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.
Honestly I think pets feel like home in a way people don’t always manage to. There’s something so grounding about them just being there. My cat doesn’t care if I said the wrong thing, or if I’m overwhelmed or quiet or messy that day. She just crawls up, purrs like a little engine, and suddenly my heart rate is normal again.
There was a point last year where I was really struggling. Sleep was trash, I felt disconnected from everyone, just kind of floating through days. And my cat would do this thing where she’d come sit on my chest every night, like she was physically pinning me back into my own body. I didn’t even realize how much she was helping until my landlord tried to say I couldn’t keep her.
Now she’s here, still sleeping on my chest, still saving me one tiny purr at a time.
I think that’s why we love them so much. They meet us where words don’t reach.
A fortune cookie fortune I got when I was a teen summed it up :
Animals are the best of friends. They ask no questions. They pass no criticisms.
I’ll just add that another reason that I love, adore, cherish and need my beloved animals is because they’re not people (and I’ll leave it at that as my slighty misanthropic nature may rear its head).
I’ve never been easy about trips to the dentist. I’ve usually put up a fight over getting injections after a traumatic experience as a child in the dentist chair and it’s a phobia that’s definitely remained.. I have to have two implants fitted in the new year, once the holes left from two extractions this month have healed sufficiently.
Imagine my joy at seeing this photo of a calming service dog that you can cuddle to take your mind of things while in the game of thrones!
I definitely need one as I’m also facing deafness and I’m half blind too! Happy old age to all!
Isn’t there a quote somewhere: “Be the person your dog thinks you are”
Why do we love our pets so much… or other peoples’ pets!
I think it’s gotta do something with communication. The love extends beyond words. We can understand each other (mostly!) through behaviours and tone, and our automatic responses, things in the ethereal zone (like when we slump when we’re sad, or perk up when we’re excited).
It’s a great feeling to feel understood or in sync with another without having to be verbally overt. Always fun when the animals start to understand our words though too
I’ve always felt that the bond we have with our pets sits in that beautiful space between simple and profound. They don’t overthink, they don’t judge, they don’t hold grudges — they just show up for us, in their own steady, wordless way. And I think that’s why the attachment runs so deep.
For me, it’s those small, almost invisible moments that say the most. The way a dog will quietly shift closer when you’re having a hard day. The way a cat will sit nearby — not on you, not away from you — just close enough to say, “I’ve got you.” It’s connection without conditions, comfort without explanation.
Do they understand us emotionally? I honestly think they do. Maybe not in the human sense, but in that intuitive, attuned way that comes from living side-by-side and learning each other’s rhythms.
And when you lose a pet… it’s heartbreaking because it’s not “just an animal” you’re losing. It’s the daily presence, the shared routines, the little pieces of yourself they quietly held. The joy, the silliness, the companionship, and the grief when it comes — it’s all part of the story we share with them, and why the love stays with us long after they’re gone.
This is so true. Pets quickly know their people. I’m someone at a party will head straight to the pet and try to connect! It’s not that I’m not social but I feel their animal magnetism. My wife lives in constant fear I will adopt something soon! There have been some near fall outs when a stray Mastiff followed me home! My wife’s first words “ no you’re not keeping it! “ It was already a massive pup.. the vet didn’t help .. “ no he won’t grow any more “ when I showed him the phone photo I had taken before handing him over to the dog rescue centre.. I walked back to the place the dog had joined me on a hike and knocked at houses nearby, showing the photo and asking” surely you know who own this gentle giant? “ No one did.. They were surprised by my concern .. What nationality are you asked one bemused local, impressed by the trouble I was going to..
owners finally claimed him… Yes my wife was worried at how I was pacing about beforehand. Pleased and saddened at the best possible result.
On the last day before I would have been Offered first refusal as I’d found him and handed him in.. was my wife sweating..? We live in a 3 bedroom flat.. the dog was BIG! Even I knew it was impossible to smuggle him in !
We have an agreement .. I can keep pet sitting as long as I hand them back!
Our home in UK had an unreliable cat flap on the peeling kitchen back door … “ oh dear we must get a new cat flap fitted immediately .. I don’t want rats and mice getting in!” I quickly announced..
My wife fell for it.. So now I’m thinking Dachshunds and Jack Russell sized dogs at the very least.. it’s a big come down from the Great Danes we used to have as family pets as our children grew up. But size doesn’t matter with pets.. I’ve learnt that from the Yorkies, chihuahuas that I’ve taken care of…
My wife is right to worry.. I could succumb at any moment.. I avoid the offer of seeing pups or visiting rescue centres. Dogs would soon sniff out my vulnerablity. There’s no fooling them! Maybe THS is saving my marriage? The pets are very important and they know it when I take the reins as it were .. ( No we won’t be getting a horse, I know my limits!)
Christmas is coming and guess what .. I’m spending it with my dear long suffering wife (45 years married) .. on a repeat sit at the seaside. A big treat as we live in Madrid.. but we are with a rescued dog and two rescued cats. I’m feeling “ stable “ relatively stable.
That Nativity scene .. I wonder if the animals distracted Jesus too.
Have a great Christmas Everyone! God bless each one of you and those you care for.
So impressed by this owner who took her poorly kitten to church. It has had the operation to prevent a catalogue of further cats. The owner told me it had worked away at a protective bandage and so it was now sporting a high cone collar. The cat was quietly attended to during the service, and placed in its pram to settle it. Feeling the love.
I don’t regret leaving the rescue dog I’m looking after at Home. He had an earlier walk before the rain. He wouldn’t have enjoyed the crowded room, and the long service!
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