It also remains a sound security practice to always shred any correspondence displaying your name, address or other pertinent information. Never provide a link to your apartment by placing bank statements, credit card bills or other confidential printed material in your building’s trash or recycling facilities.
The Key to Your Personal Security
Following life in my condominium I eventually moved across town to the top floor of a high rise apartment building. Over a period of five years I rented my one bedroom suite and finally realized a life of total bliss and contentment with my cat Dustin. Although not located in the best area of town the building provided a warm environment in which I felt totally safe and protected. In retrospect, considering my age at the time, I wasn’t overly concerned with safety issues. I loved my home and felt secure by simply practicing the accepted safety precautions of many single young women.
On Friday evenings I would follow a weekly routine of transporting all my laundry downstairs to the basement during the dinner hour. One great advantage of apartment life is living in a large building where you have the use of multiple machines. I timed my laundry duties to coincide with the dinner hour to avoid encountering a busy laundry room.
The only time I left my apartment door unlocked was for the twenty minutes or so it took to transport my clean laundry back upstairs to my suite. With my apartment door locked it was difficult to balance my laundry basket and assorted items on hangers when opening the door. This system had worked for several years and remained the only time my home was left vulnerable with Dustin alone in residence.
On one particular Friday evening I was totally unprepared for a memorable encounter which was to occur behind my unlocked door. I took the elevator to the top floor while balancing a large basket of clean laundry. However, a surprise was waiting for me in my apartment. As the door swung open, I discovered a naked man lying on the floor stretched out in total comfort watching television. We stared at each other speechless in complete shock. I glanced back at the suite number displayed on the door which confirmed this was not my apartment. I quickly realized my error as I had obviously caught the elevator to the wrong floor. Thoughtlessly I intruded on a new neighbor on the floor directly beneath my own apartment who had also left his door unlocked. I stammered an apology and red faced with embarrassment shut the naked man’s door retreating to the safety of my own suite directly above.
That was the last time I ever left my door unlocked for any reason. I’m sure my male neighbor residing in his suite below also learned the same valuable lesson. The moral of this story is to always keep your door locked no matter how short the duration you plan to remain outside your home. Whether getting your mail, doing your laundry or disposing of trash this essential practice should be followed at all times. In addition it is equally important to keep your door locked at all times when you are inside your apartment. This was a lesson well learned and an error in judgement I never repeated.
Years later I was informed by a client who had purchased two kittens from my cattery that she had also made this classic error. After leaving her apartment door unlocked for several minutes her two beloved six-month-old kittens were stolen from her suite. The whereabouts of the Persians were never discovered and the theft became an inconsolable and devastating loss to their owner. The story of these dear kittens was passed on whenever I sold to anyone living in an apartment or condominium. I would warn those buyers how quickly kittens or adult cats can be taken from a suite when the door has been left unlocked. Therefore for your own safety and the safety of your feline, the most valuable key to your personal security is to always use your key.
Purchasing & Transporting Feline Supplies
In order to maintain your privacy consistent care is also necessary when transporting feline supplies into your suite. Should your apartment provide adequate storage space, litter need not prove too difficult a challenge. Once purchased but prior to transporting home, place the cat litter bag within a non-transparent larger bag to be transferred privately to your suite. Although larger quantities of cat litter are economical they are also heavy and more difficult to handle. It should prove easier to manage the weight of litter with the use of a collapsible shopping cart. By using a shopping cart with wheels litter may then be safely transported from the car to your apartment. With the convenience of maintaining a larger supply of cat litter at home there would be fewer trips transporting it through the common areas of your building. The same cart may then serve a dual purpose as the ideal storage space for holding cat litter in your suite when kept within a closet. In place of a shopping cart I have also used a large suitcase as it could easily hold a large bag of cat litter. As the suitcase was equipped with wheels and a strong pull strap there was little difficulty transporting the contents privately to my apartment.
Although more costly you may prefer to purchase litter in more convenient smaller sizes. You will then be able to transport your cat’s litter supplies through the common areas of the building with discretion. To avoid frequent trips to your pet store purchase several smaller bags of litter each time you require supplies. By enclosing these smaller bags within durable cloth shopping bags all contents will remain hidden. Ensure the contents are not visible and completely disguised while you are transporting the enclosed bags into your apartment. The same precautions should be employed when transporting cat food into your suite.
Disposal Methods
Care should also be employed when disposing of all soiled cat litter and cat food containers including bags, pails, tins, etc. The correct method used will depend on your building’s refuse facilities. If you have purchased cat food and litter in paper bags or cardboard boxes then these should be shredded. Should you be unable to shred these bags or boxes then they could be reversed and used as trash bags or placed in recycling bins where facilities exist. Likewise, if you purchase litter in heavy duty plastic bags these too should be reversed and may be used as trash bags. Some companies use plastic containers for litter or dried cat food. Labels should be removed and shredded. Then place the plastic containers with your regular household waste or recycling for disposal. Similarly, when disposing of rinsed cat food tins simply remove and shred the cat identifying label then place the tins with your regular household waste or in the recycling bin.
Dispose of soiled litter frequently to prevent the bag from breaking due to the concentrated weight. Maintain a supply of standard paper bags which can be reinforced by placing them within plastic grocery bags. Both are provided when purchasing groceries and offer additional protection for litter disposal. However should your pet store supply a brand name cat litter that is flushable you may be spared additional work and not require your building’s refuse facilities. Please note that it is essential to request at time of purchase if the store will guarantee that their disposible litter will not create plumbing hazards in your apartment suite.
Catnip Corner
Take time to prepare a special area of isolation for your cat that may be used should the Manager unexpectantly arrive at your door. It is best to own two cat carriers. One should be stored in the trunk of your car and a second that never leaves your bedroom closet. As the cat carrier in your closet is never used for transportation to the vet, you will not be stressing your feline with an environment that is associated with change and fear. The carrier in your bedroom closet should be a place of comfort associated with pleasant memories. Catnip should be placed in the carrier infrequently to encourage your cat to associate that area as part of their personal territory. Some felines are attracted to a quiet dark area where they are able to rest and will frequently retreat to the peace and quiet of their carriers.
Should you have a visitor at your door never attempt to keep your cat occupied by using catnip. This product should be used infrequently and only to associate the carrier as a feline friendly environment. Cats often become more aggressive when they are provided with catnip. With time and as your feline ages you will be better able to interpret your cat’s expected behavior while he is under the influence. It should also be noted that kittens may not show any interest in catnip and some adult cats are only mildly stimulated by it’s effects.
Many felines become lethargic