The connection between pets and ourse... - Anxiety and Depre...

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The connection between pets and ourselves.

41 Replies

Have you ever had a completely terrible day and the only thing that seems to soothe you is your fluff ball friend?

Something I greatly appreciate upon this journey to recovery is how impactful pets are to us. While I never been privy to a specific animal, I've been pleasantly surprised by how receptive my two cats are to my feelings (especially considering the bad reputation they seem to get for being heartless jerks). When I've been in the pits of despair, they both will find a way into my lap (or my face if I am lying down) to squish, cuddle, lick or kneed me to show affection. It always baffles me how much they can improve my mood.

The purs of a cat are proven to reduce stress, so it's no wonder that our furry friends bring so much comfort. I'm a new cat mom as I've only owned my girls for two years now. I've always had hamsters and chinchillas growing up, so cats are an entirely new experience for me. They both have been such a blessing and I am so thankful to have them.

Do you own any pets? If so, do they bring you comfort? Tell me something about your pet :)

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41 Replies
kenster1 profile image
kenster1

yeah my dog she gives me everything and more literally saved my life when I needed it most.apart from when the post man comes that is.

Sillysausage234 profile image
Sillysausage234 in reply tokenster1

Haha my dog is a patter dale also ...she bit our postman and a workman as he was getting tools out of his van..she’s a great companion though great when you build up the trust

kenster1 profile image
kenster1 in reply toSillysausage234

my dog hasn't bitten yet but goes nuts when the door goes I carry her to the door and she then troddles up the stairs knowing its ok.she hates walking by drunks and always goes nuts.

Sillysausage234 profile image
Sillysausage234 in reply tokenster1

More of a warning sort of bite not full on ,they can certainly go nuts for their size....and their ball .....and squirrels 😊 I had a staffie before for 14 years ..then someone I know had a patter dale and they are a lovely dog....sometimes

Ragdoll15 profile image
Ragdoll15 in reply toSillysausage234

My daughter has a patterdale, he has such a lovely temperament and so obedient!

Sillysausage234 profile image
Sillysausage234 in reply toRagdoll15

Mines around 7 all’s I can say is she is learning 😀

in reply tokenster1

That's so beautiful, I adore how much pets can improve the quality of life. So happy that you have such a wonderful and loving dog!

Sillysausage234 profile image
Sillysausage234 in reply to

Dogs are the best ....unconditional love..cats too when they want food 😊my cat ignores me most of the time ,think she’s ashamed to be seen with me outside

in reply toSillysausage234

LOL I can attest to the food thing, but mine do show affection outside of food. But I know not all cats are like that. Yet dogs are just straight-up happy affection machines.

mrmonk profile image
mrmonk

It's hard for me to speak about my cat, but she has been the only companion to whom I've ever been emotionally, instinctively tethered.

in reply tomrmonk

My aunt is very similar to you in that she feels her cats are the few creatures who truly love and appreciate her without judgment. Pets are certainly a beautiful gift.

CatIsMyCopilot profile image
CatIsMyCopilot

I have a black cat too! I've had other cats in my life, but she's by far the most affectionate of all of them. She loves being cuddled and hugged. I wish I could let her sleep with me, but my sleep is so fragile these days due to my anxiety, so I have to keep her out of the bedroom at night, haha.

in reply toCatIsMyCopilot

Yes! Black cat owners unite! That's so precious...and to think people refuse to adopt black cats due to superstition! Your kitty sounds so lovable, that really warms my heart. But what a shame that she can't stay in your bedroom. Sleep is more important, but perhaps one day things will change. Thanks for telling me about your friend :)

sallyw_12 profile image
sallyw_12 in reply to

I have a black cat too! I’ll admit she is a bit of a stereotypical aloof cat, but it just warms more heart all the more when she is affectionate. She sleeps with me most nights, and if i’m having trouble sleeping, I pull her up close to me and the purring is calming and helps me sleep.

in reply tosallyw_12

The clan continues to grow! Ha, well, some are like that for sure. Doesn't mean they don't love any less, right? Wow...I really love when I hear things like that. I am so glad you have such a wonderful companion!

fauxartist profile image
fauxartist

I have had cats my whole life, they have been my life preserver in rough waters growing up in a dysfunctional situation, and to this day...I always have a cat or two. Now we have four outside mousers that are 3rd generation, that have a lovely outside house and a converted garage all nicely insulated and cozy, we live in the country....then we have the rescue baby who is inside only, miss 'Betty the Bold', who does not think she is a cat. She rules the roost here and we are here to serve....

in reply tofauxartist

Wow, your living situation sounds idealistic to someone like me. To be out in the open, one with nature sounds so peaceful. But how nice to have a furry crew by your side to keep you company. Whoa, you certainly are a cat lover, that's for sure. How cool though to have had that long of a generation of cats! So glad you have a fantastic cat haven setup :)

fauxartist profile image
fauxartist in reply to

they are our little gardening buddies, they were all born in our room in the house, and eventually when weaned made their way to their outside home...They love to sit with us and get their bellies rubbed when we hang out with them. All of them are well taken care of, and we encourage everyone to make sure to get their animals fixed, wormed, and always well fed so they hang around and don't wonder off looking for a meal. We have one male who just was not very good at being a neighborhood romeo, so he has finally given up the wonder lust and is now lounging on the grass with his sisters and mom most days. Yes...I am very blessed to have a beautiful garden and nothing but fields of green with cows grazing behind us.

