Growing up, I always had pets. Whether it was a big, fluffy cat or just a simple goldfish, my house was never without an animal. That’s why it was so weird coming to UTM and not being allowed to have pets in my dorm room. I know you can have a pet if you register it as an Emotional Support Animal, but I honestly didn’t have the time and money to take care of one, anyway. Even though I knew it wouldn’t be a good idea to have a pet, it always felt like something was missing. When I moved off campus after my freshman year, I knew it was time to change this.
Luckily, my roommate was just as excited about the idea of adopting an animal as I was. We spent a lot of time debating what kind of pet we wanted, how many we wanted and even what to name it when we got one. Then, one day, out of nowhere, we got a call from my roommate’s mom about a little tortoiseshell kitten found on the side of the road. She was only two weeks old and was in pretty bad shape. Her feet were injured, and she was extremely malnourished. We instantly knew we needed to save her.
We took her home, and she slowly started getting healthy again. We named her Fleetwood, short for one of our favorite bands, Fleetwood Mac. She was so sweet and loving, but we thought something was missing. She needed another cat to keep her company. That’s why we adopted Claude, a two-year-old orange tabby cat who needed a new home. The two were not super happy with each other at first, but they quickly became best friends.
Since we adopted the cats, life has definitely gotten more interesting. Both of them are always doing something funny, whether it’s seeing how far and high they can jump or just rolling around on the floor. They both love attention, and it’s impossible to sit down without having one come jump on your lap. The best part, though, is how they can tell when one of us is stressed or sad, and they come and cuddle us, instantly making everything seem better.
Having pets comes with challenges, like vet bills, always feeding them and cleaning up after them, but it is completely worth it. They help add purpose to your life, and they teach you about responsibility. They also provide an amazing support system. They show so much love, and that can be a huge deal for someone who is dealing with stress or anxiety. Not to mention you’ll always have the cutest model for your next Instagram post. I would recommend that anyone who has the time and money for a pet should get one. They can be a lot of work, but the payoff is huge.
Photo courtesy of Pexels.