I have been thinking lately about how deep our love for pets goes. Whether it is a dog, cat, parrot or even a guinea pig, the emotional bond we form with our pets is powerful and often hard to explain.
So I wanted to open this up as a discussion:
Why do you think we get so attached to our pets? Is it the loyalty? The companionship? The non-judgmental love? Do you believe pets understand us emotionally? Have you had moments where your pet just knew you needed them? And if you’ve lost a pet, how did that experience affect your view of pet love and loyalty?
I do love to hear your thoughts, stories, or even philosophical takes on why pets mean so much to us.
Let’s talk about the love, joy, and sometimes heartbreak that comes with being a pet parent.
My partner and I regularly take ‘work holidays’, which makes TH just perfect for us. In daily life we’re fully focused on our relationship coaching business, so we’ve made a conscious decision not to have pets of our own — we simply couldn’t give them the time and attention they deserve.
But during these work holidays, we love to loosen up a bit and enjoy the company of animals — in all shapes and sizes. Like these chickens .
Funny enough, science shows that stroking animals calms both the pet and the person. And let’s be honest: pets give you that lovely kind of attention that humans sometimes forget to give each other.
When you take good care of them, you get playful company — sometimes for life. Every animal has its own little personality, and bonding with them just happens naturally. That’s probably wired into us as humans.
Of course, none of this fully explains the simple joy of playing with them — or the worry you feel when they’re unwell.
We’re just super grateful when there’s a great match between the pets, the homeowner and us — co-creating happy moments for everyone involved.
And yes, we really love the fresh eggs from ‘our’ chickens too!
I think when an older pet goes that has been “part of the family” for a long time, there is a lot of history about the time that goes with the pet – the puppy that grew up with the boy and now the boy is in college and not a boy anymore, the cat a woman got when she got her first apartment, and eighteen years and two marriages later the cat was still there for her.
There’s also the relationship itself. Humans are uniquely verbal, but I know a couple of non-verbal humans. They too have personalities, quirks, and the ability to express affection and “relate” to others. So do non-humans including dogs and cats. Sometimes we go through things with our pets and come out the other side closer.
Our current senior cat has gotten a little clingier with age, but has basically slept by my side for the past 15 years. He comes when I call him and sometimes he calls me! How could I not miss him when he’s gone?
My elderly cat Walter is the first cat I’ve ever owned. He came into my life as a rescue, who had received little interest at the rescue centre, due to him being a little older and also a black cat. He had been abandoned by his previous owners who simply moved, and didn’t take him with them.
I was at a rather unsettled time in my life when my sister got him for my birthday (after a discussion and after having met him at the centre!), and Walter gave me something to care about.
I look at him and can’t quite imagine who would want to abandon such a handsome, clever, quirky boy. He’s been a wonderful housemate, particularly when the world shut down during the pandemic, there was a long stretch where he was the only company I had.
He is getting a little old now, and the thought of life without him one day is difficult, but I am glad to have opened my heart and my home up to a lovely boy who was left behind. He deserved more than that, and I try to show him every day.
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