treating your pets as less than they are is... i'm not sure what the word is but the first thing that comes to mind is disrespectful? somehow that doesn't feel like enough. what's the word for racist against kittens.

[–] Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca 7 points 4 days ago (1 children)

Agree. Pets are hostages in your house and have no other companionship. Pets should be spoiled with attention and spending time with them, and treats.

[+] minorkeys@lemmy.world -6 points 4 days ago (1 children)

So...emotional slaves, then?

[–] Washedupcynic@lemmy.ca 2 points 3 days ago (2 children)

I don't think that. Your pet knows how to tell you when they want to be left alone, or when they want to play. My fiance's cat uses his paw to push my hand away when he doesn't want to be pet, and I will respect that boundary. When I had ferrets, I would let them initiate snuggles, just because most of them aren't keen on being held. I had one that would sleep in the bed with me, and another that would climb up on my shoulder while I was sitting on the couch and lick my face. I had a cat that would beg to play fetch and meow until I threw her hackey sack.

[–] HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

Likewise, we had to teach our sweetie to like cuddles. We call them corporal lovings (a corporal punishment joke) where we pick her up and let her perch on our shoulder or drape across our arm as long as she'd like while I pace around our home. She absolutely loves it and it is all across her face, but she will. not. show. whoever is carrying her.

It went from "she'd tolerate five minutes of corporal lovings a day from me and only me, the human she chose" to give an example from a recent month "my wife and I had an argument (probably about flour) and then the cat took a nap on my wife's lap for an hour half to make me jealous, half to make me envious, and because she's bad at math and a sweetie, half to show me that she loves my wife, the human I chose, as much as or more than me, the human the cat chose, and the cat really wants us to make up or start some mind games and I've been keeping up on her treats so I'm hoping make up."

Sorry that sentence got away from me and I'm tired/high, but if I remember I'll come back and clean up the grandma