How has your pet brought joy to your life?

[MyFartWillGoOn]

Inspired by a current miserable thread I thought I'd start one about how our pets bring us joy. Yes, I know it's probably been done to death but surely everyone loves a pet thread?

We got our lovely dog when going through infertility problems. We decided we wanted a break from the constant let downs and negativity and to focus on something positive

He is now 4 years old and I honestly don't know where we'd be without him. In that time which would have otherwise been filled with misery, he forced us out of bed, played with us, gave us big smiles and licks and is the cuddliest bear going.

My favourite joyous moment was also my darkest. We had just got news of no heartbeat after being elated and finally getting our first bfp. I sat on the toilet and sobbed my heart out. DDog loves socks. I mean...they are his favourite things ever. After a few minutes of self indulgent crying I looked up to find four socks at my feet and DDog sitting looking at me with the most concerned expression ever. He bought me his favourite things to cheer me up. He then launched himself at me (he's a lab), one paw on each shoulder and proceeded to lick my face and every tear away until I was laughing uncontrollably.

We are now happily 7 months pregnant but even now, when I sit on the toilet, I sometimes look up to find a sock, and he still occasionally launches at me while I'm sat there, just to check no more tears need licking away

Hit me with your joyous stories!!

I adore my 3 stupid kittens 💕 we’ve had them for 4 months and I can’t remember what life was like before them. They are very cuddly and loving and they absolutely adore each other and snuggle together and groom each other. They also pounce on each other 💕

Little buggers have stripped my wallpaper off in numerous rooms and climb the curtains and walls but we don’t care 😁

Ebony helps me when I'm depressed by giving me a reason to get out of bed to feed her & clean her litter tray; she loves to race round & play, she very affectionate to me & makes me laugh.

@Helenluvsrob Bless! My DH was also slightly indifferent until we got the dog

However, this evening, DDog has had horrible farts-toxic! And DH has left the sofa and is lying on the wooden floor next to his bed, stroking his head and asking him if he's got a sore tummy (never sure what response he thinks he's going to get 😆). He's also turned into a soppy sod!

@LilyJade @swampytiggaa What glorious photos! Cats are awesome! Looks like the 3 kittens work together to cause mischief and mayhem!!!

My DD got guinea pigs last year and they are lovely, i’ve Never had pets before at all. They are very vocal and burble away to each other, and to us when we pick them up all the time. So many different noises and quite active and fun. They love cuddles and are so affectionate. We get them sea grass tunnels and hideys and they gnaw and bite and pull and systematically destroy them with evident enjoyment. They are great stress repellents.

This beautiful idiot makes me smile every day. He gives lovely cuddles.

My previous cat used to get under the covers for a snuggle. We have two lovely ginger boys now but I still miss him - he was the bestest cat ever.

And my first cat used to groom me when I was feeling sad - she would climb on the back of the sofa and lick my hair.

Stoopid kittens lying on top of each other. I’m getting ‘the look’ because I disturbed head washing 😭😭😭

This is just SO lovely. Congratulations on your pregnancy

My 2 lovely rescue cats 😻😻 they are so adorable. They are 3 years old and the cheeky one runs to greet me when I get in from work and her sister is so chilled out and sweet. Cheeky One sits next to me every night.

My children adore them and play with them every day after school, in return the sweet one is obsessed with them both and follows them round the house. She is currently sat staring at me as I write and intermittently licking my feet, wanting to be stroked.

Cheeky One waits for me to go to bed and sleeps at my feet. Sweet One sleeps with either child on their cabin beds. We are so lucky to have them 😻😻

My old cat brought me so much joy, I keep her ashes by my bed. It's taken a few years to get over losing her but we got Maggie on Saturday and we all love her so much already.

I miss my adorable kitties. They passed away from old age but were delightful and snuggly to be around. Such different personalities but all playful and affectionate. They used to wait on the street corner and race me home in the evening.

@Almostalive I think Maggie is gorgeous!!
It's horrible when you lose a much loved pet; I lost my cat Millie in feb 2018 & I still miss her.
But although Ebony isn't a replacement for her she's very lovely in her own way, she has a very sweet personality.

