I am thinking about getting pets as companions but given that IB ppl are hard to have a life... How do you all manage if you have pet(s)? Any advice or suggestions? Plz don't suggest "don't get a pet" because they're very important to my mental state lol
P.S. silver bananas and monkey sh*t are very appreciated because I need them to post anon
| +221 | Why UBS Is the Worst Place to Start Your IB Career | 35 | 2h |
| +162 | ONLY THESE BANKS OR YOU STRUCK OUT | 41 | 2h |
| +65 | Firm Thinks I'm Lying About Offer | 20 | 1d |
| +58 | Indiana University Fraternity Pipelines | 36 | 1h |
| +50 | Rogo AI | 20 | 15h |
| +46 | Elite Boutique interview questions | 11 | 1h |
| +44 | Suspended for a Year | 19 | 10h |
| +39 | Stay at Weak Dealflow Team or Lateral? | 12 | 2d |
| +39 | UBS 2nd Year Analyst Q&A (2026) | 16 | 42m |
| +23 | 1st Half 2026 (1H26) RX IB & RX Co. Rankings | 16 | 14h |
Career Resources
Get instant access to lessons taught by experienced private equity pros and bulge bracket investment bankers including financial statement modeling, DCF, M&A, LBO, Comps and Excel Modeling.
Having a pet is just like raising kid. With great difficulty it can be done. But if you're committed to getting a pet and feel it will make you happy, by all means get one and it will be worth it for life balance.
Be sure you can provide it with an entertaining life too - it's a two-way street. No point in a Golden Retriever for it to be locked in a cage or alone in the apartment for 18 hours a day while you're working.
Get a cat. They wont care you are gone for 16+ hours a day. Ideally, do not get a kitten because they need more attention. Go to your local SPCA and I'm sure they will be happy to set you up with an older cat. Change its litter box every day, and make sure you feed it before you leave and when you get home. Do not get a high maintenance animal like a Border Collie
hahaha noted. I am a cat person indeed, and will be sure to look into local shelters
I have a litter robot with automatic feeder and water fountain.. totally automated and my cat is chill
As an incoming at a sweaty group I would love to get a cat..but I’m worried what happens if that cat has a emergency and I can’t take it to vet because I have to work etc
Unless your cat has regular emergencies, people are generally very understanding of you being out of pocket because you're at the emergency vet or something like that. Bring your laptop if you must but 2-3 hours without it isn't the end of the world once every 5 years in an actual emergency. I wouldn't let this stop you.
Obviously don't get a cat with major health issues requiring ongoing vet care, but other than that you should be fine
We have a cat and are considering a second one.
Cats require a decent amount of attention, but they do not need play time or social time the entire day.
As long as someone is there with the cat, it will be alright. Leaving a cat alone for the entire day is not something we would do.
It also depends on the cat breed, there are some fairly social ones like ragdolls which require more attention.
Yes and I guess I am looking at adopting in pairs because having one cat all alone for the entire day is not that ideal. Esp given that I prefer higher energy pets
Dogs are the way to go, never get a cat. Jk, both are fine and should bring a lot of work, but ultimately happiness.
Definitely a cat. They don't need to go outside like dogs, so if you generally can give it attention most days they can take care of themselves.
Dogs can be done, but it's expensive and difficult, would not recommend unless you have a live-in significant other or a lot of disposable income to spend on caretakers. You'd need a full-time walker (likely 2x a day minimum, assuming you can do morning and night) and even that assumes you'd be home in the evening enough to enjoy it and spend time with it.
How do you balance life?
bro how does the pet stay alive if you’re in IB
Cats are wayyyy easier to manage than dogs in IB (and in any career, in general). My car is aloof to the point where he seems annoyed if I try to play with him for more than 15 mins
As an analyst in IB, it seems impossible to maintain a dog. One of the analysts has a cat that's pretty independent.
Get a turtle
Someone should throw MS at this so I can post anon
Perferendis nostrum sunt est enim enim itaque laudantium. Qui sed placeat blanditiis sint sed. Nihil blanditiis cum odit sit. Exercitationem sit minima quisquam est et sed quidem et.
Ut qui autem consequuntur expedita. Laboriosam dolor fugit earum. Vero et ad enim omnis quo voluptatem cupiditate. Necessitatibus quos ea ut ut dolorem quas. Voluptas alias consequatur saepe nihil voluptatem. Dolore rerum sit reprehenderit qui ipsa id in.
See All Comments - 100% Free
WSO depends on everyone being able to pitch in when they know something. Unlock with your email and get bonus: 6 financial modeling lessons free ($199 value)
or Unlock with your social account...