Going to college can be difficult. You’re leaving behind your friends, family, and everything you had previously thought you had known about life. Everyone thinks about what happens when they leave for college, and it is everything you may expect: new faces, a new lifestyle, and sharing a room with someone you barely know anything about. It may be different for other people, but in my experience, saying goodbye to my cat as I got ready to depart for move-in day was heart wrenching. I kept thinking about what could happen to him while I am away from home, and this is a scary thought. I didn’t want to think about coming home to a cat who no longer recognizes me, or even worse, no cat at all. Luckily, I have a few helpful hints that help to combat the sadness you are dealing with while leaving your fur babies at home.
Video chat often
This may seem bizarre, but it actually helps quite a bit! Video chatting your pets at home is actually quite stress relieving. Not only do you get to see your pet, you also get to talk to your family members for a bit. Don’t be offended if your pet walks away from the phone, mine did too at first (luckily he did come towards the sound of my voice).
Get a Pet While In College
This advice is contingent on what your campus allows, but here at Utica College, you can have fish! Upon finding out that I could have a fish, I went out to our local pet stores, and got myself a fish that helps fill the void just slightly.
Get Involved
This advice may seem trivial, but when it comes down to it, you won’t be thinking as much about how much you miss your pets at home when all you can think about is all of the meetings you have for the new clubs you signed yourself up for!
When it comes down to it, your pet probably misses you just as much as you miss them, and that’s ok! When you get the chance to go home, they will remember who you are. Therefore you can rest assured, as I saw for myself this past weekend.