Two University of Wisconsin-Madison students have added parenting to their list of skills this semester. Between classes and extracurriculars, these badgers scoop litter or trim claws for their feline friend.
For 19-year-old student Keira Dunn, her cat’s companionship is the perfect end to a stressful day.
“Mr. Cheese [usually doesn’t] see anyone all day, so when I get home, he curls up next to me,” Dunn said. “It makes everything feel a lot less lonely.”
For college students like Dunn, pets offer so much more than just occasional company. They act as a built-in support system, offering emotional support and the occasional meow. UW-Madison sophomore Ruby Davies-Larson says her cat helps her decompress.
“It’s comforting,” Davies-Larson said. “She reminds me of home and takes me out of that academic mindset.”
Both students see their pets as mood boosters. Even when they’re not purring next to you in bed, cats' mere existence can’t help but bring you joy.
“[Mr. Cheese] can, like, jump pretty high,” Dunn said. “We have a string attached to a stick [and when we play with him], he can jump super, super high, which is kind of fun.”
Raising cats in college presents a unique set of challenges, but don’t underestimate these Badgers.
“Some people think college students aren’t capable of providing a good life to their pets, but I don’t think that’s true,” Dunn said. “[My roommate], Madison, spoils the crap out of Mr. Cheese. He has such a good life.”
Davies-Larson has had no problem balancing academics with taking care of her cat, Lucky. In fact, the biggest challenge presented comes from Lucky herself. She’s an escape artist.
“She will open the door until [she will] strategically hide behind it so you can't see her,” Davies-Larson said. “Then when you open the door, like a crack, she bolts out the door.”
If you grew up petless thanks to a parent’s allergies like Dunn, college may be the perfect time to get your first pet.
“If you have the money and space and you’re able to care for it properly, I think [owning a cat] is really fun,” Davies-Larson said. “It’s definitely really helpful for stress and taking you away from the studying mindset.”
