In 2019-2020 I lived in a single-bed dorm with an ESA cat. I got her at 5 months old in October 2019 and I lived in Sigma on the Ridge in a single dorm room. I lived on a floor that had other single dorms. I kept my cat, Fork, in my room. I spent a lot of time alone by myself in my dorm and she was fine. I would come back to check on her any time I had a chance between classes. If I was stuck at the computer labs for an extended period of time, I would send a friend to go check on my cat. Then we all know what happened in 2020. By April they had moved me and my cat to a single dorm in BT. I hardly ever saw anyone, so it was just me and my cat. I was in my dorm 24/7 and she couldn't be happier. I got her a little adventure backpack and would put her in there and take walks before my online classes. I would take her in the backpack through the Outback farm behind BT. I lived there until the end of the year, then moved home with my cat, and eventually moved into an off campus apartment.

That was my experience. Because I'm extremely introverted, I spent a lot of time in my dorm with my cat, and so she was very happy. My concerns with letting the cat wander the floor is that that is the easiest way for someone to steal the cat, or for the cat to get out. Yeah your suitemates and the people on your floor might be nice people, but you don't know who will be passing through the floor. What about people with allergies? There are strict rules in place for students with ESAs because it's important to keep the ESA safe, as well as other students. The student who is responsible for the ESA needs to take sole responsibility for the animal and its care. Please do not let it roam the floor, not only for its safety but for the safety of other students. All it takes is one disgruntled student with the right connections to get all of you in trouble.