Are there people who don’t talk to their pets?

[BarrelOfOtters]

Inspired by the poster who is wondering if talking to your cat means you are old.

surely everyone talks to their pets?

I have had quite long chats with cats over the years…mostly about food to be fair.

and dogs are excellent listeners.

We have 5 dogs and they all have their own voices. The two collies regularly tell DH to fuck off at 4.30am, my horses the house dogs and outdoor cats talk too. I spend half my life talking to animals, the sheep, the horses, the dogs, the chickens, the ducks… the geese are a different story, these bastards won’t be reasoned with we shout at each other in different languages it seems!

Oh yes I always talk to my cats (and before that, my horse, sheep and budgie!). Unless my cat gives me the 'oh please hooman be quiet, I am trying to sleep!' look. 😂

What would the point be in having pets if you didn't talk to them?
I sing to my chickens - they're very appreciative. Obviously we have serious conversations too though. I've been trying to persuade them to stand for parliament at the next general election but they're having none of it. It would be beneath then apparently - the standard of behaviour in the House of Commons is not what they're used to. They're probably right of course.

Of course I chat to my cat. That's normal, right?? Same goes for the microwave

I have been known to 'woof' back when the dog barks, on the off-chance I can speak dog language.

I think if you don’t talk to animals there is something wrong with you .

Not only do we talk to the dogs, they are very useful at passing on messages

"Dog, will you ask [other human] who left those dirty cups there?"

Everyone talks to their pets. They’re great listeners.

We all talk to our dogs and they talk back. Not the jack Russell but the cocker poo and the shitzu both talk..... Sometimes we make up the dogs responses, which is obviously normal or why bother having a conversation with them, right!?

I do talk to the cats - but I've recently started thinking it's just for my own benefit and that they have no idea what I am saying other than tone of voice so I've started communicating with actions which they seem to be able to interpret - I don't mean sign language (has anyone taught sign language to a cat?) just from which room I go into or where I sit or which door I open etc.

Currently on holiday and missing my ddog. I constantly chatter away to him. My dh says things like "he's a dog, he doesn't understand you". Dh is wrong of course.

The thing is Dh talks to him too, asks him how his day has been? If he had a nice walk? 🤷🏼‍♀️

I grew up talking to cats! I talk to my current pair often, and the younger one at least knows what some phrases mean - "look what I've got for you" or "time for your special drink" means she's getting her Osmolax dose, which she likes and usually drinks straight out of the spoon. I was impressed the other day when she drank half and looked like she wasn't going to bother with the rest, but when I said "You do have to drink it all," she did!

ETA I tend to side-eye people who don't talk to their pets.

Ah yes, here are my people.
Of course I talk to my pets and my family and friends pets. And very often strangers dogs when I'm walking my dogs. Everyone I know does this. The ones that don't talk to their pets are weird, why wouldn't you chat to your own family?

When I go for my morning walks I often see dog walkers. I’ll say good morning to them and a separate good morning to their dogs.

It would be more weird not to talk to your pets. Like it seems a bit neglectful. I ask my dog questions about his day. And he understands loads of phrases.

I do not have daily chit chat with my dog but I don’t have anything against those who do. loving the full on conversations people are having with their pets.

I help at a boarding kennels, I talk to the dogs like they are children coming to nursery on drop off 😂

My cat seems to understand many more words and concepts than I would have thought was possible. Eg not just about food or being brushed (which she loves) but if I tell her I am going away for a couple of nights, she gets grumpy. When she was getting over an op, and just starting to go outside again, I would tell her to be back in20 minutes. She was!

I feel terribly guilty if I put my headphones on or talk on the phone when I'm walking DDog. I feel like it's disrespectful to him because he can probably tell I'm not fully present for him. That said, I'm really into my current audiobook, so I have been allowing myself to listen occasionally on the way to/from the park, but not once DDog is off lead and wants me to play with him.

I talk to him all the time, and put Radio 4 on for him if we go out or if I need to shut him away while I'm in a meeting. He's much better informed about current affairs than I am.

Of course I talk to my pets and they all speak back in their own little voices 😂

I don't recall ever chatting to my goldfish when I was a kid.

Yup, pretty much this!

What madness is this you speak of? Not only do I talk to my own pets, but I also talk to other people's pets & any wildlife I see in the yard. It'd be rude not to!

I gave my cat an Italian accent when she talked back to me 🤣🤣🤣

I do talk to my dog, if I can get a word in but he’s a real chatterbox and prefers to talk at me.

my other dog was a much better listener.

DH and I have entire conversations in our dogs' voices. I thought that was normal!