb that generally works well is this: I will love you and pamper you, and you will not destroy my things.
Reaching a common level of understanding is not always easy, but it is worth persevering. Take Mary, another friend of mine, who just could not stop her cats from clawing the furniture. She had tried the recommended ways. She bought a good quality scratching post, lined the edges of the sofa with double-sided sticky tape, and even resorted to trimming claws. All to no avail.
These nifty wisps of plastic are glued onto the paws (a bit like a false nail), and at about $130 for a set of 40 is a sound investment that does work.
Mary also wanted to provide her cats with exercise opportunities, to protect them from obesity and joint problems in later life. She made a 'cat gym' by installing a series of Ikea shelves at various heights from floor to ceiling. Again, this is a facility that works - once the cats get the hang of it. Encourage them by putting a few treats up on the shelves, or guide them there during play by using a laser pointer.
Feeding your cats premium food, and buying an 'igloo'-type litter tray, helps keep smells and mess at bay. Of course, all cats should be de-sexed.
When it comes to dogs, it goes without saying that they must be trained. Most of their day is spent in the confinement of your flat. Destructive behaviour such as chewing, ripping and soiling are common signs of boredom and/or separation anxiety.
But there are ways to 'counter-condition' dogs in the hope they would do something else.
The SPCA sells chewable 'kong' toys that can be stuffed with food to keep your dog occupied for hours, and offers a variety of training and behaviour classes ranging from six-week group programmes to private consultations.
'Puppy parenting' and play group sessions are also available.
To take the worry out of 'accidents' happening, furniture retailer G.O.D. (tel 2544 5615) sells chairs and sofas that feature the latest anti-stain technology developed by Swedish Texcote. Fabrics treated with Texcote are ideal for households with pets because they become water-repellent, stain-resistant and anti-bacterial, and are environmental-friendly.
To really pamper your pooch, G.O.D has a range of pet beds in three different types: canvas with a light blue cushion ($250); yellow or grey nylon cover with polyester lining ($250 large size), or a dog pattern fabric available in small ($330), medium ($430) and large ($530).
Other pets compatible with an indoor environment are hamsters and rabbits (whose bedding should be changed every one or two days to avoid odour), and chinchillas and turtles.
Rabbits can be toilet-trained to use a litter tray, and may be safely let out of the cage to enjoy a hop around the house.
