Many single college students struggle with the sad reality of being lonely. We work all day and study all night to come home to nobody. We constantly search for a way to fill that void. That lonely feeling can sometimes turn into the impulsive and selfish purchasing of a puppy.
Yes, buying a puppy as a college student can be selfish. Though there can be exceptions, depending on the size of the dog, no dog should sit in a kennel all day, wondering if and when his or her best friend will return. If you are a busy college student and gone all day, your canine pet might be limited to roam freely for as little as one hour a day (that’s if you take the time to take your dog on an hour long walk). Let’s be honest, we’re broke, so it is possible that your pup may suffer with illness due to lack of income for necessary care.
A college student simply may not have the time or appropriate amount of money to give a dog the love and attention that he or she yearns for every second of every day. Though a dog will give YOU the love and attention that you yearn for, the reality is, you may not be able to return the affection responsibly.
I’ve witnessed those who return their dogs to the pet store, or worse, sell them on Craigslist, because they realized the load was too much to handle.
I’ve witnessed those who let their dogs suffer in pain because they couldn’t afford a trip to the veterinarian.
I’ve witnessed those who let their dog sit in a kennel all day with little to no exercise because they didn’t have time to take the dog on a walk.
It is simply selfish.
As a busy college student, you must be prepared to set aside a lot of your down time in order to give a dog the necessary care it needs. That means you may have to sacrifice those naps after class and there definitely won’t be any partying all night.
Don’t worry. There are other options. What if I told you, you could own a furry friend that won’t interfere with your studying (though these pets tend to sleep on keyboards), social life or busy work schedule? You can. This pet is known as a cat.
Cats show just as much love and affection as dogs do. It is also very simple to take care of a cat.
Unlike dogs, cats do not need to be locked in a kennel all day for house-training issues or to prevent destruction of the house and/or furniture.
Cats use litter boxes and rarely potty outside of the litter box. They do not normally require training on how to use a litter box either. If you have time to brush your teeth, you have time to scoop up waste in a litter box. Some cats have even been trained to use the toilet!
Cats rarely destroy a home. It is pleasurable for a cat to claw on an object, but that is the purpose of scratching posts. Also, there is a wonderful substance called catnip. Sprinkle some catnip on a scratching post and your cat won’t want to claw at anything else.
Unlike dogs, cats can be left alone all day. Cats do not require the exercise that a dog requires. It is actually normal for a cat to sleep from 16 to 20 hours a day! That means you have a snuggle buddy for all of your after-class-naps. Talk about low maintenance!
Cats are also a lot less costly pets than dogs. In fact, DailyFinance.com did an experiment to test which pet was more expensive. Dogs tested higher for the adoption fee, higher for the cost of spaying or neutering and higher for the cost of apartment living.
Most importantly, cats will also show you the affection that you need. Every night my cat sleeps right by my pillow and gives me goodnight kisses! Her soft fur is comforting to pet after a long stressful day, and the sound of a purring kitty is the perfect stress reliever.
It is my dream to own a Golden Retriever, but I will wait until I have the space, money and time to care for such a pet. For now, my kitty is my best friend. So, next time you are feeling lonely, remember, a dog requires a lot of attention. A cat can be a much more reasonable pet for a busy college student. A cat offers a permanent snuggle buddy for those long naps we love to take, a companion for those lonely studying nights and an overall low maintenance deal.
If you are longing for a furry friend, think about your lifestyle and whether a dog or a cat is a better pet for you. ASPCA stated that every year, 3.4 million cats enter animal shelters across the nation. The organization added that 1.4 million dogs are adopted each year, but only 1.3 million cats are adopted. Please, whether it’s a dog or a cat that you want, think about adopting and rescuing before buying from a breeder. With so many homeless pets and an over populated pet problem, it is unnecessary to purposely breed more animals. The homeless pets need a home and you could be their savior!
