You’ve grown up with pets your entire life, but you’re still told time and time again not to adopt a pet in college. What many people don’t realize, however, is that cats are actually fairly low-maintenance pets that can offer a stressed-to-the-max college student laughs and unconditional affection. It isn’t all purrfectly painless, but cat ownership can be one of the most rewarding choices to make in college. Here are 15 truths about owning a cat as a college student.

1. Big test coming up? The cat will not rest until you give up on everything.

Once your little ball of fur realizes that the top of your desk is off-limits due to the mile-high stack of papers you have piled atop it, she will try even harder to get in your way and siphon your attention away from your studies. She thinks that sprawling across your papers and looking lovingly up at you will help you ace that test. Unfortunately, you think it’s cute and you don’t have it in you to make her move. The cat wins. In the end, cat logic holds that all of the attention should have been on the cat in the first place.

2. You will start to feel like you’re being watched. All the time.

For some reason, cats are really taken with some of the things we do as humans and they like to make their wonderment obvious. Before getting a cat, you never think anything of your bathroom rituals, for instance. With a cat in the house, everything changes. Almost every time I go to use the bathroom in my apartment, my cat follows me and, with those shining and inquisitive slit-eyes, stares into my soul as I remove my pants. Maybe she can’t figure out why I’m not peeing in a box of sand.

3. Litter. Everywhere.

Speaking of that box of sand...one of the few cons of cat ownership is the fact that -- somehow -- the dreaded grains of cat litter end up in every crevice of your abode. I have found bits of cat litter in the windowsill, on the carpet, and even on top of my bed. Most of us need to make a little more time for cleaning our home spaces, anyway.

4. You will never sleep alone.

One of the big pros of sharing your abode with a cat is that, like you, your feline friend loves being lazy and devouring pizza (well… maybe the pizza part is just you). At least in my experience, cats are expert cuddlers and won’t mind keeping your feet warm while you lay there watching Netflix. On average, an adult cat spends anywhere from 15 to 20 hours per day sleeping, so you don’t have to feel lonely when you call it a night or collapse on the couch for a midday nap.

5. You realize cats are actually just tiny, furry humans that come with an extra side of sass.

Cats really are the only creatures whose sass levels surpass your own. This is commendable. All cat owners know that their feline’s facial expressions can be hilariously human-like…particularly when the spray bottle has been used.

6. You must say goodbye to anything that even remotely resembles a string.

Purse handles, blanket threads, bracelets, jacket drawstrings, hair ties. Oh, hair ties. They are all fair game.

7. It’s easy and inexpensive to entertain a cat.

Cats are very much unlike dogs in that they find simple, everyday things amusing. I have purchased a wealth of high-end cat toys and only a handful hold my cat’s attention for more than a few minutes. Some of the most successful toys I purchased from Petco could have easily been made from scratch using basic craft supplies like feathers and string. Basically, what I’m saying is this: a cat will happily insult your goodwill by turning her nose up at that light-up, remote-controlled thing you bought her in favor of a simple paper bag. You have been warned. On the flip-side, though, this just means that your penny-pinching college student days can be spent engaging in hands-on, cheap activities with your cat instead of throwing money at the big-box pet stores.

8. Cats forgive you if you need to be away for a day.

One of the perks of being a college student is continually being met with opportunities for mobilization and personal growth. Fortunately, adding a cat into the mix won’t completely screw up your day-to-day plans. Cats don’t need to be taken out several times per day like dogs do and they find ways to amuse themselves while you’re away. It is never okay to leave your cat completely alone for more than a full day, though, because they still need to be fed twice per day and their litter box still needs to be scooped at least once per day. But if you have class for seven hours straight and a two-hour group meeting after that, your cat won’t hate you for it when you finally do come trudging through the door. It isn’t hard to appoint someone to pop in and check on/play with your cat if you do decide to go on a short multi-day trip.

9. Cat antics can be extremely effective stress relief.

It’s no surprise that cats are the stars of the internet. Sometimes, their lovably clumsy actions help us learn to laugh at our own misfortunes. And, let’s face it: there’s nothing funnier than a cat that forgets how to cat.

10. Silence is cause for concern unless the cat is asleep.

As students, it’s easy to become absorbed in writing a paper or plugging numbers into a spreadsheet. Sometimes, though, it’s necessary to take a look around when it’s quiet to see just what your kitty is up to. If she isn’t sleeping, she’s probably getting into cabinets, messing with the cords behind your TV or unraveling the entire roll of toilet paper.

11. You are finally able to understand all of those memes.

As a cat owner, you are now “one of them.”

12. There is no sound more comforting than a cat purr.

It’s a sound like no other. The trick is getting your contented cat to actually stay close enough to your face so you can revel in the purrfection. For those who have trouble sleeping and have never heard said angelic sound, you might consider looking into this pillow. Apparently that’s a thing.

13. Cat hair is the new black.

Every time you pet your cat, seemingly impossible globs of hair stick to your hand and fall to the floor. Her favorite spot on the bed looks like a furry nest. You hate it at first, but you begin to realize that the cat rubs all over you because it loves you. The hair to you becomes an endearing reason to invest in a jumbo pack of lint rollers.

14. You have a best friend and playmate for years to come.

Despite their aloof stereotype, many cats are extremely loving and attached to their owners. Like dogs, they acknowledge the fact that you are imperfect (you sometimes fail to feed them right on time each morning) but that you are their sole caretaker and absolute best friend. That is something to be cherished.

15. You realize that you are a part of something bigger.

The best part about cat ownership in college is not that it takes place in college. It is pet ownership in a broader sense – bringing a vagabond feline into your world and doing the best you can to make sure it is healthy, happy, and meme-worthy. Don’t let anyone discourage you from becoming a cat mom or dad if you feel you are well-prepared for the ups and downs.