Student had nowhere to take her cat so she emailed her professor with unusual request

We’ve all had pet day in class with the chaos and scrambling of dogs, cats, reptiles and all kinds of pets across the classroom. A student named Bethany, who goes by u/Bethmphetamines on Reddit, shared a post about an experience with her pet cat and professor. In a post shared on August 26, 2021, the pet parent revealed she had no place to take her pet feline since her apartment was being fumigated. As a last resort, she made a request to her professor to get her to class. The teacher’s response left her floored, and honestly, it’s the kind of enthusiasm to bring to every interaction. 

Sharing a picture of the email she sent, she wasn’t sure what her professor might think of her request. “I realize this is a really weird question, but would it be at all possible for me to bring my cat to class today?” she asked. Sharing her reasons, she noted that her apartment was being fumigated and there was no one else to watch her. She had someone who was watching her, but cancelled on her at the last minute. She also gave an assurance that the feline would be in a carrier and would not be a distraction. 

“Let me know if it's ok, please, I don't want to have to miss the first day to watch her somewhere else,” she concluded her email.

It was quite an unexpected request but the professor took it in stride, welcoming anyone who was meant to be in the classroom — even if it had paws and fur. To the student’s surprise, she received the best reply she possibly could: “That is the best thing I've ever been asked. Absolutely! Can I pet her?” the professor asked. She was glad her professor was “considerate,” and undoubtedly the interaction must have been a sweet one. In a comment, she revealed that the professor did give her cat a few pets as planned. Many college students and youth opt to take on the responsibility of a pet for many reasons. A study revealed that young people bond well with their furry pals.

43% of college students noted that they were closer to their pets than they were to any other family member. This often stems from two main reasons: wanting to bond with animals or having had the habit of having pets as a child. Over 70% of U.S. households revealed that their kids had pets growing up, so it’s natural that many wanted to continue the practice of having a furry member in the family. Another study shared by North Carolina Wesleyan College revealed that out of 101 student surveys, 50 noted they felt less stress by having a furry companion on campus.

Other benefits of having a pet noted by students were reduced feelings of loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Furthermore, emotional support, happiness, and increased social interactions were noted among many. u/miza5491 said, “Someone has got to be a monster to reject such a polite and reasonable request.” u/misslmnopqrst added, “I went to a primary school that had 8 students, I was about 6 years old, and we were allowed to bring our pets to school. Pets in the class is a fab idea.” 

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