I've had a turtle named Diego for about 27 years. She showed up on my back porch one day and we have been best friends ever since. She had a damaged shell from probably a dog that chewed on her. She still has those teeth marks. I'll be turning on her heat lamp any day now because it's starting to get a little cold for her at night.
I've always felt like I have a deeper connection to family pets than the other people in my family do, maybe with the exception of my mom? I've definitely always been the one to notice that the dog is especially bored today and taken her on a walk to see her perk up, and it's always annoyed me when my sisters say, "oh, she's fine" just because they don't want to get off their lazy arses. Like, no. I want to improve her quality of life just like any other person in my life, and connect with her like any other sister or friend. And I'm apparently her 'favorite person' just because I treat her with more respect than 'the thing you cuddle when you feel like cuddling,' or like a rug in the corner. Same goes for my cat---honestly it's just because I see them as people in my life deserving of attention beyond feeding them. And better than people, you don't have to talk for them to appreciate your value to them, or if you do talk it's more to do with communicating affection (on both ends) than it is expressing complex ideas, which is really nice 🥰
I grew up with a German Shepherd husky cross, he was really big but harmless, such a sweetie. Thinking of him is still a comfort. Also now when I'm upset I have my cat Sam, even when I'm not home I think of him sometimes to help me cope. I think our relationships with animals r so beautiful, enough to bring a tear to the eye
Yes it is the connection we need, human or animals. So many people cross my cats boundaries and even continue after I warn them of an impending bite,scratch etc!! I feel like I was a natural observer so was intuitive of animal body language and like you say I respected them.. I begged my mum for a pet but I wasnt allowed (my mum was a little OCD with keeping the house clean). I survived by the power of dissociation! I am now 40 and still being controlled by my mum. Ottis in a box is so cute. Take care xx
My parents got a kitten not long before I was born, so I grew up with my "big brother" cat Tom to look after me. He always knew if I was upset & would come & sit on my lap & let me cuddle him. He didn't usually like cuddles, but I was allowed if I was upset! He was a beautiful ginger boy & I was devastated to lose him when we were both 18. We're just kitten-proofing our house so we can finally get cats again - I can't wait!!
I’m a person with a lot of empathy for a lot of things that don’t necessarily need it either. Fictional characters and things, but especially animals. I’m having a lot of problems atm and even though im 35, om beginning to wonder if there’s something I need to have checked. I’m not at all just saying that I AM anything, but I feel different and have always felt different and it’s just really, really starting to show for me lately. I’m not sure this is just the way it is for everyone or not, but I don’t think I have anyone who understands me, at all really. I don’t really have any problem interacting with others but I feel as though I may have way more anxiety than I ever realized I have because I just thought the amount that I do have is “normal”. If that makes sense? Idk. I’ve basically been in a sort of full melt down mode for just over a year now, my only source of joy coming from my squirrels that I’d rescued, but it was time to try soft releasing them and so I had prepared and everything went wrong and they are unhappy and trying to get them comfortable, knowing I was distressing them while doing so, has caused me to feel so incredibly distressed and depressed but I’ve only wanted the best for them anf for them to take steps into freedom and wow I’ve done it again and left a whole fuckkn book for a comment. Idk what I was even trying for with this comment when I started, so I’ll just end it now. You’re very relatable though and I especially liked your video on work. I guess my main point is that I prefer animals because they’re honest and transparent and you don’t have to wonder where you stand with them or what their motivations are.
My parents weren't good with emotion. My dad was very anti pets but when I was 11 a black 🐈⬛ kitten showed up in our yard . He didn't mess up my dad's garden so we got to keep him. I watched his body language and other cats as well. Cats are a special interest of mine. I tried to figure out what cats liked in general and what each specific cat liked. I love cats and they help me a lot. Animals don't take the place of human contact. I need human contact also. But they are there own special contact. My cats are my substitute kids as well. I didn't have children. I have trouble taking care of more than one cat at a time. But having a cat helps me and hopefully helps them as well. My current cat is Shadow. He is 11 and I got him this year. He was being bullied in his last home. He is a sweet boy but has some litterbox issues.We are still adjusting to eachother but so far so good!
@@Catlily5 My current Maltese Poodle Bichon mix named Sam showed-up to my house literally 2 days after my previous dog Sonny who was a Sheltie died. Sam was with some neighborhood kids so they gave him to me when they had to go inside for dinner. I found his owner but he kept getting out of her yard so she said I could have him. We are very close but he really bonded tight with my Mom. I'm chop liver when she gets home. lol
I have a very deep connection to rodents I volunteer in a guinea pig sanctuary and that’s the only time when I feel like someone is communicating with me because I can understand what they are saying including my own piggy. I know it sounds a bit weird but I think every animal has a magnetic field and I can understand/ read and feel that. Animals have that: bats birds elephants all do. And I can read it but I don’t understand humans 🤷🏻♀️
I keep writing this (unintentionally) but yeah I can super relate. Love animals, especially columbidae eg. pigeons/doves. It sucks that basically all work with animals in our society is either: Exploit them for personal gain, causing them stress and suffering OR doing low paid vet/medical work that is really gory and traumatising...
I've had a turtle named Diego for about 27 years. She showed up on my back porch one day and we have been best friends ever since. She had a damaged shell from probably a dog that chewed on her. She still has those teeth marks. I'll be turning on her heat lamp any day now because it's starting to get a little cold for her at night.
