Hi, my name is Arielle, and I have too many pets. Ten, to be exact. I have two cats named Terra and Celeste, three parakeets named Tsuki, Miki, and Mossy, one goldfish named Harry, three rats named Mochi, Moby, and Johnny, and a rescue sparrow named Koto. Living with so many pets is a special set of circumstances, and here are some of the things that come with it.

1. You're constantly cleaning up.

Fur, hair, feathers, and...other things. It takes time getting used to having them around. You will never again put on a black shirt that doesn't have some kind of animal debris on it. Everyone sheds. True, you could probably avoid the problem with your clothes by not picking them up and cuddling with them, but who has pets that they don't touch? Of course you want your bird to perch on your head, or your cat to nap in your lap. Just be prepared to deal with the consequences.

2. Say goodbye to worry-free vacations.

Some people don't even have to get house sitters when they leave town. They can just fly off to Paris at a moment's notice. You cannot. Not even just because your pets drain all your money (because they do) but also because going on vacation now involves hiring someone to check in on everyone once or twice a day, and also spending a lot of time worrying about their well-being. Plus, when you get back, you have a bunch of lonely and/or annoyed animals to deal with. Hopefully you don't like leaving the house too much.

3. Prepare to devote all of your attention to your pets.

It's hard to divide your attention equally. Not all of them need affection all the time, of course, but it's hard when you're playing with the rats and the cat is meowing pitifully in the next room. Plus, chances are some of them can't interact with each other (our animals happen to be cats and the three types of animals that cats are most well known for eating) so you have to be constantly vigilant.

4. You're never alone.

Are you afraid of the dark, or of being home alone? It's hard to be, when you have so many animals around you. Just take a couple animals into your room to protect you during the night. Bonus- it's easy to blame weird noises on them, too.

5. You're surrounded by love.

Everything I've talked about happens because your pets love you so much. They just want to spend time with you and for you to love them in return. When you have a bad day, they'll make you feel better. When you're lonely, they'll play with you. Your pets are part of the family, and even if people think you're crazy for it (and maybe rightfully so) you love them very, very much.