Having a Pet at USC: Good or Bad Idea?
By Lauren Brose
Until this past May, I’ve never owned a pet that didn’t belong in a tank. I grew up not only loving animals and desiring one for myself but with a brother who had asthma accompanied with a string of allergies such as grass or dust. While it was devastating to not have a dog or a cat in the family, I knew when the time was right, I would get my very own fur baby.
A week after I walked in last Spring’s commencement, I bought King George. He is a Bengal cat, one of the most exotic and difficult breeds to own. Many families with young children don’t get them because they’re afraid they’ll attack
their children. Not only am I taking into my home an extremely young kitten, but one that will bite and scratch into the first years of their lives. At first, KG was timid. He was adorably small with fuzzy baby cat fur, would sleep the majority of the day and be able to easy lie across my lap.
Now, he’s a little over six pounds and runs a great deal faster than I. I have tiny scars all over my forearms from the frequent times he’s launched himself at me while I was in bed typing on my laptop or simply minding my own business. He torments my roommates. Any male guests who passes through has fallen victim to his ferocious attacks. It’s gotten to the point where I am going to have to be a better pet parent to my kitten and stay in more often so that he can expel his energy onto myself and onto toys instead of my roommates and our guests.
Is having a pet during college a good idea? Honestly, probably not. Most of the time, we don’t have enough time to even take care of ourselves. Plus, we have football season to focus on, networking opportunities to attend, internships to crush and our social lives to top off our full college experience. A pet has no place in this hectic time of our lives and I knew this going in. That is why I waited to get all of the craziness out of my system before seriously considering adding a furry friend into my life.
Here’s why I got a cat at the budding age of 22: I am honestly scared to death about how my life will pan out over the next decade. On one hand, I couldn’t be more excited to begin this new chapter; but on the other side of the coin, I need to accept all changes that follow—even the ones I don’t want to happen. Relationships end and friends move out of the USC bubble; that’s post-grad life. Welcoming a pet is that promise of companionship I cannot expect from my best friends.
According to a Business Insider article, Anxiety is the No. 1 health concern for college students. They found that many students reported having “a harder time dealing with stress” in comparison to previous generations “in part because of the prevalence of helicopter parents.” Many of us can relate to our parents investing so much into our education and expecting a job offer at the very minimum by graduation. As a result, we’re harder on ourselves thus creating a strong sense of anxiety during midterms and sometimes throughout the entire semester. Like many USC students, I expect only the greatest achievements from myself and I know this ambition won’t cease after I finish my classes.
While I am in no position to be a parent, having a pet is a warm reminder that I’m still a caregiver to another. It gives me a feeling of significance to come home to King George excitedly running toward me and to wake up in the morning to endless purrs and cuddles from my little guy. I never saw myself as a cat person, but King George won me over in a matter of minutes. After spending a summer learning about Bengal cats and how much of a commitment pet ownership is, I have determined that owning a cat opposed to a dog during college isn’t a far fetched idea. They’re naturally more independent but offer many of the same health benefits that dogs offer!
You become more considerate of other’s feelings
Before owning a pet, I thought they were live stuffed animals that lacked essential cognitive abilities humans possess such as moods and personality traits. I quickly learned how temperamental King George can be depending on the time of day. When his ears lie flat and he’s crouched in a pre-pounce position, I know not to pick up or pet him. When he approaches my house guests and sniffs at their ankles, I know it is a safe time for them to get to know KG.
The joys of a cat’s purr
I’ve discovered that KG is a rather happy cat. When I say hi, he sometimes responds with a little chirp. My favorite sound to hear, however, is his purr. I am greeted with a purr when I wake up in the morning. He crawls onto my chest to cuddle, rubs his head onto mine and lies on his back so I can rub his belly. Studies have shown that our blood pressure and stress levels are reduced when we are petting purring cats and I can attest to that as I now normally start my days with a clear mind.
More endless health benefits
In addition to lowering stress and blood pressure, it is also found that owning a pet lowers cholesterol as well as risk of heart attack and stroke. Ironically, children are less likely to develop allergies when there is a pet in the household. Circling back to the aforementioned Business Insider article, petting a cat and the act of caring for a cat reduces anxiety. It is also found to help better cope with depression and our moods.
Always someone to hang with
Many believe cats are antisocial animals who only come to you when they need something. I see cat’s as social animals but with a much stronger sense of independence due to their high level of intelligence. Instinctually, they’re both hunter and prey. In order to cater to that, a cat requires high places to climb and playtime for hunting. By providing these outlets, your happy cat will appreciate having their own space and will bond with you more than you can imagine. Because it’s an exclusive bond between pet and owner, it’s often goes unnoticed when there are newcomers present. Through the toughest of times, I can expect my cat to not only pick up on my hardships but to also offer his affection to lift up my spirits.
When considering whether a cat–– or pet–– is the right move to make during your time at USC, it is important to consider the type of college student you are. Are you a homebody or a Frat Star? Do you take weekend trips often? Do you maintain a clean, pet friendly living space? Does your landlord allow animals in your property? These are all imperative, make-or-break questions that must be addressed before taking the plunge. It took me 2 years to decide now was the time for my to get King George. Maybe a pet isn’t the right choice for you during college but instead during the post-college / pre-career limbo I was referring to earlier. Whatever it is, I hope everyone gets to experience what it’s like to have a fur baby of their very own–– I now can’t imagine my life without animals being part of it! ω(=＾・＾=)ω