My kittehs have saved my life. I need to stay alive for them. They are my emotional support animals. They bring such joy and unconditional love. I highly recommend getting a pet if you are able. Adopt! Don't shop!

All my kittehs are rescues. I saved 2 black kitten twin sisters from the pound. They were the gentlest, sweetest kittehs ever. Sadly, they both died in their senior years, and I miss them terribly.

Right now I have 3 senior kittehs. They are my best friends.

in reply to

That's so beautiful! I feel the same exact way about my girls. Both of my black kitties were adopted from rescue shelters as well. They look like sisters but are three years apart. I'm sorry to hear you lost your precious babies. It's nice to have new friends to love and cuddle!

StayPositive333 profile image
StayPositive333

I take care of feral cats... 4 to be exact but others do come along. 2 of them i can actually pet as they are happy to be fed and they all wait for me to show up. They are my comfort.

I also feed wild ducks.. mainly the babies + their moms. I live on the back bay (intercoastal) so nature abouts.. hard corn is what i fed them as breads can stunt their flying powers. 50 lb bags. They are appreciative and I literally have them eating out of my hands!

Back to the cats, they are about a mile away and I fed them every day so they definatly make sure I get out and move at least once a day!

in reply toStayPositive333

Wow, good for you! That's a lot of cats! They sound like such a pleasure to have around. Gah, ducks are so fun! They are so sweet when you're able to have a good relationship going. We owned ducks in my teen years when I still lived at home. It was definitely a unique experience. Very sweet creatures indeed. So glad you were able to experience that as well!

That's so precious! I am sure they love you to bits.

StayPositive333 profile image
StayPositive333 in reply to

Great post you made as I'm sure all are comforted by their pets and animals. Bringing in some good positive thoughts...

in reply toStayPositive333

Thank you kindly. I'm trying my best to be a good influence to folks here and in real life. Finding the good in things in life is something that's easy to forget when you're depressed. It's my own struggle at times as I can be quite pessimistic, but it only takes one person to change the way you feel.

AlLeYkAt86- profile image
AlLeYkAt86-

6 Cats, 1 Dog, leave bags of peanuts and bird food out for squirrels/birds/chipmunks/groundhogs/hobgoblins/whatever else is in the backyard

in reply toAlLeYkAt86-

Ha! You have quite the zoo there! How nice to have such a nice variety of pets! You're like an animal whisper, huh?

AlLeYkAt86- profile image
AlLeYkAt86- in reply to

We had a groundhog that would eventually come sit on our lap and loved apples and coneflower in addition to peanuts. After some time we could pet him and he would respond when we'd come outside knowing it meant food. Next spring he must have found fancier people with a more varied menu.

in reply toAlLeYkAt86-

That's so cool! I've never heard of anything like that before! You're like a Disney princess with animals lol

AlLeYkAt86- profile image
AlLeYkAt86- in reply to

A friend at work sent me a gif with snow white surrounded by birds and deer and bunnies and what not. So yes Alley Cat is a Disney Princess apparently.....

in reply toAlLeYkAt86-

Best job ever.

quitter333 profile image
quitter333

Yes.

Also while I eternally will love ferrets, cat and dog love is the best. Cats will actually see you are sad and will some and calmly snuggle near you, cat purring was called "medical" throughout history. And dogs will simply love you, which is amazingly nice for stressed people.

in reply toquitter333

Yes, I agree with you. They really understand us and love us in a way that no other human can sometimes. It's truly a blessing to have such things in our lives.

Kat63 profile image
Kat63

Pets are quite simply the best thing in life, bar none.

in reply toKat63

100% agree with you there!

travelmama46 profile image
travelmama46

I have 2 wiener dogs <3. They are my best buds and their presence calms me completely. They seem to know whenever I'm struggling and love me for me.

in reply totravelmama46

YES!!! Oh my goodness...they are so cute. My aunt had two of them while we were growing up. Such sweetie pies! So happy they give you so much joy and love you to bits!

travelmama46 profile image
travelmama46 in reply to

They are cute :). They make funny faces and their long bodies and little feet make me smile.

in reply totravelmama46

Their short little legs and arms are the best. Those little faces are the best too :)

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14

I had a weiner lol

He was my best friend for 14 years.

sunsets44 profile image
sunsets44

Yes, pets are absolutely amazing, and I've had some pets get me through some terrible dark times in my life. They are angels sent from above, for sure.

Dolphin14 profile image
Dolphin14 in reply tosunsets44

Do you still have pets?

🐬

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