Pets make people do the strangest things. You could be the most levelheaded person on the planet, but one furry head butt from your kitty and suddenly you’re a different person. You start holding a full conversation with your pet, ventriloquist-style, or ordering a bone-shaped cake for your pup’s birthday.
When you interact with your pet, you think nothing of the baby talk or quirks, but you’d never dream of acting that way with your human companions. You also don’t think twice when you fret over your pet or change plans because of them. Well, as a pet parent, you’re not alone.
15 Strange Things Pets Make You Do
Plenty of people have zany habits and do overly dramatic things because of their pets. Devoted dog and cat lovers find these kooky traits and (sometimes drastic) actions perfectly relatable. See which of these behaviors you relate to when it comes to life with your pet.
Giving Your Pet a Voice
When’s the last time you started speaking for your pet? (Literally.) You pretend your dog is talking while you chatter away in a disguised voice. You ask your pup, “Would you like to go for a walk?” Then you proceed to answer as them, perhaps with a silly accent, “Oh, yes, please! Get the leash! Me love walkies!”
Shifting Into Baby Talk Mode
You coo over your cat or dog as if they’re an infant, raising your pitch several levels and making funny faces in the process. “Who’s a good kitty? You are, yes, you are! That’s a cute boo-boo, kitty wumkins.” It turns out all that baby talk could affect your pet in a good way, boosting your emotional bond and grabbing their attention.
Smelling Your Pet’s Paws
If you love chips, then smelling your pup’s paws might not seem like such a bad thing. If your dog gets “frito feet,” their paws can smell like your favorite snack, making it hard to resist sneaking a whiff every now and then.
The smell comes from a mix of sweat, yeast, and bacteria on your pup’s paws. Cats can have it, too, but it tends to be more common in pups.
Carrying Your Pet Everywhere
Some pet parents love to carry their pets with them anywhere they go, even if it’s from the bedroom to the kitchen. If that’s you, then you know that your pet doesn’t need to have mobility issues or paw problems for you to want to give them a lift. It’s like your pet becomes a furry appendage that has to come with you everywhere.
Watching Your Dog or Cat Sleep
Does this one sound familiar? You catch a glimpse of your pet lounging on the couch, and they just look so adorable, you stop and stare. Or maybe you quietly run and grab your partner, dragging them into the room so they can witness your pet’s cuteness, too.
Throwing a Birthday Party for Your Pet
Many pet parents throw birthday parties for their pets, complete with pet-safe cakes, presents, and decorations. Have you celebrated your fur baby’s special day? You send out invitations, organize doggy games or creative cat exercises, and sing “Happy Birthday” to your pet without a second thought.
Taking Tons of Pet Photos (and Posting Them)
You snap pics of your pet as if you’re a paparazzo and they’re the hottest celebrity. You take pictures of your cat sleeping, eating, staring, and scratching.
You have more photos of your dog than you do of your kids. Oh, and you love to post them for all to see because, well, they’re just so cute, you can’t deprive anyone of their adorableness.
Tucking Your Pet in at Night
When bedtime rolls around, you tuck your pet in and make sure they’re nice and comfy before you get into bed. If your pet loves to get under blankets, you make sure they’re all nestled in before you attempt to get in bed yourself; after all, you wouldn’t want them to be uncomfortable.
Showing Your Pet Their Reflection
You hold your pet and face a mirror, telling them how adorable they are. You might even ask, “Do you see yourself? That’s you! Look at how precious you are. I just can’t stand it! What a handsome fella.”
Crying Over Your Pet When Nothing’s Wrong
You love your pet so much, which any pet parent can relate to. But even if your dog or cat is perfectly healthy and loving life, you can’t help but cry. You worry about losing them, and you can’t bear the thought of life without them.
Googling Every Possible Pet Symptom
Your pet has a weird bump, you Google it. Your cat hiccups, you Google it. Your dog sneezes, you start scrolling. Any time something is amiss, you channel your inner veterinarian. You start looking up symptoms, weeding out every possible diagnosis before finally bringing your pet to the vet.
Canceling or Changing Plans Because of Your Pet
When’s the last time you bailed on a party or adjusted travel plans because of your pet? You’re getting ready for a fun night out with the gang, but your cat gives you a look of disapproval, so you cancel. You want to go away for the week, but you find out the hotel doesn’t allow dogs, so you decide on a staycation instead.
Making Up Songs About Your Pet
When your pet walks through the room, you can’t help but start singing a little ditty about them. Or maybe you sing a little rhyme every time you fill their food dish.
Sometimes it makes sense, sometimes it doesn’t, but it’s always focused on your pup or feline friend. What can you say, your pet makes you so happy that you have to sing.
Giving Your Pet Numerous Nicknames
You call your dog or cat different names depending on the situation, the time of day, or your mood. Nicknames could be logical, like if your dog’s name is Beau Jacques, but you just call him Beau for short. Other times, it may not appear to have any correlation to your pet’s name, like calling your cat Potato when their name is Zoey.
Waving at Your Dog or Cat Through the Window
You pull up into the driveway and see your cat staring out the window. You start frantically waving and smiling. Your cat proceeds to stare, or perhaps starts nonchalantly licking their paw.
You walk up to the porch, stand there, and wave at them until they give some indication that they acknowledge your presence. If your dog starts bouncing around happily to see you, you continue to make funny faces at them through the window instead of just walking into the house to greet them.
Pets Make You Do the Strangest Things
So did any of these behaviors sound familiar? Were you checking off boxes in your head as you read through the list? You likely realize now that the things you thought were strange, quirky, or dramatic are more common among pet parents than you initially thought.
It’s nice to know that you’re not alone, and the things you do because of your pets are pretty relatable among other dog and cat owners. Plus, there are probably several things you do that aren't on the list.
Share your quirky pet antics and find out how many other pet parents out there totally get it. It’s always nice to feel understood.