Asked what we love about our pets, we usually say the obvious things – their undying loyalty, their reliable friendship and their consistent companionship. But here are some bonuses that only pet owners know the joys of:
1. A chance to embrace our inner shopaholic. We might be rather boring when we’re out shopping for our own needs. But having a pet is a great excuse to splurge on delightful new goodies – think collars with ‘bling-bling’ lights, a T-shirt that says ‘Papa’s Pet’ or an elaborate multi-level tree for your curious kitty, even though she’s still fascinated by the box it came in. Nothing beats the rush from buying yet another rubber ducky and watching your dog’s pupils dilate in excitement when she receives it.
2. ‘My puppy is smartest’: Pet parents who read articles about how a dog was smart enough to sniff out a treat from a locked cupboard or a kitten that learnt how to play with a wind-up mouse in mere seconds can never resist looking admiringly at their own animal friends and declaring that their pets are at least as clever, and that they’d solve algebra equations if the need ever arose.
3. The silent movie companion: Some of our cats and dogs are probably people in disguise, for they’re happy to spend a major portion of their day staring at YouTube videos with us and they’re the best company, for they don’t judge us for pressing replay on the ‘kitten playing with wrapping paper’ video for the hundredth time.
4. Couch potatoes no more: Forget your dreams about growing lazy on that giant couch that has a cup-holder for convenience. Our animal buddies take their job of getting their owners some exercise rather seriously. Fido the pup won’t let you off without at least two walks a day, and Whiskers the tabby cat will coax you out of bed bright and early to serve him breakfast. Fitness begins with a furry buddy.
5. The treasure house of stories: One of the best things about being a pet owner is that we never run out of stories.
