Pets becoming 'fur babies,' survey finds

[Butterfly88]

I don't call them "furbabies" but I understand the concept and agree

But really my cats are more like little furry aliens who live with me. We communicate with each other and we love each other... more as equals, though.

Friends.

Fur aliens, I like that.

 

[granolaturtle]

I've had trouble with the concept of seeing animals as 100% equals and with the idea of valuing animals over humans. That viewpoint has created a lot of misery in the developed world, where people will freak out about one homeless dog but an entire family of humans could starve on the street and they don't care. I think some people are so drawn to liking animals over humans because an animal can't disagree or judge your choices, which also makes me uneasy.

And I think people like to craft stories where they "rescue" dogs out of the goodness of their hearts when adopting so they feel like they're doing something charitable and dont have to worry about the human misery around them. Its harsh but the thought can't escape me.

And when people start freaking out about what people in other countries eat? It always starts getting racist.

I like and respect animals, so much of humanity has depended on them for millenia. Whether you are getting milk, wool, labor (pulling carts, hunting, etc), meat or companionship from an animal you need to be respectful of it. But I simply find it unethical to see them as the same as a human, in a world where so many humans get regarded as less than animals.

 

[WereBear]

But I simply find it unethical to see them as the same as a human, in a world where so many humans get regarded as less than animals.

It’s not either/or. It’s not a ranking system. Do we skip setting any broken bones until we’ve cured heart disease or something?

Since when do animals get a better shake than humans?

 

[granolaturtle]

It’s not either/or. It’s not a ranking system. Do we skip setting any broken bones until we’ve cured heart disease or something?

Since when do animals get a better shake than humans?

The problem is that human needs are much more complex, multifaceted and ultimately need to be seen as more important. You can't turn to a homeless person and say "I think you're about as important as stray dogs." It ultimately dehumanizes the marginalized.

You should never compare animal issues to human ones. I've seen vegan protests appropriate African slave imagery to protest things like milking cows, and it's the most disrespectful thing i could think of.

 

[WereBear]

You can't turn to a homeless person and say "I think you're about as important as stray dogs."

I still don’t understand. Can’t you feed both the homeless person and their dog?

 

[granolaturtle]

I still don’t understand. Can’t you feed both the homeless person and their dog?

A human down on their luck will have much more complicated needs and desires. Its not just feeding them, it's setting up the tools and support for independence that so many humans crave, it's societal respect as an equal, it's justice as well as support (which animals other than humans do not care about, as far as I'm aware). I'm not going to presume to know your story at all, but my theory is that when one hasn't experienced neediness all neediness can seem abstract and equal. But it isn't. I used to think I liked animals more than people, but I was wrong.

 

[WereBear]

it's justice as well as support (which animals other than humans do not care about, as far as I'm aware).

In my experience, many higher mammals have as much of a sense of fairness as human children do. A lot of studies have placed feline conceptional ability on the level of a six-year-old human child.

Cats and Fairness

Cats also follow human psychological laws of behavior, like social cooperation.

Law of Reciprocity

Cats have empathy.

Paw of Compassion

I'm not going to presume to know your story at all, but my theory is that when one hasn't experienced neediness all neediness can seem abstract and equal.

I don't see it that way at all; in my mind, "neediness" takes many forms, but that doesn't mean need gets ranked when it comes to taking care of people. Like many try to help stray cats by leaving out food, but it is equally important to leave out water. It's helpful to hand out food to beggars, but it's far better to actually give them a shot at having a life.

What I deeply object to is the perception of animals as "lesser" than people. Because that leads to seeing some humans as "more human" than other people. And before you know it, we are right back at the evils of racism and sexism again.

Dolphins and elephants, cats and dogs, apes and monkeys; they all have highly documented examples of "human" social behaviors. They are all thinking, feeling, beings.

We should all strive for a situation where we see sentience as a trigger for our extended help.

This expands humans, too.

 

[Judge]

Interesting how we can all see such different things over such issues. I love animals as well, however in this instance I find it difficult to articulate on such a thing given the very first sentence in the article.

"A new survey by pet insurer Trupanion reveals more people are planning their lives around their pets, especially millennials."

There's a word for this. It's called "advertising". Designed to promote a particular $pecial intere$t. Not sincerely argue the merits of any deep feelings over how one feels about animals relative to humans.

"Always the dollars. Always the dollars." - Joe Pesci, "Casino".

 

[WereBear]

While I agree, and it is funny, cats actually have egalitarian friendships.

We are equals.

 

[Bolletje]

While I agree, and it is funny, cats actually have egalitarian friendships.

We are equals.

Tell that to my jerk cat who keeps stealing my chair and nesting in my wardrobe

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

I refer to myself as a 'cat parent', and when talking to my cat call myself 'mummy' or 'your loyal slave' or 'the bald ape who provides food'. 'Fur baby' is too cutesy for me though.

I adore my cat and would definitely take her needs strongly into consideration when choosing things like where I live and who I live with... I would consider anyone who doesn't do so a pretty rubbish pet owner though.

 

[QueenOfFrance87]

I love the term "fur babies", as it is very accurate. I usually refer my two cats, Kiki and Molly, as my "daughters", and my brother's three tabbies (Meeko, Keeko, and Drogo) as my 2 "nieces" and 1 "nephew" respectively.

 

[WereBear]

Many people love to nurture. I think “fur babies” expresses that connection.

 

[Jorg]

Well, I think it's true, I find my dog like a son to me and many young couples like pets over children.

This week I have to turn myself into an uncle. My brother's and his gf's puppy had an accident and since they hae to work almost all day my parents (whom are retired from work) and I are taking care of her during the next 2 weeks. My brother lives in an apartment floor, and last friday the 4 month dog fell from the 3rd floor balcony, even when it sounds horrible (and) I tought it was going to die, the fierce puppy only fractured her pelvis.

We made her a small "nest" on the house, next to my bedroom's door and at 4am she started to cry a lot, probably she had some pain medicqation from the vet hospital but at the time it just stopped make effect. My father and I stayed next to her, rubbing her head and trying to calm her down, finally at 5am she went to sleep and in the morning my father went to buy her a pain medication that my brother forgot to buy. Since it she has been sleeping and sometimes trying to get on her feet but the vet said she needs to rest and not move. She didn't get surgery as I it so small and young the vet said their pelvis will cure with rest.

Aaaaannnyywaayyy, I really felt like idk an uncle/father trying to take care of her, may her be a dog or a human I guess is the feeling of taking care of a life form which cannot take care of itself andis vulnerable what in the end is making this social change.