Going to college is hard. Of course taking more advanced classes is hard, and having a larger workload than in high school takes some time to navigate. One thing that made college much harder for me was being so far away from home; my family, friends and furry friends.
I’ve never known life without an animal.
We always had a cat or dog, or both in our household at a time. I’ve always had a special connection with the animals we’ve had in our household—they help me with my anxiety.
When I moved into my dorm freshman year, I found myself missing them more than I thought. As we approached holiday breaks, I found myself yearning to go home, not just for a break from work, but to see my little buddies I hadn’t seen in a while. And when it came time to leave, they were always the last ones to get a hug from me. Sorry mom!
Once I started working full time, I decided it would be best for me to get my own pets, but I didn’t make this decision on a whim, and you shouldn’t either.
Being a pet owner is difficult.
Before I even thought about getting a pet I thought about multiple things:
- My schedule.
- Where I lived.
- Could I provide?
In college our schedules are always changing, and for some pets that can stress them out. Luckily for me, my schedule has been pretty regular for the past two years, so I felt it wouldn’t disrupt an animal much. Additionally, I made the decision to buy an automatic pet feeder, that way if an appointment or meeting were to pop up, my cats would stay on a regular eating schedule. This helps them out, but it also helps you not return home to hungry beasts who are angry you missed dinner time.
When I first started thinking about getting a cat, I was not in a place where I could get one. I had two roommates, one had a dog and the other’s boyfriend was allergic to cats. Obviously this causes a few issues. When becoming a pet owner in college, you don’t just need to think about how it will affect you, but also the people around you, especially roommates. At that point in my life it wouldn’t have been fair for me to get a cat because of the circumstances I was in. This can be upsetting, but for the well-being of the animal, it’s a harsh reality that must be faced.
I shortly moved out into an apartment of my own. Having a big girl job has its perks, and one of them is having enough money to live on my own. With that comes the question of space. Animals need space to live, play and most importantly have the zoomies. I’m fortunate enough to live in a two bedroom apartment with plenty of space for my little guys to play and run. It’s important to make sure your animal doesn’t feel boxed in.
Owning a pet means you’re financially responsible for it. My cats are like my kids now, and they cost a lot. During my two monthly grocery trips, I have to stop and stock up on kibble and litter, which can add up. In addition to this comes vet bills. The vet is not cheap. Especially if it’s an emergency. Luckily my cats have only had to go to the vet for routine checkups, but that doesn’t mean an accident can’t or won’t happen. It’s easy for college kids to not have money saved up, but that can put you in a pickle when you’re in a pinch. Before I got my cats I was able to put aside emergency money just in case to make sure their health could be tended to. Now I know not everyone is able to do this. If you’re unable to, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad pet parent, but it’s something that should be given some thought before adopting a furry friend.
Being a pet parent in college is something I’ve thoroughly enjoyed. They’ve helped with my anxiety and make me regulate my schedule, which in turn makes me get work done on time. If you’re thinking about getting an animal of your own I highly suggest it, but it’s not a decision you can make in a split second. Take some time to think about it, and mull it over. Make sure you can treat the animal how it deserves to be treated and know they’ll be with you for more than just your college years.
