Do you live in an apartment complex? Advice please!

[dakcp2001]

I am moving from a house to an apartment complex, and there is one issue that concerns me A LOT. I have a blind cat, and we are going to be on a third floor apartment. He falls off of steps and if there is a ledge he will fall off of it (when my mom catsit for us last vaca she took him to her house where he fell off the side of the steps) Now I know we will not let him out because we are used to him. What concerns me is that the complex lets themselves in for "routine or required maintenance as well as emergency maintenance". I have asked that I be notified in writing 24 hours in advance so that I can confine him to a bedroom. They have told me they will "try" to accomodate this request but that it was really unlikely that they will be able to every time.They seem very uncaring and I am certain that this info is not going to be passed on to maintenance or the people who will enter.

Is there anything I can do legally to force them to notify me beforehand? I dont want kitty to be locked kin a room for the next 8 months of apartment living, that seem unfair. But if he gets out, there is no way he will survive. I have to be honest, it totally creeps me out that they can come in when I am not home.

Anything I can do about this? I understand if a pipe explodes they need to come in without notice, but other than that, I feel that there is no excuse for not notifying me first.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Most apartment complexes are very understanding. If you approach them from the 'blind' perspective and ask that they note that on your apartment card, either they'll notify you before-hand or they'll make their maintenance men aware of the situation and take special care to locate the cat before they do work.

Remember: the majority of people want to help! It's naturally ingrained into all of us to watch out for others. Just because you may be experiencing indifference with the Administrative staff doesn't mean the Maintenace staff is indifferent.

While I'm sure going into a strange new environment is a hair-raising experience for you, being pro-active about making management aware of your blind kitty will go a long way toward making sure they note it. After all, how many blind kitties does the complex have?

Another thing you might want to do to calm your anxiety is to maybe get a sign for just inside your door. Something that says, "Sneakers can't see you so he's counting on you to see him!" This would serve as a reminder to anyone entering your apartment that there's a disabled being nearby that needs to be watched out for.

Edited to add:

I don't believe there's anything legally you can do to force them to notify you before entering. That's a privilige and a right the owner of the building and/or his management team retains. However, before freaking out about strangers moving around your living space, try to remember that they're not intentionally thinking of ways to invade your privacy. Really - they have better things to do. Especially if it's a large complex.

If you're a quiet tenant, you don't disturb your neighbors, there's no evidence of drugs or criminal behavior, you are friendly and act like a normal, everyday human being, the only reasons Maintenance will need to visit your apartment will be either because you asked them to (broken item?) or a true emergency has occurred (burst pipe).

Try to relax. It's going to be OK!

 

[dakcp2001]

Most apartment complexes are very understanding. If you approach them from the 'blind' perspective and ask that they note that on your apartment card, either they'll notify you before-hand or they'll make their maintenance men aware of the situation and take special care to locate the cat before they do work.

Remember: the majority of people want to help! It's ingrained into them to watch out others. While I'm sure going into a strange new environment is a hair-raising experience for you, being pro-active about making management aware of your blind kitty will go a long way toward making sure they remember. After all, how many blind kitties does the complex have?

Another thing you might want to do to calm your anxiety is to maybe get a sign for just inside your door. Something that says, "Sneakers can't see you so he's counting on you to see him!" This would serve as a reminder to anyone entering your apartment that there's a disabled being nearby that needs to be watched out for.

The sign on the door is a GREAT idea! Thank you! I tried to ask them to notify the maintenance people and they totally blew me off.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

Another thing you might want to do to calm your anxiety is to maybe get a sign for just inside your door. Something that says, "Sneakers can't see you so he's counting on you to see him!" This would serve as a reminder to anyone entering your apartment that there's a disabled being nearby that needs to be watched out for.

This. But instead of using the cat's name, I would say "my cat". And I would put it on my front door so they see it when they come in.

My complex always puts a note in our mailbox when there is going to be maintenance being done or if someone is going to be in the apartment. My experience has been that they put those notices in the lease so they cover their butt, but I have never had anyone in my apartment without knowing about it first.

 

[hopemax]

All the apartments where we lived, would give notice. There was the fine print that they would enter in an emergency situation, but for routine stuff (yearly condition check, change the AC filter, our requests), we would know the date, and even approx. time.

 

[Tina]

I think a sign is a great idea, but keep in mind, depending on where you live, your maintenance staff may not speak/read English.

 

[cluvsdisney]

All the apartments where we lived, would give notice. There was the fine print that they would enter in an emergency situation, but for routine stuff (yearly condition check, change the AC filter, our requests), we would know the date, and even approx. time.

This has been my experience as well.

 

[Bethenny]

I think a sign is a great idea, but keep in mind, depending on where you live, your maintenance staff may not speak/read English.

You could add a clip art picture of a cat and put it on the sign. Then perhaps anyone who doesn't speak English will probably still figure out that you're trying to tell them something about a cat. I think anyone who is aware that there is a pet in the apartment will take care to make sure it isn't let out.

 

[minkydog]

You could add a clip art picture of a cat and put it on the sign. Then perhaps anyone who doesn't speak English will probably still figure out that you're trying to tell them something about a cat. I think anyone who is aware that there is a pet in the apartment will take care to make sure it isn't let out.

Or, you could include the picture AND a message written in both English and Spanish(I'm assuming that would be the major minority in your area.)

 

[Disney Doll]

I'd also make it a point to become friendly with the maintenance staff. Become "the nice lady in apartment 3B". Bake them cookies, talk to them, thank them for their hard work in keeping your complex in tip top shape. Put the sign on your door that you have a blind cat...do it in both English and Spanish (or whatever language you think would be the 2nd most likely that people in your area would be speaking). What the Administrators say and what the maintenance men will do for the "nice lady in apartment 3B" can be two very different things....

Maintenance men are good people to have as friends.....

 

[HeatherH]

You've already received great advice, so nothing to add there, but just wanted to mention a GREAT book to you about a woman with a blind cat (true story). It's called "Homer's Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper, if you haven't read it already. I think you would be able to relate to it VERY well.

I hope all goes well for you and your kitty with the move!

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

You could add a clip art picture of a cat and put it on the sign. Then perhaps anyone who doesn't speak English will probably still figure out that you're trying to tell them something about a cat. I think anyone who is aware that there is a pet in the apartment will take care to make sure it isn't let out.

Instead of a clip art cat, I'd include a picture of your actual cat? Why? So that if he does slip out accidentally and they go looking for him they don't find some other cat and put him in your apartment.

Besides, I'm sure your cat is cuter than clip art.

I will say, also, that I don't really think a cat cares whether he has one room or a whole apartment to roam, especially not if he's older and blind (so it's not like he enjoys different window views, for example).

Another option would be to get one of those expens (like a series of babygates that are connected) and make an enclosure with the door in it. Then the workmen would open the door. Enter the expen, and then close the door and enter the apartment by moving the expen.

Good luck!

 

[KittyHellstrom]

You've already received great advice, so nothing to add there, but just wanted to mention a GREAT book to you about a woman with a blind cat (true story). It's called "Homer's Odyssey" by Gwen Cooper, if you haven't read it already. I think you would be able to relate to it VERY well.

I hope all goes well for you and your kitty with the move!

Great book!
I have a blind kitty too. I like the sign idea that a few other posters had mentioned. That seems like it would be the best option.

-Kitty