Between the lure of companionship and the realities of student life, university pet ownership comes with emotional rewards—but also financial, logistical, and ethical challenges. Here’s what students had to say about the benefits and burdens of owning pets.

For many, pets provide essential emotional support. Kate Rood, U1 Arts, got her kitten, Princess Meow Meow, two months ago after a particularly difficult academic year. 

“School was so stressful last year, I was like, ‘I need a therapy animal,’” Rood said in an interview with The Tribune. “She’s really comforting.” 

While the emotional rewards of pet ownership are undeniable, students like Rajan Duncan, U1 Arts, urge students to consider the significant responsibilities that come with caring for an animal.

“If you’re not prepared to commit yourself to that type of emotional relationship, or the costs that that relationship entails, then it’s wrong to get a pet,” he said in an interview with The Tribune.

On a similar note, Lyna Rochdi, U2 Arts, said pets can benefit mental health, but students must consider their ability to provide proper care. She recommends the therapy dogs at the Student Wellness Hub for those seeking emotional support without the commitment of pet ownership.

Besides ownership, other options such as fostering are available. Avigail Friedman, U3 Arts, has been fostering cats through Heart in Hand Rescue Coeur en Main, a Montreal-based cat rescue, for a year and a half. The process was simple: After filling out an online form, the organization called to discuss the fostering process, and she received cats a few days later.

Friedman, who lives alone, also said her cats offer a sense of companionship around the apartment. Beyond personal benefits, she finds fostering rewarding because she can help cats from difficult circumstances.

The lack of stability in student life seemed to be a common obstacle to getting a pet. Despite her positive experience fostering, Friedman expressed that she isn’t ready to adopt. 

“I’m not going to get a pet until my life is solidified and I’m not moving around,” she said.

Similarly, Rochdi, an international student, also said she wouldn’t consider pet ownership right now. Her frequent travel would make consistent care impossible.

Even students who already own pets acknowledge these challenges. Rood shared that her cat prevented her from doing an exchange semester, but will not hinder her mobility after graduation. 

“I’m just going to take her with me,” she said. “She’s going to have to follow me wherever I go.”

Additionally, several students cited financial constraints as a possible deterrent. According to Global News, the average monthly cost of owning a cat in Canada is $80 to $200 CAD. Initial costs range from $1,875 to $3,345 CAD in the first year, straining student budgets.

“It is definitely a privilege to own a pet,” Rochdi said. “It takes a lot of resources to care for yourself and another being.”

While the fostering organization provided some items for her cats, Friedman said she covers food and litter. 

“I like to think of it like a hobby,” she explained. “Instead of spending money on some hobby, I’m spending it on the cats in my home.”

According to the 2024-2025 McGill Residence Handbook, pets are prohibited from McGill residences unless a student has obtained permission from Student Accessibility & Achievement to keep a service animal. Additionally, many student apartments in Montreal do not allow pets.

For instance, Rood said her apartment complex initially did not allow pets. However, she decided to go forward with getting a cat anyway. 

“I ended up talking to my landlord, and luckily, she was like, the biggest cat mom in the world. She said the cat was so cute and that it was okay,” Rood shared.

Ultimately, Rood maintains that pet ownership is feasible for students, as long as they understand the responsibilities and costs it entails. 

“In university, you get your first taste of independence, and having to care for an animal all the time kind of takes that away a little bit,” she said. “But I would do it 10 times over again. I love this cat.”