To think pet owners should stop calling themselves “dog mums” and “cat dads?”

[TheDeftAquaViewer]

It just feels a bit much when people treat their pets as if they’re children. AIBU to think this trend has gone a bit too far?

I think each to there own personally, so for that, YABU.

Each to their own really, is it harming you in some way?

Oh why do you care if someone's a cat dad, or a hamster auntie, or a python stepmum. It affects you not a jot!

What is with the pet owner obsession on MN this week?

I remember my aunt called my cat my baby. I told her no, he's my cat

I do find it a bit unusual, but it doesn't actually bother me. I would never refer to myself in that way though.

I think it's directly linked to the falling birthrate

I think people should stop caring so much about stuff other people do that has no bearing whatsoever on their lives, maybe get a hobby OP.

Yes it's pathetic

I get where you are coming from, I don't like it either.

But I also understand why people don't like using the term 'owner', which relegates a much-loved living creature to the same status as a car or a coat.

Not sure what the middle ground is.

I call myself 'mum' to our dog and my husband 'dad'. We also have a DS4 who calls our dog his 'brother'. We are all a family and it doesn't matter what other people think. We were really worried about our dog yesterday as he wasn't himself and was hiding in a corner (when normally he is a pocket rocket) and in those times you really feel like their parent in some way, as you're their caregiver.

I think they should do what they want really. And it isn't my place to dictate someone else's relationship with their pet(s).

Really? You want me to tell my boys I’m not their mum and to shatter their whole world?

What kind of monster wants that?

My neighbour has a sign in her garden that says 'My Children Have Paws".

She actually has adult kids 😂

She's so lovely but I do wonder what her kids think to it.

Couldn't bring myself to care too much so long as they're looking after the animal well 🤷 would much rather they spoil them with love and affection than treat them like an inanimate object.

Well I have no pets and my user came is .....

I find it irritating.

I don't think my preferences on the matter should affect anyone else's choices.

I call my cat my son. It's affectionate and tongue in cheek. Chill OP.

I find it incredibly sad to be honest

It's really none of your business, @TheDeftAquaViewer

Many dog owners are utter idiots.

Hooman for human and hoomam and hoodad for the parents. Just no.

My step daughter and I actually had a conversation yesterday about whether our puppy was her step brother or half brother. She's 32. 🤣

Seeing as I kept them alive when tiny, cleaned them, taught them to shit, kept them warm, safe, feeling happy, provide them with food, education, entertainment, comfortable places to sit, sleep, eat and shit and their entire existence is wholly dependent upon me (and to a lesser extent, DP) meeting their needs, they're pretty sure I'm their Mum.

I see no reason to disabuse the furry bastards of that notion.

I think they should call themselves whatever they want. At least then I know who to avoid😆

Our dog is part of our family… we’re his mummy and daddy. Nothing wrong with that. I don’t know how I’d tell him to go my husband if I didn’t say ‘go to daddy’.

I don't think many people do call themselves that Irl in day to day parlance. Maybe on pet specific threads, posts about their animals on sm etc.
I do call my cats my 'babies' privately among my family, but only to them in the home. I whisper in their ears about how they are my beautiful babies etc. And they purr and love it!
I do see them as the closest thing to having a child as I know I won't ever have one. It's not harmful really as long as the person isn't neglectful to their real children or human relationships and responsibilities.