College is great for so many things: making friends, finding your passion, learning cool sh*t. And it’s not so great for other things: getting 8 hours of sleep, eating a balanced diet, and taking care of a pet! Your college dorm room isn’t the best environment for a furry friend, but sometimes all you need is a nonjudgmental pair of ears that will listen to your rant about the snotty freshmen who pushed past YOUR seniorly stature, and say absolutely nothing. And who says that just because we sacrifice thousands of dollars in tuition money, spend hours that could be spent binge watching all 14 season of Grey’s Anatomy, and our risk our sanity- that we can’t have cute pets too?
Well I am here to tell you: IT IS POSSIBLE. Now don’t get too excited, I’m not saying this is the perfect time to go out and buy a $1,400 French Bulldog (although I’m not NOT saying that…) but I am shining a ray of hope that owning a pet in college is possible!
As you read through my carefully selected list of potential best friends, be truthful with yourself and your lifestyle. Having realistic expectation of how you spend your days is really important when considering adding another living thing to your life! And while no one really has a five year plan ready, we usually have some conception of what we want to do when we graduate. If that idea involves traveling, moving abroad, or just moving around a lot in general, you should be mindful of how that would affect a potential pet. A lot of people don’t realize the commitment they are signing up for when they adopt a pet, most domestic rabbits live up to nine years, and some snakes live up to 30! So having a general plan of where you’ll end up is always an important consideration.
And finally, please please DON’T be the person that goes out and adopts all these pets, only to return them a few months later. You are choosing to share your life with this animal, and that is not something to be taken lightly. Our pets are dependent on us and a bond is formed when they enter our family, don’t be that asshole that rips that away and sends them back to the shelter.
Fish
The most obvious student-friendly choice, fish are low maintenance, but can still be super entertaining! I once owned a beta fish that could swim through hoops, and play with little toys I would place around his tank (that fish has since been brutally murdered by cats that lived in the same area and I’m fine, it’s all fine, those aren’t tears in my eyes it’s just a glint from the sun). But you can’t just go out, buy a fish, throw him in a tank of tap water, and throw in a few fish crumbles every now and then. Some fish need filters for their bowl, adding oxygen to the water and keeping it circulating. This is why every time someone uses goldfish for some creative invitation to their school dance, they die like four days later. Similarly, Beta fish like warmer water temperature, and while this doesn’t seem to be as essential as the filter to the goldfish, you’re beta will be much happier and livelier living with a heater! There is actually more than you think to keeping a healthy fish, but overall they make great college pals.
Snakes
If you live in a dorm, owning any pet that isn’t in a tank of water can be pretty much impossible. But did you know that some colleges allow snakes if they are under 5 feet? There are a lot of different snakes out there, but the best size and temperament would be Milk, Gartner, Corn and Kingsnakes. Keep in mind that these guys are carnivorous, so you’ll have to have a freezer handy, or be comfortable delivering a live animal to their untimely death (no shade, I know mother nature has no mercy). You’ll need to have a bigger space for their tank, the smallest of snakes still require a 20 or 30 gallon space, and be mindful that snakes can have health problems that have expensive medical consequences (BC they are “specialized” animals their vet bills are typically more expensive than cat’s or dog’s).
Hamster or Gerbil
These guys also take up little space, and require little attention throughout the day. Rodents are very intelligent, so you can teach them tricks, and watch them solve food motivated puzzles (while you do similar food motivated puzzles). Some furry cuties like to be held and cuddled, and others don’t care for it. But most are vocal, so be prepared to hear some adorable squeaks throughout your night!
Cats
While a lot of college students own kitties over dogs (who require more attention and are more dependent), I am reluctant to put this on my list in fear of validating that desperate cat-lover that really, really shouldn’t own a cat right now (I’ll just go ahead and @ myself right now). Cats are better at being alone for long periods, but they still get bored and lonely on their own. Felines that are forced to stay indoors can also develop anxious and frustrated personalities, something that can spell disaster for nice furniture or house plants. Owning a cat can rack up your Petco bill, and vet bills can increase as your kitty gets older. I would recommend holding off on getting a purring pal until you have an outdoor space they can explore safely, and a substantial amount of financial security.
Pet Rock
If you are one of those people that just can’t be bothered with the needs of others, this pet is perfect for you. You can still dress up this lively creature with cute accessories, and even change their expression with a flick of sharpie! You can be sure all your judgmental rants will be heard by this stony guy. And you’ll never have to worry about hurting its feelings– he’s as hard as a rock. While this pet may seem the lowest maintenance you can get, don’t take them for granite or you’ll end up sad, alone…and possibly with a black eye the size of a small rock.
Okay I think I’m done, this one was mainly for all my rock puns.
Volunteer at Best Friends or the Human Society
If you can’t have any pets at all, but still yearn for animal companionship, donating your time at a local shelter is a great way to fill that hole. Shelters are always in need of volunteers to walk dogs, clean kennels, or just maintaining the overall space. The feeling that comes with helping animals waiting for their forever home is so gratifying, and it’s always good to help out organizations making a difference in our community. I have volunteered as both a dog walker at Best Friends and a Cat Care staffer for the kitties (you literally sit in a room with like 20 kittens and socialize them). Just be prepared and go into it with the mindset YOU ARE NOT TAKING ALL OF THEM HOME. It’s harder than you think when face-to-face with a lovable pup.
Regardless if you choose to own a pet right now or not, remember there is plenty of time to create that perfect furry family in the future, and rushing into something like owning an animal is a pretty big responsibility.
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