5 Reasons Why Pets Should Wait Until After College

By Jenny Barkan on March 23, 2014

Whether you’re fresh into college or about to graduate, you and your roommates have probably contemplated the idea of adopting a cute little kitten to roam around your apartment or a furry dog to play fetch with in your front yard. Perhaps you’ve joked about the possibilities of buying a bunny to hop through the hallways of your house or maybe you’ve always dreamed about having a hamster distract you as it runs along its spinning wheel while you attempt to study for your midterms.

As an animal lover from a household full of pets at home, I’ve definitely spent many nights at school longing for a cat to snuggle with or wishing for a puppy to walk through The Diag on a beautiful day. Yet, as my senior year approaches its conclusion in just a few short weeks, I’ve realized not getting a pet in college was one of the best decisions I could’ve made. Here’s why:

1. You’ll want the maximum amount of freedom in your post-graduate decisions.

Photo from reisshardware.com

I’m set to graduate from college this May and the world is at my fingertips. I’ll go anywhere to find the best job. I can move to any city and live in any apartment. Wait, this building won’t let me bring my cat. And how am I going to get my dog all the way to California? Who is going to pet-sit for Fluffy while I’m traveling for interviews? I promise when you’re in my position, you’ll be thankful you don’t have an animal to worry about while you’re trying to make some big life decisions. Wait to get a pet until you’re settled into your new routine or job for at least a year. Don’t let a furry friend limit your opportunities! Instead, be patient until you’re stable and on your own two feet so you can enjoy the company of a pet to the fullest.

2. You want your pet to be happy.

Photo from dumpaday.com

With classes, late night study sessions and volunteer activities, we are all busy as college students. Throw in a good balance of going out and hanging with friends, then we barely even have time to cook ourselves dinner. There’s nothing sadder than not giving an animal the attention it needs or leaving a pet alone in the house all day. You’ll come home tired and hungry only to find those precious brown eyes staring up at you, begging you to play. But too bad, you can’t. You’re just too tired.

3. You don’t want to have unnecessary fights with your roommates. 

Photo from goodreads.com

Say you and your roommates all agree to get a house pet together. When the year ends, who is going to be responsible for its care over the summer?  Who is going to drive the cat to the vet this time? Who is going to walk the dog on this miserable, frigid winter night in Ann Arbor? All of these questions can lead to unnecessary tension and debate between housemates. Hey, it’s college and you’re supposed to be having fun with your roommates, not arguing over who cleans out the litter box. You’re young and you’re even allowed to be a little selfish at this time in your life. So why opt to complicate this simple and blissful lifestyle with an animal when you only have four years of it?

4. You definitely know people with allergies.

Photo from protagonist.wikia.com

It’s almost Halloween weekend and your best friend from home wants to come visit. Oh wait, she’s allergic to cats and you currently have one lounging on your lap as she texts you about the potential visit. Get rid of the friend or the cat? You’re too young to have this debate so early on in your life.

5. You want to save as much money as possible.

Photo from petswelcome.com

Dog food. Kitty litter. Leashes. Toys. Medicine. Visits to the vet. We’re all tight on money as college students, and these necessities for pets can be detrimental to our tiny budgets. So splurge on a few extra drinks at the bar rather than dishing out the dollars for another bag of Purina Puppy Chow.

Ultimately, I hope these five reasons will encourage you to weigh the consequences and responsibilities involved in owning a pet while still in college. Animals can bring a lot of joy to our lives, but while we are still in undergrad, we may as well enjoy the life of having no responsibility besides showing up to class on time. When you’re about to graduate, however, and move to a new place with a steady job, then it might finally be time to start googling cat breeds or making those lists of your favorite dog names.

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