Campus Cats | Graphic by Abigail Abbot | The Wright State Guardian
Wouldn’t Rowdy look good with a cat greatest pal? There is loads of scientific proof, opinions and analysis that say Wright State University wants a cat companion.
Benefits, opinions and examples
There is little doubt that publicity to our purry friends makes us really feel good, however there may be precise science behind having a cat, excellent for a hectic setting like a school or college.
“Scientific evidence also shows that a cat’s purr can calm your nervous system and lower your blood pressure,” the HelpGuide web site reads.
Not solely that, however the identical web site experiences that cat homeowners have a lowered threat of coronary heart illness and stroke.
WSU itself is aware of the facility of pets. Just see the numerous occasions like “Destress with Raider Pups.” If dogs are on campus for college students, why not a cat? Treasurer of Raider Pups Austin Wolfe is usually seen with service-dog-in-training Chip.
“I think it would be a really good idea. I know with all the dogs from Raider Pups, people love them. I know we’ve gotten comments that every time people see them, they say ‘Oh, that just made my day,’” Wolfe stated. “So for people who may not like dogs, if we had a cat that would serve that purpose, it would be really cool.”
For college students particularly, a cat presents a plethora of advantages.
“We know that right now, particularly after the height of the COVID pandemic, and in trying to reintegrate into social life, people are struggling. Students are struggling. Staff and faculty are struggling. Our communities are struggling, and we need something that brings levity, something that brings joy, something that brings laughter,” Bobbie Szabo, assistant director of the Women’s Center, stated on the subject.
Students themselves help the thought.
“I think we should. Personally, I would want a cat. It would be great to rescue from shelters,” Melanie Garza, a sophomore pupil employee, stated.
So, having a cat is helpful for college students. It can also be finished on different campuses, such because the cat on the University of South Carolina. But what concerning the feasibility on WSU’s personal campus?
But how?
WSU is aware of find out how to preserve a cat on campus. Technically, WSU already has cats within the campus dormitories with its Emotional Support Animals program. Plenty of scholars already benefit from this chance. This would merely have a cat within the public sphere of WSU as an alternative of the personal one.
But who would handle this cat? And the place would it not go? I’m not suggesting a free-roaming campus cat, as this will likely expose the feline to potential hazard and should trigger undesirable stress to college students with extreme allergy symptoms. That is why I’m proposing that the cat be in an enclosed workplace or heart area.
Some options can be in University Hall or the Culture and Identity Centers. This means, college students have simple access to the varsity’s new mascot whereas additionally respecting the area of these with allergy symptoms. There will also be a cat-free zone in its designated workplace in order that these with allergy symptoms can nonetheless access workplace sources. Regular cleansing additionally helps the severity of allergic reactions.
As know-how progresses, so does know-how that helps cut back allergic reactions. A kind of Purina cat meals is scientifically confirmed to successfully cut back the foremost allergen in cat hair and dander.
And whereas there are usually not true ‘hypoallergenic’ cats, there are many breeds that are perfect for people with allergy symptoms.
The duty for caring for the cat can be on these in its resident workplace, supported by monetary help from the college. While this will likely appear to be an unnecessarily costly job for the college, the prices really won’t minimize deep within the college’s pockets.
According to the ASPCA, you possibly can plan to spend round $634 yearly in your cat. This breaks all the way down to round $53 a month.
Compare this cost to my hourly wage as a pupil employee within the Guardian. I earn $10.45 per hour working 13 hours every week. This involves $135.85 per week or $543.40 per 30 days. That implies that the cost of caring for this cat for a month can be lower than half of my week’s wages on the Guardian. WSU employs a whole bunch of pupil staff. There isn’t any cheap monetary argument towards a cat, particularly since shelter adoption charges may be as little as $5.
And to not fear if the cat by chance will get out, there are many GPS monitoring collars for that.
In conclusion, WSU would do nicely with a cat to accompany its wolf mascot. And President Sue, in case you are studying this, I’m certain a cat would assist together with your targets of recruitment, retention and relationships.
