Best Pets for College Students

The average college student is quite the busy creature. Whether out studying, working, partying, or being involved in any host of resume boosting extra curriculars, most college students don’t have a lot of extra time. They also live in tiny dorms or cramped apartments which doesn’t leave them with a lot of space. So what is the best pet for a college student? Along with meeting the requirements for your lease, the ideal pet should be low maintenance and require little space.

Dogs

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In general, dogs do not make good pets for college students. They require the exact threethings that students are in short supply of. Dogs tend to require lots of space, frequent exercise, and attention. Most students are out of their apartment for as much as 8 hours each day which is far too much time to leave a dog unattended Especially a puppy.  For those of you absolutely dead set on getting a dog, here’s a few things you should keep in mind when picking out your new canine companion:

- Get a small dog. They require less space and are easier to exercise.

- Adopt a mutt from the shelter! In addition to rescuing a dog, mutts tend to be much healthier as they are less prone to hereditary issues and live longer.

- I would personally recommend getting a dog that is at least 2 years old. As much as you love a cute puppy you aren’t going to love it chewing up your shoes and peeing on your carpet for a year. They can handle more time alone than puppies.

- If at all possible, make sure you have friends or roommates who can look after your dog while you’re out in class all day.

- Get the dog over a long weekend or holiday break so you have plenty of time to bond without class getting in the way.

Cats

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Cats are one of the go to apartment pets for good reason. Although they still require certain levels of maintenance they are far more self-sufficient than a dog. I still would not recommend getting a kitten right at the beginning of the school year as they take more time and attention than an older cat. Even young cats still have a tough time getting adopted compared to kittens but they have plenty of love to give. Make sure you are prepared to clean out the litterbox on a biweekly basis and give your kitty some affection daily.

Pocket Pets

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Small animals that can be kept in cages for most of the time are ideal apartment pets. Some apartments won’t even require a pet fee if your pet stays in its cage most of the day. Things like hamsters, guinea pigs, and chinchillas can make excellent apartment pets. The maintenance costs tend to be fairly cheap and they can be easily transported from place to place. Unless you plan on taking your pocket pet with you to class you should get at least two (of the same sex unless you want lots and lots of little rodents to care for) as they are social animals. I would personally recommend picking up a fancy rat from Carol’s Critters over on West Pensacola. I have two girls who are absolutely wonderful. They are very bright little creatures and can be as affectionate as a dog.

Rabbits, although cute, require a surprising amount of space and attention so I would not recommend one.

Reptiles

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Not all reptiles are good for apartment living. I’m not exactly sure where one would keep a twelve foot boa in a dorm room, but there are plenty of scaly little friends out there in need of a good home. For those of you who like snakes rosy boas, king snakes, and corn snakes stay slim and don’t get longer than 8 feet.  Bearded Dragons, Skinks, and Leopard Geckos are excellent scaly companions.

Fish

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Few pets are as low maintenance as a fish, but even these easy going creatures need attentive care. Goldfish bowls may be cute, but it would be like forcing you to live in your bathroom. The general rule of thumb is at least one gallon per inch of fish, but the more space they have the happier they will be. Even Betas should be kept in at the very least a 2 gallon tank. If you buy a water filter for the tank, then all you need to do is feed the fish every day and do a partial water change once every 2 weeks.

Please remember that most pets are at the very least a 5 year commitment. Even goldfish can live for over a decade if properly cared for.  Have fun with your new fuzzy or scaly companion!