AIBU to think there's nothing wrong with me?

[blissey]

Namechanged in case IABU and people hate me!

When I was growing up, we always had dogs, but I never bothered much with them. I was once given some goldfish for my birthday, but I wasn't fussed. My aunt and uncle had horses - not interested. My cousin has a cute puppy, of which I like to see pictures, but I don't like it when they visit. My DH has got cats, but I don't care for them either.

I guess I'm just not a pet person, and I'm quite content with that. Apart from finding living with cats very annoying, but my DH loves them, so I respect that. I wouldn't ever hurt an animal, just ignore it and get on with my life.

However, if anyone asks me about this, or tries to get me to be enthusiastic about their pets, and they find out that I don't care, they recoil in horror and treat me as if I were some kind of mass murderer. They seem to think that in order to be a decent human being you have to dote on animals and find their every move cute and adorable.

AIBU to think that there's nothing wrong with me?

Yanbu. I like pets in a distanced, oh that's nice type way. Some people are mad for their dogs /cats /budgies.

Nothing wrong with you at all, not everyone is an animal lover-ignore any stupid people who think otherwise is my advice.

I am a veterinary nurse and animals always have played a massive part in my life. I can't imagine life without them.

If people don't like animals i tend to not trust themand my instincts are usually right.

But you don't dislike animals you just don't LOVE them and that's ok too. Rather someone who is indifferent than someone who professes to love animals and leaves their rabbit stuck in its hutch and thow a few carrots in.

Most of my friends are animal lovers but i do have friends that aren't too fussed or a bit scared of them. I think they are perfectly sane and nice people.

Perfectly normal, I can't get excited over cats or dogs, yes cute sometimes, just not my cup of tea; however I do love reptiles - my snake is awesome. It's each to their own.

Lots of people are like this. People that don't really like animals or kids. People come on MN every few months to say exactly the same thing. I have seen plenty of threads like yours so it can't be that odd.

TheoriginalLEM - why on earth would you not trust someone who doesn't like animals? That's like saying you hate people who have blonde hair, or everyone under five feet in height. You're a veterinary nurse, so clearly you love animals and you obviously see it as your calling, that doesn't mean that people who don't share your passion are psychopaths

I love my child and my cat. Beyond that I'm not really interested. I don't mind looking at cute baby animals, but I am not fussed at all about lots of pets etc. I find it slightly weird when people get over invested in their guinea pigs and the like, but I realise it is me.

I'm a cat person (we have 4) but I absolutely appreciate that not everyone likes my cats, it's not a problem. Each to their own

if you had read my pist properly you will have read that it is people that actively dislike animals. I It is nit a decision nit to like those people i just find that i don't gel with them. Its an empathy thing.

I'm not particularly interested in animals. I would hate to have a pet. I don't like touching them and would resent the mess they made.

I am a good person though! I have lots of friends and would do anything for anyone. Except pet sit!

Its the same for me with kids, I'm pretty meh about babies and small children. i don't dislike them though.

I'm not an animal person either, as in I like them and would never harm any animal, but I'm not gushing and obsessed with them as some people seem to be, there's a vet nurse in our family and she seems unable to relate to anything unless it has four legs, she's useless around people but crazy about animals. I think pets are lovely and have had cats and always liked them but I don't get the British obsession with treating animals almost in a human way, people calling them their "babies", etc, dressing them up, it's all just bloody odd to me. I could never trust someone who was deliberately cruel to an animal and wouldn't want to be around someone like that, but don't get the obsession and love it when dogs are just dogs, happy, loving animals who aren't idolised.

YANBU
I rarely see someone's pet that I find adorable. I can't be bothered or interested.
We had a dog that I loved but the same as some people love their own kids but find others kids annoying, I am the same with pets.
I wouldn't expect anyone to find my kids or pets adorable

As for not trusting people who don't like animals?...That is just bloody insane.

hadjab they never said that, they said they had no prob with indifference, just didn't trust people who hated.

No I don't get pets at all. I think anImals should be doing their own thing in the wild rather than kept in unnatural conditions as toys for the enjoyment of humans.

However I know most people don't share this view so I tend to keep it to myself.

YANBU, I am a massive animal lover. A good friend of mine is like you, she would never harm an animal& in fact intervened when her neighbour was abusing a dog, but has no interest in having an animal.

YANBU, I love cats and I have one but I'm not really into dogs at all. I'd never harm one and I despise people who mistreat them but I don't pet or could ever love them. My mum has two dogs and I completely ignore them, which my mum thinks is very odd due to me having a cat. The dogs are fine with it, we've reached an understanding where I leave them alone and they leave me alone. There is a mutual respect there.

The not trusting people who don't like animals crops up on lots of threads about animals...although the pp was not saying that...lots of people do say it.
I've had it said to me when I have said I am not interested in people's pets.

Yup I'm the same with babies, I have no interest in having children, I don't want to see picture after picture of your kids, I don't want to hold your baby. Apparently that makes me abnormal because every woman should love kids

I know a few people like you, I can see their point of view, I adore my pets but they do smell, their hair is annoying and they do insist on cuddles!!!

Nothing wrong with you at all.

Yanbu. I find a home without pets a bit empty but my sister isn't really bothered. Why that personal preference should be anything to do with anyone else is beyond me.

See I do like animals, I'm quite passionate about the environment and conservation, I always buy high welfare meat, I like a bit of Attenborough as much as the next person.

Pets though. Meh.

I'm the same with children. I really cannot work up any enthusiasm about other people's children or grandchildren. I am the least maternal person I know (although I dearly love my DD and DGD). But animals? Now that's a different story. I can relate to a cat or dog (or horse etc) in a way I just can't with a small child.

I'm not interested in pets - I find cooing over cats and dogs boring, and I think people like my parents who treat animals like children are misguided. So I sometimes say I'm not really interested in animals, when someone gets out their puppy photos.

However I am concerned for animal welfare overall eg more ethical farming practices.
I know some people who claim to love animals, by which they mean pets, but happily eat caged hen eggs and cheap meat. One of the reasons I wouldn't ever get a cat is because they often kill so many birds and other wildlife. I think the wildlife is more important and interesting than a domestic cat.

Yanbu - I like animals outside but I can't understand why anyone wants them in their house. Dh also has cats which are nice enough but I'd happily live without and I find them a bit dirty.