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?

Don’t knock it till you’ve tried it, I say.

A nown, you say? 😂

My cat was my fluffy baby and ds fluffy brother and I was the fluffy baby’s mummy

we miss him so much 😔 he made us happy and he was cared for and loved

there are far bigger and more important things in this world to be angry, irritated or annoyed about op.

But why should people want to have children? Why do you find that so strange?

I know many people who love kids but don't want them.

• CEO of a huge museum
• Folklorist who's life is very busy
• Three teachers.
• Artist
• Sommelier
• Dancer

To name a few. Why is that Orwellian? They don't want kids but they want something to care for. So they have pets. Why is it weird just because it's not what you'd do? Do you find everyone who doesn't live like you do weird? Their lives aren't empty because of it. Quite the opposite, and I say this as a mother of two kids.

Humans have worshipped animals as gods, made sacrifices of them and to them, committed appalling cruelty against them, but it's 😱 to love them enough to call them the terms used of human infants and familial relationships when we love them. Go figure.

It really goes back to humans thinking they're soooo much better and more important than any other species, doesn't it?

Why does it both you.

The only thing making you love your children is that they were free (initially)?

I think some dogs are lucky enough to be treated as members of the family, they have a lovely life and are cherished and loved. It must be hard for people who are not cherished and loved to observe other living beings receiving love when they have none.

@Wishingplenty

You hate dogs who can't walk very far being taken to their favourite places by their families for some fun and stimulation?

I think you are onto something here.

And I will also add that people who have not been loved as children might find it difficult to show love to their own, so loving a pet is easier and safer for them and actually teaches them how to show love to people.

So that is a good thing too.

This site is crazy. People are actually angry and disgusted that some people, in the comfort of their own homes, refer to themself as their dogs mum or dad?
If you are that invested in other people’s relationships with their pets then I suggest you take up a hobby or seek help. So what if someone tells their dog to “go find daddy” in the house. The dog doesn’t know what daddy means, they’ll just come to recognise it as a sound that is connected to that person.

The most important thing is that animals are loved and cared for. Regardless of whether you refer to them as a baby, child or pet, the only thing anybody should be concerning themselves with is that their welfare needs are being met.

The people getting worked about it on here I fear may have deeper routed problems that they ought to get help with.

Judge away......nobody cares about your opinion in reality

Yes, me too 😂

Wind up the sour faced, bitter fuckers and watch em go!

This is the internet and it's anonymous. People express opinions about stuff they would never say out loud in real life. One of my friends talks to her cats and guinea pigs in a really high pitched voice and has all sorts of elaborate extra names for them. Like Boo Boo Bunnikins (even though there isn't a bunny in sight.) It makes me cringe from the inside out. It doesn't mean that I like her any less, but I just desperately want it to stop when I'm around😆 I would never ever say a word to her about it. I just smile politely or look at something 'urgent' on my phone until normal service resumes. I can't help how it makes me feel, just like she can't help doing it. And I reserve the right to come on here - the anonymous internet - and say I think it's embarrassing and slightly ludicrous. Oh and I'm not 'angry' or 'disgusted' or any of the other OTT adjectives ascribed to those of us who find it all a bit silly. There are traits people find annoying about me. I know because I've seen people complaining about same on here.

But she IS the world's best doggie!

(They all are.)

My heart would have been warmed if I'd overheard that.

Yabu. Baby is a developmental stage, both humans and animals have babies. Cats and dogs are not our children - yes, we’re well aware. But they are babies (small, cute and depend on us for survival).

@Nikitaspearlearring , When I was once in a heavily wooded - and as I thought, deserted, part of our local park with our dog, and was baby-talking to her (as I so often did) - ‘Mummy love oo!’ etc. I was suddenly aware of laughter from above.
Two blokes who were sitting around 10 feet up on a branch of an ancient oak tree, were absolutely pissing themselves laughing! 😂

At least I livened up their day. Though what they were doing up that tree I still can’t imagine.

I just startled a workman (didn’t see him) when taking DDog out for a pee outside the hotel we’re currently staying in. He overheard me saying “Good little doggy mcbunnyface” when she peed on cue. Now that was embarrassing. But I say much worse when we’re home alone

She looks nothing like a rabbit, btw

I hate it, I'm a cat slave not a cat mum.

It actually warms my heart that, given how much animal abuse there is in this country, there are so many people out there who love their pets dearly.

Dog/cat/small animal/horse mums and dads, you are my people!

I can't understand why anyone would care about what people call their pets in their own homes. It does slightly irritate me when friends do it in front of me, but that doesn't mean there's anything wrong with it- just different preferences.

Maybe I'd be doing the baby talk myself if there was anything remotely baby-like about my cat- perhaps one day I'll have a much more cuddly animal and then I'll understand it better! He's an owlish, aloof creature and although I love him a lot, he's more like a bitey housemate that keeps insociable hours than a baby 😆

My thoughts exactly.

My lovely friend is a dog mum. After multiple miscarriages she bought herself a puppy instead. He’s her baby because she can’t have a baby of her own. What harm is she doing calling herself a dog mum?

I totally agree with this.

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