There are only seventeen registered emotional support animals on this campus, and I believe that we need to get those numbers up. Why, you ask? Picture this, you come back to your room after a long day of classes, throw yourself on your bed, completely drained and tired. But then, you feel something jump on the bed with you, it’s a cat. It has no idea what you have to deal with, all it knows is it’s excited its owner is back. It curls up by your head purring in content and your struggles just drift away.
Freshman year, I left my cat Plumeria at my mother’s house and her absence weighed on me a lot, transitioning to college is difficult and not having my baby made it even worse. The next year I got her registered as an ESA and moved her into the dorm and it was one of the best decisions I ever made. Having a dorm cat helped my mental health tremendously, even on my worst days she motivated me to get out of bed and go to class. My GPA went up an entire point after having her in my dorm for the year.
Knowing how a dorm cat helped me, I decided to ask around campus to get others’ thoughts on dorm cats.
First, I spoke with Destry Butler, a senior who has lived with his dorm cat Freya since freshman year. “I got Freya because I wanted to kill myself. Having something I could care for and communicate non-verbally with was comforting.” I personally find this statement alone to be a convincing enough argument for dorm cats.
But, if personal anecdotes don’t convince you, I also reached out to the Office of Accessibility Services; the office that handles ESA registration I was able to speak to Nancy Williams-Nettles, Director of Accessibility Service who told me “[ESAs] can reduce anxiety and stress, enhance emotional stability, alleviate feelings of loneliness and isolation, and provide a sense of purpose for individuals facing mental health challenges. Adjusts dopamine and serotonin levels.”
Having Plumeria waiting for me each day really made my dorm room feel like home. I went from rarely wanting to be there, to my dorm being my favorite space on campus. She made my transition from college life to adulthood smoother, too. When I feel overwhelmed or stressed, burying my face in her soft fur brings me all the comfort I need to get through the day.
If you somehow still aren’t convinced then I leave you with this compilation of some of the lovely dorm cats on this campus.
Plumeria McCormack.
Photo Credit: Heather McCormack
Sookie Doo Dorr. Sookie’s owner included this note which was too cute not to share! “I know you only need a photo, but Sookie has a lot of depth. Her favorite color is pink, she hates legs and ankles, and she loves loves loves the sink and the sun.”
Photo Credit: Laney Dorr
Freya Butler
Photo Credit: Destry Butler
Darcy Duval
Photo Credit: Ruby Duval
By Heather McCormack ’25
