The question “cats or dogs” if often asked as an icebreaker because responses always cause a debate on which is better. Most agree that the debate boils down to preferences, and perhaps even allergies, but there are still ways to argue this matter.

For example, if someone is a college student and wanting to get a pet, which one would be the best choice? For a student who is trying to balance school, work, social life, and sleep, all while trying to stay out of debt, which animal is the better companion? The victory belongs to our feline friends.

Everything costs money in college and what you do not pay for today, you already paid for in your tuition. The better pet for a college student is the one that costs the least amount to keep. Dogs, due to size, usually have a larger food bill. This, combined with added expenses such as toys, training class, etc., results in a higher keep.

According to ASPCA, cats could save you $300-$800 a year compared to their canine counterparts. Even dogs that are smaller than cats are more expensive to keep then cats are. Not only are cats cheaper to keep, unless it is a rare or special breed of cat, they are also cheaper in their initial purchase.

College students have a limited amount of free time, making the pet that cuts as little into that time as possible the better option. While dogs require walks, especially if you live in an apartment or have a small yard, cats are content to be left indoors. Some dog owners like to save money on grooming costs by doing it themselves.

While this saves money, it uses time that could be spent elsewhere. Cats groom themselves and require no sacrifice from their owners financially or physically. Cats are also independent creatures and do not require your constant attention.

An article on Time.com discussed studies showing that cat people have a higher intelligence than dog people. If that is indeed true, it could be due to the fact that cats require less care, giving their owners more time for other activities. In the case of a college student, more time to study.

Cats are not only less demanding maintenance wise, they also cause less worry during one’s day to day life. College students tend to travel home for visits and taking a dog with them, or finding someone to watch them for the weekend, is always a hassle. However, cats can easily be left at home with a clean litter box and bowls of food and water.

You don’t have to worry about getting home in time to let the cat out to use the bathroom because they can go in their litter box whenever they please. Also, if you just so happen to be out on a holiday that has fireworks, you would not have to worry about a cat freaking out and tearing up the carpet.

There is no winner to the “cats vs. dogs” debate. The topic is simply too subjective. However, when that debate is applied to college students, cats win spectacularly. It is not a bad idea to have a pet in college.

The companionship of an animal is proven to be beneficial in many ways. As a college student is choosing their furry friend, they want to make sure that it will not have a negative effect on their performance in school or at work. This need for a low maintenance companion makes cats the obvious winners.