I've always felt like I have a deeper connection to family pets than the other people in my family do, maybe with the exception of my mom? I've definitely always been the one to notice that the dog is especially bored today and taken her on a walk to see her perk up, and it's always annoyed me when my sisters say, "oh, she's fine" just because they don't want to get off their lazy arses. Like, no. I want to improve her quality of life just like any other person in my life, and connect with her like any other sister or friend. And I'm apparently her 'favorite person' just because I treat her with more respect than 'the thing you cuddle when you feel like cuddling,' or like a rug in the corner. Same goes for my cat---honestly it's just because I see them as people in my life deserving of attention beyond feeding them. And better than people, you don't have to talk for them to appreciate your value to them, or if you do talk it's more to do with communicating affection (on both ends) than it is expressing complex ideas, which is really nice 🥰
I grew up with a German Shepherd husky cross, he was really big but harmless, such a sweetie. Thinking of him is still a comfort. Also now when I'm upset I have my cat Sam, even when I'm not home I think of him sometimes to help me cope. I think our relationships with animals r so beautiful, enough to bring a tear to the eye
Yes it is the connection we need, human or animals. So many people cross my cats boundaries and even continue after I warn them of an impending bite,scratch etc!! I feel like I was a natural observer so was intuitive of animal body language and like you say I respected them.. I begged my mum for a pet but I wasnt allowed (my mum was a little OCD with keeping the house clean). I survived by the power of dissociation! I am now 40 and still being controlled by my mum. Ottis in a box is so cute. Take care xx
Who would not love these no-judgement and unconditionally loving creatures called pets ...🤗
My dog was my first best friend 🥲💜💜💜
My parents got a kitten not long before I was born, so I grew up with my "big brother" cat Tom to look after me. He always knew if I was upset & would come & sit on my lap & let me cuddle him. He didn't usually like cuddles, but I was allowed if I was upset! He was a beautiful ginger boy & I was devastated to lose him when we were both 18. We're just kitten-proofing our house so we can finally get cats again - I can't wait!!
I’m a person with a lot of empathy for a lot of things that don’t necessarily need it either. Fictional characters and things, but especially animals. I’m having a lot of problems atm and even though im 35, om beginning to wonder if there’s something I need to have checked. I’m not at all just saying that I AM anything, but I feel different and have always felt different and it’s just really, really starting to show for me lately. I’m not sure this is just the way it is for everyone or not, but I don’t think I have anyone who understands me, at all really. I don’t really have any problem interacting with others but I feel as though I may have way more anxiety than I ever realized I have because I just thought the amount that I do have is “normal”. If that makes sense? Idk. I’ve basically been in a sort of full melt down mode for just over a year now, my only source of joy coming from my squirrels that I’d rescued, but it was time to try soft releasing them and so I had prepared and everything went wrong and they are unhappy and trying to get them comfortable, knowing I was distressing them while doing so, has caused me to feel so incredibly distressed and depressed but I’ve only wanted the best for them anf for them to take steps into freedom and wow I’ve done it again and left a whole fuckkn book for a comment. Idk what I was even trying for with this comment when I started, so I’ll just end it now. You’re very relatable though and I especially liked your video on work. I guess my main point is that I prefer animals because they’re honest and transparent and you don’t have to wonder where you stand with them or what their motivations are.
Thank you. Your talks always make my day better.
My parents weren't good with emotion. My dad was very anti pets but when I was 11 a black 🐈⬛ kitten showed up in our yard . He didn't mess up my dad's garden so we got to keep him. I watched his body language and other cats as well. Cats are a special interest of mine. I tried to figure out what cats liked in general and what each specific cat liked. I love cats and they help me a lot. Animals don't take the place of human contact. I need human contact also. But they are there own special contact. My cats are my substitute kids as well. I didn't have children. I have trouble taking care of more than one cat at a time. But having a cat helps me and hopefully helps them as well.
My current cat is Shadow. He is 11 and I got him this year. He was being bullied in his last home. He is a sweet boy but has some litterbox issues.We are still adjusting to eachother but so far so good!
He is laying on my lap right now!
@@Catlily5 My current Maltese Poodle Bichon mix named Sam showed-up to my house literally 2 days after my previous dog Sonny who was a Sheltie died. Sam was with some neighborhood kids so they gave him to me when they had to go inside for dinner. I found his owner but he kept getting out of her yard so she said I could have him. We are very close but he really bonded tight with my Mom. I'm chop liver when she gets home. lol
@@samamsterdam4301 Sometimes they pick someone else🙃😤
I have a very deep connection to rodents I volunteer in a guinea pig sanctuary and that’s the only time when I feel like someone is communicating with me because I can understand what they are saying including my own piggy. I know it sounds a bit weird but I think every animal has a magnetic field and I can understand/ read and feel that. Animals have that: bats birds elephants all do. And I can read it but I don’t understand humans 🤷🏻♀️
Your cats are cute 🥰
I became a vegetarian because I love animals so much.
I keep writing this (unintentionally) but yeah I can super relate. Love animals, especially columbidae eg. pigeons/doves. It sucks that basically all work with animals in our society is either: Exploit them for personal gain, causing them stress and suffering OR doing low paid vet/medical work that is really gory and traumatising...