Having a cat is like having a best friend that is stuck with you no matter what. My cat has developed my personality, he knows how to make me happy and he also knows how to make me mad when I leave him overnight. He’s a little clingy. But I don’t think I could survive college without this little guy. Here’s five reasons why you need a cat to survive college:

1. When it’s 2 AM on finals week, they’re the ones who keep you sane. I don’t know about you, but I’ve almost lost my mind on multiple occasions, especially during finals and midterms. I’m stressed out, exhausted, and live off eating the Lunchables Nacho Cheese packs and strawberry Pop-Tarts. So when 2 AM rolls around, I’m not the best person to be around. That’s why cats are perfect. They can be just as sassy as you are but the next morning ya’ll are both good. If it gets real bad, then my cat always brings me his favorite toy, sets it on the laptop, and stares at me waiting for me to accept his gift.

2. They give you a sense of responsibility without the commitment of being totally responsible. I have my very own fur baby that if I get too drunk one night and can’t make it home, he’ll make it just fine without me. He can use the bathroom on his own, keep himself clean, and the only thing I have to do is feed him twice a day. I feel like an adult with the adult responsibility of having my fur baby, but without the commitment of needing to be here for him 24/7. Hence why cats are better than dogs in this aspect.

3. Heart-break, broken friendships, they’re the ones who are always there. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve sat in bed, cuddling my cat, crying my heart out. Whether it be over something silly like a crush gone badly, or something drastic like if I have an anxiety attack, he’s been the one to sit by my side till I calm down, licking my hand every once in a while to let me know he’s still there, and wait till I fall asleep. Then, of course, it’s time for him to make as much noise as possible, but the point is, no matter what happens during my day, I know he’ll always be at home waiting for me.

4. They make you laugh when you least expect it. I don’t know if you’ve ever paid attention to the expansive facial expressions of a cat, but it’s impressive. It has me giggling all evening when he’s in a talkative mood and if I don’t talk back to him, he gives me this look, like a, “You’re really going to leave me mid conversation?” look. I could buy him a million toys from Petsmart, but his favorite toy will always be a rubber band he found who knows where. He carries it with him all the time. There have been several nights I’ve woken up at 4am to him crying because he couldn’t find it. So we turn on the lights and look around the room till we find it. How can you be mad at him for waking you up to help him find his cat equivalent of a security blanket?

5. They adapt to your personality, they somehow learn what makes you tick. One of my favorite things about my cat, and also one of the most frustrating, is that he knows what to do to show me he’s upset by learning what makes me upset. His big thing right now is hiding my stuff. I kid you not, I came home the other day with my credit card in his water bowl, my medicine bottle in the sock drawer, toothpaste tube in the shower, pencil in his litter box, and he managed to spread half my underwear drawer across the room. This was all because I was gone all day. In the moment, it’s frustrating, but looking back I can only laugh. It’s so amazing how this little animal has picked up on what I use most, and has only chosen to hide those objects. He knows me as his best friend.

Whether you believe me or not, I can tell you getting my kitten was one of the best choices I’ve ever made for myself. I have so much love for such a little animal. There isn’t too much of a financial commitment, after the initial adoption fees, you only have to buy litter (which runs about $10 every month) and food (which I usually get a $15 bag that’ll last anywhere from a month, to a month and a half). Adopting a cat not only helps you get through this crazy time of life in college, but also helps get one more cat out of the animal shelters. And, hey, you get cute Snapchat stories out of it too.