Pets are too much responsibility. Also I do a lot of baking and the random tumbleweeds of pet hair floating around the house are nasty.
… That said, I’ve been teetering on the edge of getting a cat for a while now so it may happen despite my misgivings.
I love animals, but when I was single, I didn’t keep any.
I didn’t feel right about going to work early, coming home late, and leaving a dog or cat alone in my apartment all day. ESPECIALLY if I was going to be going out to social events in the evening. Really, WHEN would I have been able to spend any time with my hypothetical pets?
At least now that I’m married, I’m home every night, and can give my dog some exercise, play and petting time.
If I weren’t allergic to them, I’d have a cat.
How can one be single and NOT have pets?
Pretty easily actually.
This, every word. (Well, I’m older than 30 by a pretty wide wedge…)
A leash works two ways.
When I was single and working in field sales, I didn’t have a pet because it seemed cruel to leave a cat alone in my apartment for four or five days at a time.
Also I hate dogs.
I find it hard to fathom how anyone can be alive and not have pets, most especially and particularly dogs; they are a part of our tribe in a genuinely unique (as in one-of-a-kind) way and I am always a little surprised by people who do not include them itheir lives and families. My dogs ARE my family, being single and childless as I am, and when I had a partner for ten years, my family was made up of us and our dogs.
Alright, just what in the hell is going on in this thread? I started this thread because I THOUGHT I knew my audience. Where the hell are my fellow pet lovers at? Why aren’t there hoards of people agreeing with me?
Gah! You people are doing single wrong. 
/kidding.
One positive aspect of being single is that you don’t have as much responsibility, and a pet is responsibility. If I want to not go home one evening or leave for 5 days I can without worrying about pets. Not that I usually do, but I can!
As far as being lonely, it’s not like I’m sitting at home staring at the wall. I have plenty to keep me busy, really money is the main factor limiting my hobbies and interests, followed by time.
Because you asked to hear from the disagreeers<- terrible new word
I grew up with and love animals, and I’m single and don’t have pets. A definite part of why I don’t have pets is precisely because I’m single. I’ve had friends and family suggest that I should have pets because it would help keep me from feeling lonely. The fact is, I quite enjoy my alone time, and though I will get lonely occasionally, it’s far more the exception rather than the rule.
Yes, as I’ve watched others’ pets from time to time, an animal has a nice way of pretty much not interfering when I want to enjoy solitude, but also being comfort when I want company, and that’s a nice thought, but that’s not the whole consideration. For instance, as being single, if I’m not there, they’re alone. How fair is it of me to have animals around to keep me company for the times when I want it, but then be out and about a significant amount of time. That seems unfair to them.
It’s definitely unfair to a dog. Hell, if I’m home during the day, I can hear my neighbor’s dog whining constantly through the wall while they’re gone. Cats are, of course, more tollerant of solitude, depending on their personality, and can probably be okay without me while I’m at work, especially if there’s two of them, and that’s one of the suggestions that’s been made to me, and I admit it’s tempting.
But that all seems like a bad reason to have a pet. I want to have a pet, not because I’m afraid to be by myself, but because I want to have that relationship with an animal and I’m willing and able to commit to the responsibility of taking care of the pet, which isn’t just feeding and cleaning up after it, but spending time and energy cultivating that relationship and entertaining eachother. And, in my view, that’s something that works well in a relationship and in a family, and less so when I’m single.
And that’s not to say that single people shouldn’t have pets, there’s nothing wrong with that, but I do think they should take that into consideration. If you work a lot, have other activities that you do outside the house or even in the house that keep you distracted, and more or less just want a head to pat when you’re lonely, you may want to reconsider. If, however, you want to take the time to actually take your dog out for a walk and play fetch, or sit watching tv petting a cat in your lap then having him chase a laser pointer, then great. If you’re not sure, you probably should err on the side of caution.
I’m single. I have a dog.
If your dog is deaf, does that mean you are still talking to yourself?
… wear a spiked collar, taken on walks on a leash, on all fours … fully consensual, of course! 
Are you me? 
Let me guess-- those pathetic females are not interest in sleeping with you?
By living in a no-pets apartment building, for one.
When I was single and usually living alone, for ten years between college and moving in with my (now) wife, I was traveling constantly for work. I couldn’t imagine having a pet at that stage in my life. My single colleagues who had pets were constantly dropping dogs off at their friends’ or families’ places for two, three or four days. Or having to arrange for someone to come in feed the cat and clean the litter box. I couldn’t imagine imposing on people like that.
When I was single, I always had living situations with roommates that didn’t allow me to have pets. Plus, owning a pet can be a lot of responsibility. I was depressed and worked a lot, and barely able to take care of myself.
I lived alone for 10 years between leaving home and getting married. I never had a pet all those years, and never really wanted one. Frankly, I don’t particularly want the ones we have now. It wasn’t an issue while we were working, but now that we’re retired, there are times I’d like to say “Let’s grab the camper and go…” but we can’t. We’ve got to book pet sitters for the cats and the aquarium and a kennel for the dog. That instantly adds several hundred dollars to our vacation, and as retirees, that’s a big deal.
Don’t get me wrong - I like cats and dogs and I’ve enjoyed ours, but life was so much simpler when I didn’t have to worry about their care if I wanted to go away.
Rather the other way around. But it’s nice to be under someone’s digi-skin.