Pet guide

What does the research say? In short: some effects are strong, others are still debated.

• Stress: In a randomized trial with 249 university students, just 10 minutes of petting cats and dogs lowered the stress hormone cortisol more than watching the animals, looking at photos of them or simply waiting.^[1]
• Mental health: A systematic review found that pets support people living with mental health problems, especially in times of crisis. The same review notes the practical and emotional burden of caring for a pet and the grief of losing one; the numeric studies show positive, negative and neutral results.^[2]
• Heart and lifespan: A meta-analysis of about 3.8 million people found a 24% lower risk of death from any cause among dog owners, and an even bigger difference in people who had had a heart attack. These are observational studies: it is not certain whether the dog causes it, or whether active, healthy people are simply more likely to get a dog.^[3]

To be honest: one review argues that a general "pet effect" is not yet an established fact but a hypothesis, and some studies find pet owners no happier or healthier.^[4] Adopt an animal because you want to care for it, not as a treatment.

• A long promise: Cats and dogs live for many years, often much longer than your degree. Think now about what happens when you graduate, move or go abroad.
• Home: Does your dorm or landlord allow pets? Are your flatmates allergic?
• Costs: Food, litter, vaccines, parasite treatments, a microchip and unexpected vet visits. Plan your monthly budget for them.
• Holidays: Who looks after them during bayram and the summer break? That is exactly what Pati Emanet is for: another student pet-sits for free.
• Adopt, don't shop: animals looking for a home are in the adoption section.

• Fresh water and food suited to their age every day. Ask your vet before switching food.
• Clean the litter box every day and wash your hands with soap afterwards. Also wash them after touching your pet, its food or its poop, and before eating.^[5]
• If you are pregnant or have a weak immune system, let someone else clean the litter box if possible; if you must, wear disposable gloves.^[5]
• Trim nails regularly and avoid rough play. If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound right away.^[5]

Never give

• Chocolate, grapes and raisins, onions, garlic and chives, and xylitol (in sugar-free gum and some sweets) are poisonous.^[6]
• Never give human medicine unless your vet says so: painkillers like ibuprofen and aspirin are dangerous, and paracetamol (acetaminophen) is fatal to cats. Lilies are also poisonous to cats.^[7]
• Keep household chemicals such as bleach, rat poison, insecticide and mothballs out of reach.^[7]

Required by law in Türkiye

• Rabies vaccine: All cats and dogs, owned or stray, must be vaccinated against rabies once a year once they are older than three months.^[8]
• Microchip and registration: Owned cats, dogs and ferrets get a microchip and are registered in the Ministry's system; vaccines (rabies first of all) are recorded there too.^[9] Any vet clinic can do it.

Core vaccines

The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) recommends these for every animal^[10]:

• Dogs: distemper, adenovirus (hepatitis) and parvovirus.
• Cats: panleukopenia, herpesvirus and calicivirus. The feline leukaemia (FeLV) vaccine also counts as core for cats under one year and cats that go outside.
• Puppies and kittens get a dose every 2-4 weeks, the last one at 16 weeks or older; one more dose is advised after 26 weeks.

An example schedule from a Turkish university animal hospital ^[11]:

Schedules differ a little between clinics; your vet decides based on your pet's age, health and whether it goes outside. Your pet should be healthy when vaccinated.

Parasites

The European expert guideline (ESCCAP) advises deworming (or a stool test) at least 4 times a year for cats and dogs that go outside or whose risk is unknown; your vet sets the frequency.^[12] Turkish schedules also list internal and external parasite treatment every 3 months for adults.^[11]

Wash the wound right away with soap and water for at least 15 minutes and go to a health centre. Once symptoms appear, rabies is almost always fatal, but prompt treatment prevents it.^[13] Always say if the animal is unvaccinated or you don't know.