USF students say cats provide companionship, comfort and a sense of home during college. ORACLE GRAPHIC/AMARIS BAEZ
For some USF students, coming home from a long day of classes means more than just returning to an empty apartment. It means being greeted by a cat.
Alejandro Velez Lizasoain, a junior health sciences major, never planned on adopting a cat. His cat first appeared outside his apartment in January and followed him around before he eventually took him inside.
After taking the cat to a shelter to check for a microchip, Lizasoain kept visiting him for several weeks before deciding to adopt him.
Now, he said, having a cat gives him another reason to come home.
“I want to go home now because I have my cat,” Lizasoain said.
Lizasoain is not the only one turning to cats for companionship. Cat ownership increased 5% in the United States in 2025, with 53 million U.S. households owning a cat, according to the American Pet Products Association.
The organization reported that Gen Z and Millennials propelled the growth.
For some students, cats can provide companionship, comfort and a sense of home during a period of college life that often involves living alone, managing schoolwork and adjusting to a new routine.
Dr. Stephanie Circuni, a licensed clinical psychologist at the USF University Counseling Center, said college can be a period of major transition as students adjust to new environments, people, responsibilities and experiences.
Having something familiar and consistent can help students feel grounded during that transition, she said.
“Animals can provide that contentment, that predictability, that companionship,” Circuni said.
Related: Meet the ‘Star’ of USF Police
Giovanna Barci, a junior criminology major, adopted her first cat, Tigress, in May 2025 after wanting an animal to help her manage her stress with college.
“I just wanted an animal that I could take with me back to college that could help me de-stress,” Barci said.
Barci now has three cats: Tigress, Raja, and Salem.
She said her cats have become a part of her daily routine and give her something to look forward to when she comes home from classes or work.
“They don’t make my home feel like a house,” Barci said. “They make my home feel like an actual home.”
Barci said her cats have also helped her when she feels lonely.
“When I’m asleep, they’re sleeping with me. If I’m awake, they’re always around me,” Barci said.
For Brian Bobeica, a junior biology major, adopting a cat was also about finding an animal that fit his lifestyle.
Bobeica became interested in cats after spending time with a friend’s cat. He initially tried to foster one but eventually decided to adopt.
He said he considered how much responsibility different pets would require before choosing a cat.
“I’m not super responsible enough to walk a dog every day,” Bobeica said.
Instead, taking care of his cat has become part of his routine. He feeds the cat every day and cleans the litter box almost daily.
While the students had different reasons for adopting their cats, each described the animals as a source of companionship.
Circuni said interacting with a pet can also provide students with a break from other stressors. Petting a cat, hearing it purr, or simply sitting with it can help students focus on something immediately in front of them rather than the demands of school or other parts of their lives.
She said cats can also give students a sense of routine and responsibility.
“Pets are a responsibility, and so it does allow you to maybe feel like you’re taking care of something, not just yourself.” Circuni said, “Then that hopefully helps create a bit of structure, a routine to your day and to your experiences that can be very grounding.”
Related: USF’s Botanical Gardens welcomes Beren the dog
For Lizasoain, caring for his cat has changed his own routine. He said he now looks forward to returning home, checking that his cat has everything he needs and spending time with him. He also said his cat has made his apartment feel less lonely.
“I feel like I have a family now,” Lizasoain said.
Circuni said that cats can also provide companionship without requiring the same type of care as some other pets.
However, Circuni said students should consider the responsibilities that come with owning an animal before adopting.
“It’s important to remember that cats are a responsibility,” Circuni said. “So we have to be able to have the finances to properly care for them, properly treat them, properly make sure they’re getting all their medical needs.”
Students should also make sure their housing allows pets and understand any applicable housing policies, she said.
“Just deciding to get a cat is step one,” Circuni said. “Being able to actually hold onto that cat is a big part of it as well.”
For Barci, the responsibility has become part of what makes having her cats meaningful.
She feeds them in the morning and at night and spends time playing with them when her schedule allows.
“I feel like it’s a nice change in schedule,” Barci said. “Because instead of just having my own thing, I have someone to take care of, and they’re always gonna be there.”
Lizasoain said adopting his cat has made him more interested in staying home and spending time with him. While he originally never intended to become a cat owner, he said the bond he developed with his cat made the decision worthwhile.
Unlike dogs, which he said can often be more immediately affectionate, Lizasoain likes that cats require trust to build a relationship.
“You have to earn their love,” Lizasoain said. “And when you earn it, it feels more genuine.”
For these students, adopting a cat has become part of their routines and lives in their apartments. Their cats have become a presence in their day-to-day college lives.