To think we could ban pets and use these instead

[Freinddilemma]

No, its not the exact same thing as owning a pet. But...
I absolutely love animals amd totally understand the value of having them but am increasingly feeling like theres something wrong about actually "owning" an animal. I also hate how anyone can just go out and buy a life like that.
What if the AI on these things got super advanced and we just made living pet ownership illegal?

It’s not about pets being happy. As a fosterer do you hope that cats keep becoming pregnant so they can be re-homed?
Or would you prefer it if you and your colleagues never had to foster again because all cats were neutered? Or not bred as pets.

No. I have a rescue animal.

However I know the only reason i had the privilege of being able to rescue her is because the exploitative pet breeding industry exists.

I think that cats should be spayed / neutered for their own good. We’ve had kittens in the rescue who gave birth when they were 6 months & younger & we’re lucky to survive - their babies often didn’t. We also have cats abandoned when pregnant / with tiny kittens because their bloody stupid owners couldn’t be arsed to spay them. And toms who have spent all their lives roaming & getting into fights.

I seethe when I see posters on here who decided to let their cats ‘have just one litter’ because that definitely doesn’t benefit the cat.

At the moment the idea of cats dying out because of compulsory neutering is unimaginable. If it ever got to the stage where every single cat had a good home then that might be time to rethink but we’re a bloody long way from that at the moment.

And I think the goal of every charity should be to work towards the stage where it’s no longer necessary - though that’s another pretty unlikely thought!

I could go something like that, but aren’t there ethical and environmental concerns over AI use as well?

I have a rescue cat, but when he dies I won’t get another. It would be nice to think of no pets having to be rescued. I would certainly support a ban on unhealthy dog and cat breeds before my neighbour has a chance to get another godawful Cavalier that barks incessantly.

Whereas in the case of my first 2, they were only available for me to rehome because they had been part of a feral colony living wild in the woods on a farm - no irresponsible breeding for money there!

Very few breeds of dog or cat were initially bred specifically as pets, until recent times breeds were developed to fulfil specific functions to work for humans e.g. with dogs for herding, protection, pest control, spit dogs, hunting. Having created these various breeds specifically to work for mankind, you're now advocating committing genocide as without them being bred by breeders they will no longer exist. "Naturally" bred dogs and cats, i.e. those who are born to feral packs, will eventually lose those breed specifics and you'll have a homogenous mass of generic mongrels.

To be fair I agree that for some breeds certain traits that were initially considered desirable have become exaggerated in recent years to the detriment of the breed e.g. a small, delicate looking head in KC Spaniels has become so exaggerated that they can be too small for the brain, and some brachiocephalic cats and dogs now have issues breathing, but that needs adjustment from the thinking of the breed authorities not the entire breed wiped out!

No thanks!

So you don’t think that rare breeds, or indeed specific breeds, of any animals should exist?

More ethical in terms of the environment to have a real animal rather than a bundle of plastics, valuable metals and the impact of wasting resources on AI to run them.

If nothing else, once the Cat reaches the end of his lifespan (having already functioned perfectly adequately without a huge AI data centre to run his tiny little brain), he is fully recyclable.

I came on to say this is the 2026 equivalent of the Tamagotchi!

🤣🤣🤣 where did OP say she wants pet genocide??????? Show us?!

Obviously the plan would be do spay and neuter all pets (potentially missing some ferals so there may still be a much smaller cat population in rural areas).

Then stop all breeding for pets.

Genocide 🤣🤣🤣🤣, good one👍

OP never said any animals.

Breeding should be left to nature with the exception of preventing the extinction of wild animals if appropriate and safe for the population.

Breeding dogs as pets who do not and could not exist in the wild should be banned. Especially selective breeding which causes health issues.

So you spay and neuter every single pet, and prevent any from breeding. OK there may be a few feral cats about who have escaped local TNR programmes.

How is that NOT completely preventing there ever being any more Cocker Spaniels, or German Shepherds, or Jack Russell Terriers, or Old English Sheepdogs, if breeders aren't allowed to breed any? Where will future puppies come from? Basically banning all breeding means no more of a breed full stop.

In the definition of genocide under International law, one of the 5 categories of things committed to wipe out a specific group is imposing measures to prevent birth.

Please can you post a link to where the international law that covers genocide includes banning the breeding of pets/ animals?

Breeding pedigree dogs is a fake reality, most don’t exist outside of human interference.

I was suggesting it was the equivalent to genocide in humans.

Surely the fact that mankind created these breeds gives us even more responsibility to ensure their wellbeing and continuance, rather than the right to just erase them.

My dog is bred and his breed have been bred to hunt vermin. He does that very effectively as well as being my support dog. His breed is not known particularly to have health issues.

so you’re saying that all dogs should just be mongrels. Which is fine but then where are your police dogs and drug detecting dogs and support dogs going to come from?

Don't they say that you don't own cats, they own you?

Also with dogs, I am pretty sure most dogs are perfectly happy with the situation. My dog thinks every day is the best day ever, and he gets to go on lots of adventures, and gets happy and excited to go out and when family visit etc.

I wonder if my cat would like it as a companion, or if she would attack it. 50-50 odds.

@Freinddilemma would you extend that to other creatures you love? You could wipe out the relationship board on here if you replaced people's "dear" partners with AI and a cushion

I think my girl would probably watch it from a safe place for a while & then kill it.