My vet always tells me NOT to humanise animals. He says they do not feel as we do, so it would be really unwise for us to humanise them.
Some of the things I’ve been chided for are:
1. Won’t my pets be bored of the same food day and night? Shouldn’t I give them a change or some variety?
2. Wouldn’t the mother miss the children if you take them away to be adopted?
3. Wouldn’t they miss each other if they are separated?
And my vet would say, “Don’t humanise the animals. Animals don’t feel as we do.”
Well, I’m not a vet and I have not done any scholastic studies on animal behaviour, but I have looked after animals for decades, and I have observed their behaviours.
Permit me to just share one incident when Indy was down with fever due to an infection. Being the smart cat that he was, Indy quarantined himself upstairs in our shrine room. He did not come downstairs at all. Perhaps he wanted a quiet place to rest, or perhaps the parquet floor was more comfortable. Whatever it is, why did he choose the shrine room and not any of the bedrooms?
Then, all the cats went up to see him, and this includes little Vixey, who seldom ever goes upstairs because going upstairs was a struggle for her.
I will always remember how Vixey trudged upstairs all by herself, and went to sniff at Indy, and nuzzled him. She sat with Indy for sometime, before making her way down the two flights of stairs again. It was a very, very touching sight for all of us – to see her doing that for Indy, the kitten she had helped look after and train when he was first rescued.
Or for that matter, how all my pets would know when I am sad, and they would sit nearby and nuzzle their little heads on my leg.
All said, “There are more things in heaven and earth that is dreamt of in our philosophy”.
P.S. I miss Vixey coming up next to me on the floor and flipping on her back. She used to do this a few times a day. It was her way of asking to be stroked on her belly. Cow, Bunny and Tiger do that, too. They are all such loving friends. I treasure all my pets, and I’m glad I give them everything I’ve got every single day. Life is so uncertain and we can be taken away without any warning whatsoever. Treasure each other while you still can. And when we are no longer around, let the beautiful memories live on in the hearts of those who are still around.