So, you convinced your parents to let you move off campus, found the perfect apartment and a great roommate. Best of all? The apartment complex allows pets.
You spent all of last year missing the ability to cuddle with your fuzzy pet at your parents’ house, which makes getting a pet of your own a priority for this year.
There are plenty of reasons a pet can be a great idea, not the least of which is that petting your cat or dog is proven to help reduce stress. Who doesn’t need a dog during finals week?
Unfortunately, there are also a lot of good reasons not to get a cat or dog while in college. Friends may offer a lot of apartment living advice that may or may not address all the reasons why you might want to consider a cat or dog as your first pet.
New Roommates
Right now, you have a roommate who’s good with the idea of getting a cat or dog, right? However, what happens next year? If you expect to have a roommate for the rest of your time at college and there’s a chance it isn’t the one you have now, it’s important to know that getting a cat or dog may affect who you can have as a roommate. Your best buddy might make a great roommate, but not if he’s allergic to your dog.
Cats and dogs are expensive.
If this is your first time living on your own and paying all the bills, you might not have considered all the things that go into owning a cat or dog. If you find a free puppy or kitten, you can at least avoid the adoption fees, but most shelters want at least $100 to adopt a pet and many charge much more. A purebred pet from a pet store is several times that much.
Within the first year, your pet will need shots and to get spayed or neutered. Then, you will needs toys, a bed for your pet and food. For a cat, you will also need cat litter. You’ll also likely need to spend about $20 a month preventing them from getting fleas. In all, expect to spend several hundred dollars a year on your pet. Is that in your budget?
Dogs and cats require a lot of time.
Potty training a puppy requires being able to take it outside every hour or so for weeks until he gets the hang of holding it. Who is going to take the dog out when you’re in class, hanging out with friends or at a football game.
A cat may seem less demanding than a puppy, but they will want to be brushed and played with. Most cats learn to use the litter box instinctively, but some still need training.
Your pets will also need someone to care for them when you go home for the weekend or away on spring break. You can either pay for boarding, take them with you or try to con a friend into taking care of them.
Cats and dogs live a long time.
In just a couple years, you’ll be graduating and moving on with your life. Are you prepared to make the lifetime commitment your pet deserves? Indoor cats can live more than 20 years and medium to large breed dogs often live more than a decade. When you’re looking for your first job, do you want to consider how the job might affect your pet?
Pet Alternatives
While you’re in school and living in an apartment, a fuzzy alternative to a cat or dog could be a guinea pig or hamster. Guinea pigs often live between 4 and 8 years while hamsters only live 2-3. The initial investment for either is smaller and they are much easier to transport to your new home. In addition, more apartment complexes will be accepting of small, confined pets than dogs and cats.
Did you get a pet while in college? Was it a good idea? Let us know about your experience in the comment section below
Equal Housing Opportunity
