Childfree - what's your take on pets?

[musixa]

Asking because some childfree people I know have expressed a link between not having children and not wanting pets, and I'm interested in that idea because it isn't one I identify with; also interested to know how many of us fall into the 'cat lady' stereotype!

I knew I wanted a cat from the age of three, when my mum took me along to feed a neighbour's cat while they were on hols - I fell in love with him, even more so when he cleverly gifted us a dead mouse as a 'thank you'. My parents wouldn't have pets, so getting a cat was the first thing I did when I got a house of my own - I was very single-minded about it.

So, where do you all sit on the subject of pets?

Chickens are not something I’d thought of for the retirement menagerie.

This thread is going to make my retirement plans more expensive, I can feel it.

I have cats, and I adore them! But I think after they aren’t here anymore (and I hate typing that, it makes me well up) I probably won’t have more. The responsibility, even though it’s nowhere near what it’d be for dogs or humans, is so overwhelming. I can barely look after myself.

It’s a shame as I love animals but maybe I need a fish or something instead.

I’d seriously recommend fostering in that case.

You're giving cats a much needed temporary home. The bit where you have to hand them over is tough, but you learn to deal with it, and the ultimate responsibility - along with the vet bills - is the rescue’s, not yours. Plus you can stop any time you want.

@EmpressaurusOfCats I’m not sure why but that almost feels like more responsibility! I will definitely keep it in mind though.

That's brilliant, I hope you won't mind me asking chicken related questions at some point? 😂

I'm amazed just how much personality they have, and how sweet they are. It's so rewarding watching them scratch around and just be all chickeny.

They go bonkers for sweetcorn! Any reason why? Can they taste it? Here the questions start!

They go bonkers for sweetcorn! Any reason why? Can they taste it? Here the questions start!

I don't know! they do like sweetness - there is a chicken feed that comes with molasses that is popular with mine. Corn is a traditional feed, though.

Mine are crazy for anything red, strawberries, watermelon, tomatoes, and also adore pasta!

Never had a pet, because they are even more of a tie than children. If I want to come back late/go away for the weekend then I don't want to be worrying about the dog, time & cost of dropping off at kennels etc.
I am happily independent - I don't need to feel needed, or have a living creature to look after.

Oooh I've got some tomatoes, I'll try giving them some now...

I grew up with a menagerie of cats, dogs, rabbits, hamsters and fish and I love animals but only have cats now. They are my outlet for maternal urges, and I call them my babies and talk about myself as their mummy (and DP as daddy) but I’m not as obsessed by them as other people with both animals and children.

Having said that, I do go gooey eyed over any new kitten or puppy that I meet or see photos of 😻 Response to babies: “Very nice” <think “they all look like Winston Churchill”><change subject/walk off as appropriate>.

Pets and children both take a level of freedom away from your life and so I have chosen to have neither.

If something is going to stop me from being able to take a spontaneous holiday then it is not for me.

I have also managed to live my entire life without having to clean up poo. I intend to keep it that way.

If you do ever want to know more, @fitzwilliamdarcy, feel free to PM me.

I have had a cat in my life since I was 8 years old, I can't imagine life without one.

If something is going to stop me from being able to take a spontaneous holiday then it is not for me.

I know exactly what you mean. It’s one of the reasons I am a dog auntie rather than a full time owner - I can hand them back!

I am totally a cat lady! I've had 6 in total. Not only cats, before that I have had a horse, 2 dogs, a budgie and a sheep! But now I am solely a cat slave. :)

I love the companionship of a pet. I am disabled and housebound so no jetting off on holidays, so my cats never get a break from me! 😂

I have pets and love having them. It’s funny that a few people have said to me they don’t get why anyone would have a pet; it seems much more acceptable to say that about pets than children!

I do worry about my pets, though, and know I would be a huge worrier about my kids if I had them.

Pets do take away an element of spontaneity, but for me not so much that I can’t work around. I love their little personalities, and being able to give rescues a second chance in life.

We wanted kids but they didn't happen. We had a cat for a number of years while both working full-time but now have a dog. She's definitely a baby replacement in that she brings out my maternal instincts. I used to coo over babies. Now I coo over dogs.

I do hate that only child free people are accused of treating their pets like children.

I recently dog say for my sister and brother in law while they took their (other) kids on holiday. I was left a booklet of instructions, I was asked for regular photos and updates and they both rang me and asked to speak to the dog😂. Their kids are teens now but this is exactly how they were when the kids were small. But it’s okay for them to be like this because they also have children!!! Child free adults who fuss over pets are treated very differently by society

I agree. It’s also very odd that people could be unhappy that an animal is well looked after and loved!

Grew up with dogs. As a child I was scared of cats. Grew to love them as an adult and have since had 2. Finally got my own dog which has just always been inevitable as I adore dogs. I Have 2 kids. Had I not had children though, I would have had several pets in some combi of dogs and cats. So no I don't see a link at all, I know many people who chose not to have kids that have pets.

@Ramshaw exactly. My friend and I both have a cat.

both cats are loved and very well
looked after. People focus on how much money I spent on my cat and tease me about the water fountain and beds and climbing towers.

my friend walks her cat round the garden twice a day on a lead! But she also has two kids. No one ever calls her cat lady or makes jokes about her cat!

but at the end of the day both cats are well cared for and that’s all that matters!

I would love a donkey 🫏

My horse would quite like one too, she loves to stop and say hello if we meet any. Sadly I can't have one on livery.

We have 6 dogs and 2 cats. Never wanted kids but grew up with dogs and couldn't live without them.

100% stereotypical cat lady here. My little baby absolutely gets all of my entirely existent maternal instinct lavished upon her, and I do it with a level of patience I couldn’t even begin to maintain for a human, without having to make an effort. Children don’t have toe beans, do they?

I had dogs with my DH for over 20 years, he had grown up with dogs. When DH died, I found managing life on my own with dogs very difficult, so after the last one went I decided against any more pets. I missed them for a while but overall am relieved not to have pets now.

I’m sorry for your loss 💐

If you do ever want to spend some time with dogs there’s a website/app called borrow my doggy which is a bit like a dating site but for dogs! So you set up a profile, the dog owner sets up a profile and you can message them and if you’re a good match you can take their dog for a walk etc.

My friend used it when she broke her leg and couldn’t manage walking the dog and keeping hold of her child at the same time while it was broken. A really lovely woman started walking her dog and even when my friends leg was better she would still walk the dog a couple of times a week and play fetch with her and take her to the local dog park and year later she’s still doing it!