Since I started college I knew I wanted to adopt a pet. Freshman year, my roommate and I had our share of mice venture into our dorm, but they didn’t quite fill the void. When I signed my apartment lease last summer, I immediately made plans to adopt a cat. When I went to the Humane Society and saw the adorable cats, I could feel my heart melting. I probably held 30 or 40 cats that day, but as I was about to leave I decided to hold Brie, an 8-month-old black-and-white longhair.

As I picked her up, her paws gripped my shoulders, giving me a big kitty hug — it felt like the perfect match. I decided to name my cat Bella and I was excited to bring her home. I spent the next few months being woken up at sunrise by Bella sitting on my nightstand crying bloody murder to feed her. Eight months later, she courteously waits until 8 a.m. to knock my phone off the charger and bat me in the face with her shockingly sharp claws. Luckily, this nagging is the worst of Bella’s behavior.

Adopting a pet is a commitment that requires a lot of preparation. Mark Stickney, clinical assistant professor and director of general surgery services at the Texas A&M College of Veterinary Medicine, says students should consider several factors before adopting a pet, including time obligations, financial commitments and lifestyle adjustments.

Does Fido fit into your busy schedule?

Stickney says the most important thing to consider before bringing home a pet is having the time to care for it. “You need to have time to housebreak it, socialize it, obedience train it, take it for walks and exercise, play with it and take it in for vet care,” Stickney says.

Danielle Saale, Overland Park senior, got her shitzu-toy poodle puppy, Izzie, as a Christmas present and had to adjust her daily schedule according to Izzie’s needs. Initially, Izzie got up at 6 a.m., but after a few months she learned to sleep in, Saale says. Saale lets Izzie out before heading to class and again when she returns. She then plays with Izzie to prepare her for an afternoon nap. If Saale doesn’t reserve time to play, Izzie lets her know. “She gets really upset when my roommate and I are watching TV and not paying attention to her, so she’ll go lie upside down in the middle of the floor in front of the TV to try to get us to look at her,” Saale says.

Aside from school, Saale works at night, so she relies on her roommate to watch Izzie until she returns. Saale lets Izzie out one last time before bringing her to bed.

When Natalie Langford’s parents surprised her with an 8-week-old puggle (a pug-beagle mix) for Christmas two years ago, she was immediately charmed by him. Langford, Lenexa senior, had been considering getting a dog for awhile, but hadn’t thought through how a dog would fit into her busy lifestyle. With 16 hours of school on top of work, Langford only had time in the morning, late at night and on the weekends to play with her puppy, Cooper. “When I wasn’t home he had to be in a kennel or locked in my room,” Langford says. “I started to realize that he was spending more time being cooped up than being played with and I knew how incredibly unfair that was to him.”

After four months of consideration, Langford decided Cooper deserved a home with someone who could devote time to his needs. Langford found a couple who adopted Cooper from the Humane Society the next day. If you don’t consider how a pet will work with your lifestyle, you may face difficult consequences. “Giving Cooper away was one of the worst experiences I’ve had to go through,” Langford says. “I knew how unfair my lifestyle was to him and even though it was incredibly difficult, it was the right decision.”

Different breeds also require different time commitments. Since they are pack-oriented, dogs require constant interaction, and although cats more independent, they still require love and socialization. Play sessions with your cat provide it with physical and mental stimulation and strengthens the bond you share.

“As much as I want everyone to adopt a pet, if you’re gone all the time, I suggest you wait until you can devote the proper time, energy and love to that special companion,” says Megan Blake, celebrity pet expert and former host of the PBS show Animal Attractions TV.

Blake suggests going to an animal shelter to look for a pet because many need to be rescued. According to The Humane Society of the United States, every eight seconds a cat or dog is euthanized in a U.S. shelter — which is approximately four million pets a year. The Lawrence Humane Society shelters approximately 7,500 dogs, cats and other small animals each year. It costs $50 to adopt a dog or cat if the pet is already spayed or neutered, but an additional spay/neuter fee is charged for unsterilized pets.

Will Fluffy break the bank?

When her boyfriend’s aunt found an abandoned boxer-pit bull mix, Ashley Kohlenberg, Louisburg junior, couldn’t help but be tempted. Kohlenberg and her boyfriend saw the dog, which was malnourished and beaten up, and fell in love instantly. Kohlenberg had a cat, Josie, but wasn’t sure if she could also take care of a dog. “With food and vet bills it all adds up,” Kohlenberg says.

According to the ASPCA, the first year of pet ownership can cost an average of $1,000 for a cat and as much as $1,800 for a large dog. Some of the costs potential pet owners need to consider are visits to the veterinarian, vaccinations, flea and tick control, food, grooming, identification tags and boarding or pet-sitting when the owner goes out of town. “Your pet’s life will revolve around you so you need to make sure you can alter your budget to support it,” Stickney says.

Gail Buchwald, senior vice president of the Adoption Center at the ASPCA, says although most owners anticipate routine costs, they aren’t prepared for unexpected needs. “Animals get sick without notice and lots of everyday items can be extremely harmful to your pet,” Buchwald says. Students may not realize if their pet gets into party leftovers such as chocolate or alcohol, they may have to make an emergency trip to the vet, resulting in expensive bills.

Is your living space pet-friendly?

A common problem students with pets face is finding a place to live. Small dogs and cats tend to be better suited to the space of an apartment. Larger, more active dogs need a yard to play in, and Stickney says potential owners need to anticipate their future needs. “Puppies and kittens grow up to be dogs and cats,” Stickney says. “They’re not always cute and tiny.”

Blake says you must also consider current and potential roommates when having a pet. Saale discussed getting Izzie with her roommates at the time, and their preferences helped Saale decide on the right dog. “At first I wanted a big dog like a lab, but one of my roommates doesn’t like big dogs,” Saale says. Saale lives in an apartment now, which she says also influenced her decision to get a small dog.

Potential pet owners must also consider other factors regarding their roommates. They must ensure roommates don’t have pet allergies, which can cause a great deal of conflict. Blake says you should also evaluate your roommates’ furniture, lifestyle and personal property before getting a pet to be respectful of shared living space.

Most importantly, pet owners should make sure the landlord allows pets. Considering future living arrangements is also important, since options may be limited owning a pet. Apartments that allow pets may have restrictions on the number of pets or breeds allowed. Some prohibit stereotypically aggressive breeds such as pit bulls or rotweilers. Some pet-friendly apartments enforce weight limits, so having a large dog may cause trouble finding proper living arrangements. There may also be a hefty pet deposit and monthly pet rent fees.

Why they’re worth the work

Although there’s a lot to think about before owning a pet, there are many benefits. With the immense pressure college students face, Buchwald says a pet can be beneficial because pets relieve stress and form a loving relationship with their owner. According to an American Animal Hospital Association survey, 76 percent of respondents said their stress levels were reduced by their companion animals.

Buchwald also says pets can be a good determinant of the compatibility of a potential romantic partner. “If someone says they don’t like animals at all, then that should probably raise a red flag immediately,” Buchwald says. Many owners hold their relationship with their pets to a high level of importance. In 2006, nearly half of all pet owners considered their pets to be family members, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.

If you’ve weighed your options and are trying to decide if you’re ready to own a pet, Saale suggests pet-sitting a friend or family member’s pet. “I brought my parents’ dog to Lawrence with me for a week or two,” Saale says. “I think it really helped me decide that I was ready.”