Coming to college, I always thought the things I would noticeably struggle with would be the increased workload, dorm living, and dining hall food. Although these did prove to be formidable foes (do you ever really get used to Market food?) there was another big change that I had not thought as much about: being so far away from my family. As someone who lives in a town in the suburbs of Boston, going home for the weekend from Pittsburgh is a luxury I don’t have. This was a hard adjustment at first, but I can still text my mom in between classes and FaceTime with my little brother in the evenings. Unfortunately, however, the family member I really wanted to talk to, the one I always went to when I needed to cry and who showed me unconditional love doesn’t have thumbs. That would be none other than my best bud, Naba. She’s a cat.
As a rising junior at the University of Pittsburgh, I’ve learned the ins and outs of adjusting to a pet-less life. Can you relate to any of these realities?
1. You see ghost pets.
Around every corner, you think you see them lurking. You hear a plastic bag crunch and automatically scold the air. During my first semester at school, I always felt under the blanket lumps in my bed (who has time to make beds?) to make sure my cat wasn’t asleep under them before I would lie down. This gets better with time, but I swear I still ask myself if I let the dog in whenever I hear barking outside my apartment in South O.
2. Somehow, You Still Find Hair Everywhere
Thought your days of stray hair were over? You thought wrong. Although the onslaught on hair decreases substantially when you’re away, you still find hair on the floor, in your shoes, and even on clothes you swear you washed two days ago. You clean out the filter in your vacuum and see those pesky white hairs that definitely didn’t come from you. WHAT’S HAPPENING?
3. You Freak Out When You See Other People’s Pets
Whether it’s the therapy dogs in the Cathedral of Learning on Tuesday nights, or just your neighbor’s cat that she stole from her aunt for the winter months (looking at you, Rachael), you get way too excited and/or jealous when you see someone’s pet(s). And if they look even remotely similar to your baby at home, cue the squeals (and probably tears, if you’re anything like me).
4. You Make Your Family Send You Pictures Every Day
It’s just part of my daily routine to get an onslaught of Naba pictures every morning. What else would I use for my phone background (other than Cathy pics)?
5. Along With Pictures, You Need to Talk to Them
Have you ever FaceTimed with your pet? At least once a week, I make my mom hold the phone for my kitty so I can talk to her face. She usually just twitches her tail and walks away in a huff, but occasionally she will hear my voice and come rub her face on the phone (I’m totally not crying mom, no I’m fine).
6. You Get Irrationally Excited About Seeing Them When You Do Go Home
You’re counting down the days until you go home. Your family just thinks you’re excited to see them, and you ARE, but all you can really think about is hugging that fluff ball you’ve missed all semester.
7. You Dread Going Back to School to Start The Process Over
By the time you’re finally settled into home life and you have mastered cohabitation once again, it’s time to head back. Once you get back to school, the process starts all over again.