My cats know when I'm sad or ill and come to cuddle up with me. They're really big so it's just like having a warm, living teddy bear to cuddle. The bigger of the two will lie under my arm with his head under my chin and just purr and purr, it's the most comforting thing I've ever felt in my life.

I have read somewhere that cat purring is a soothing sound and I so believe it! My cats bring my joy every day with their affection and personalities.

No pics since he has pretty unique markings, but I don’t know where I’d be without my cat. I got him as a kitten when I first moved to a new town on my own and didn’t know anyone. He stopped me from being so lonely. When I met my DH, they loved each other instantly. He is the centre of our family, and more recently as he’s got older (he didn’t used to like new people!) he’s become a favourite of all of our friends. He’s 11 years old and I honestly can’t imagine our house without him. Some cats disappear for days and keep their distance, but mine is always present.

He's just hilarious. He loves teddies, and whenever we come home I can see him through the glass in the door sniffing to see if it's us, and then running down the hallway to find a teddy to greet us with. Some of the teddies he's acquired are so big that he can't see when he's carrying them, so we basically get greeted by a wagging, mooing, wildly excited bumper-car ricocheting off the walls. This is him (the black nose and spaniel ear) with his current favourite, given to him by a friend purely for the amusement value of watching him carry it to the car to take it home.

Oops, forgot the photo of him taking it home!

Our two ginger boys moved across the ocean with us ❤️ they are 3 years old and we got them when DH's colleague couldn't take care of them. Their hobbies are chasing each other all over the house, leaning against your lap for a cuddle and trying to knock your phone out of your hand and rubbing their heads all over you.

They kept me company while I spent months in bed with HG. Love them more than I thought I could ever love any animal.

I just love him. He's a massive twat sometimes but that's just part of his personality and we all love every single thing about him. Even the fact that he has dreadful impulse control, is led by his belly to comical levels and farts like you wouldn't believe.

He's a chocolate lab too OP, and although I've always had dogs and loved every single one of them, he's a very special boy.

@Almostalive OMG she's gorgeous.

What I love about them is they just seem to know when you need them. My cat is great for appearing for head bumps whenever I'm struggling, and my dog can always be relied upon to do something utterly ridiculous to cheer me up!

Her favourites are slippers, so she will go and get a slipper and drop it by my feet if she thinks I'm sad! Love them to bits

Thanks for this thread OP. If the miserable one you are talking about is the one I'm thinking of then it upset me very much. So much I actually deleted the MN app but I have decided to just hide that type of thing. I actually find MN very anti animal so I'm not sure how long I'll stay.

My DDog is amazing. I had a really difficult pregnancy and he never left my side. So loving. He's fabulous with my little boy too. I'm currently not very well and he's always there. I love working from home with him. Sadly he's getting on. Last night he had a funny turn and I had to return the favour - I slept next to him holding his paw. I don't know what I'm going to do without him.

We also have a pony on loan - I've always had ponies until my last one was pts a couple of years back. I can honestly say the only time I forget I am ill is when I am at the yard. I've met some lovely friends too - his owners are lovely and I've now got someone to go to horsey things with again.

My beautiful dog.
She came from a rescue and we had her for 13 wonderful years. We had some lovely walks exploring the countryside and the seaside. She shed hair like you wouldn't believe.
Very sadly she died a couple of months ago and left a hole in our lives I wonder if we will ever fill.

Oh @ruby1234 he is absolutely stunning. DDog is our first and I tear up when I think of that day I know will come.

It sounds like you have wonderful memories of him and although that hole in your heart won't go away, perhaps there's another super dog out there that will help fill it with love 💓

So sorry @ruby1234 I've just reread that SHE was a lovely lady not gentleman!

There really is nothing like the added social and lifestyle benefits of pets is there @Greyhound22 !

I used to walk around our local park occasionally and not hear a mutter from anyone. When DDog is with me I can't get from one end to the other without a conversation-either with other dog owners or families whose kid wants to check if he can stroke him. The embarrassing thing is I don't know many of their names-just the dogs!!

I also suffer from a chronic illness and I completely agree that there's nothing like being with your pet outside to make you forget and just enjoy life. My BP dropped so much after I got DDog that I came off my tablets to reduce it as found I didn't need them anymore.

And yes, sure we're talking about the same thread!