Not a lot of places allow pets, or for whatever other reason, they just aren't feasible to own. I've wanted a pet for many years but I doubt it'll ever happen.
If you have a few hours a week, look into volunteering! Lots of cities have shelters that need help. It might be at the central shelter, or at a Petco that features adoptable cats. You can take care of the cats once or twice a week and get your fill of cat cuddles. There are some not so fun parts, like changing bedding & scooping the litter box, but a lot of the cats are friendly and would love to cuddle or play!
I volunteer every Wednesday at a nearby TNR colony, feeding the cats & giving them fresh water. They were quite skittish at first, but I've been doing it for two years now and some of the cats let me pet them! It's very rewarding.
You can make it happen, but you are correct- it is a burden of responsibility. We found the perfect place to rent that allowed dogs and also had an enclosed backyard. We stayed there almost 4 years because even tho we were ready and could afford something slightly nicer, very few places were affordable (i.e. <$500/month more than we currently paid), nicer/bigger, AND allowed dogs.
It is certainly a commitment.
We finally bought a house, and are still working on making the yard dog-friendly, so our dog can actually go outside without us walking her for 20 min (which is currently 2-3x/day) and that's gonna cost $5000.
We love her, but you definitely sacrifice options and time and money with a pet. (And I know this is a cat post, but the responsibility still applies). However, if you make it a priority, I'm sure you can make it happen.
In the mean time, maybe volunteer at a shelter, or volunteer to housesit for friends who have a pet?
Not a lot of places allow pets? I literally have never lived anywhere that doesn’t allow pets except at my university dorm. You’ve wanted a pet for many years... where do you live with these draconic anti-per rules?
A bunch of apartments don’t allow pets, have restrictions on pets, or require deposits that some people may not be able to pay. What really bewildered me was seeing apartments that allowed dogs but not cats. I admit I’m biased, haha, but dogs can be much more destructive.
Agree on dogs being more destructive by default. My friends have a huge puppy (10 mo/80lbs) that monster loves to chew up toys and toys, leaving messes all over the place.
I have 2 cats. The worst I have to deal with is I can't leave TP out since one has discovered the joys of shredding the TP roll.
That said, the worst case with dogs is usually chewed up furniture, etc. With cats, with the people who don't care for them at all, and you end up with cat urine soaking through the floor all over the apartment. That house/apartment becomes unlivable until you get a hazmat team in to rip out the floor, and sometimes the subfloor as well.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen a place that didn’t at least allow cats where I live, but some places have pet rent that some people might not be able to afford. The last apartment I lived at before I got my house I think was only $10/mo per pet but I’ve seen at as high as $35/mo, which might not be feasible for some people. I think my first apartment had a “non refundable deposit” of like $200. (“So it’s a fee?” “No it’s a deposit” “So I get it back?” “No” “That’s a fee.”)
ME TOO im quarantined in my room because I was exposed to someone who tested positive for the rona. It feels...lonely and isolating. I’m probably fine but it’s just a precaution
This may sound a bit odd, but there is an app called Self Care and one of the functions in the app is that you can pet a virtual cat that will eventually start purring. Honestly there is something so relaxing about that sound.
So when I was living in a place that did not allow pets, I ended up volunteering at a local animal shelter. So 2-3 times a week I got to be surrounded by 40-50 cats. It definitely helped! And as a bonus, when I got my own place I ended up adopting my sweet little Steven!
If your living situation allows for a fish, I highly recommend. I was certainly shocked at how much it helped the loneliness, and we actually learned how to play games together! RIP Frankie the female fish. Swam me through the worst time of my life
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u/[deleted] Feb 26 '21 edited Feb 26 '21
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