Keep dogs out: Cats are superior college pets

By Caitlyn Meisner | Staff Writer

I’ll say it here and now — I prefer cats over dogs. I’ve grown up with cats my entire life, and I truly think they are the best pet for any family looking for an animal to love. I’ll entertain the idea of a dog, but cats are my No. 1.

Sure, dogs are fun. They have loud personalities and lots of fur, need constant attention and always take up so much space on any piece of furniture.

Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Meisner.
Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Meisner.

We all know how busy we are with multiple classes, office hours, clubs, organizations, work, studying and the random roommate-related fun that happens daily. Despite this, many of us bog ourselves down with dogs that eat into our time to focus on our assignments and human relationships.

With a dog, it’s impossible to get all of this done in one day and have time to fulfill their needs. With a cat, you can roam freely throughout the day and won’t have to worry about taking them for a walk on a hot Waco afternoon after you bombed your calculus test.

A cat also merely coexists with you in your shared space. They’ll greet you when you come home and probably want to sit next to you on the couch — not take up the entirety of it — while you decompress after classes by scrolling through TikTok. Can a dog do that? Yes, but only after you’ve completed a million tasks for them.

Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Meisner.
Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Meisner.

Cats can, and likely want to, be left alone as much as they want to cuddle you. You both can get time away from each other during the day and hang out at night while you both complete important tasks like doing homework or taking nap No. 5 of the day. Distance makes the heart grow fonder, right?

Cats are also cost effective for college students like us. Yes, it’s expensive at the beginning when you have to buy their essentials, but cats themselves usually don’t go for more than $100 when adopting. Their supplies only need to be replenished month-to-month, but that’s purely based on how chunky your cat is.

Also, the Waco cats are great. I know we all stop and watch the Draper cats play together on a daily basis — even those of us who say they don’t like cats. We all know they’re adorable.

Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Meisner.
Photo courtesy of Caitlyn Meisner.

If you’re looking for a furry college companion, a cat is the best option. A cost-effective, low-maintenance alternative to a dog is unbeatable and, honestly, a great deal.

The choice is simple.