Are people without pets weird?

[notabitail]

I don't think people without pets are weird because of that.

I grew up without pets. I have always wanted at least one pet. I ended up with seven, now five, and they weren't the cat or dog 7-year-old me dreamed of. They're chickens. At first it was a dream that came true. Cute, fluffy, snunggly chickens.

Yah. Nope. Turns out they need maintenance. Poop cleaning. Bumblefoot fixing. Broken toe fixing. It's not that horrible most of the time, but it's way more than the blogs that claim it was "set and forget" said. For me, it turns out they're not that ideal of a pet. Since vets cost a fortune and don't specialize in chickens, it means you've got to fix them yourselves. I can't fix them well. They move too much. CC helps with that, and I'm grateful, since there's no way I could bandage a foot on an angry chicken.

I plan on hanging onto my chickens, I don't want to kill them or leave them in the hands of someone who won't care for them as well. I don't know if I'd get them again. If I'm living on my own, probably not. If I'm living with others, I think they'd be ok if I had help with the vet stuff.

I still eyeball cats. We might get a couple for rodent control out here, the unfortunate thing is that I can see a cat living in my room pretty easily.

The problem I tend to see lots of the people I see with pets is rose-colored-glasses syndrome. Take CC for example. She has a dove. Pet dove. She loves that thing. Everyone else hates it. It poops everywhere. It attacks everyone. It has a thing for one of the Siblings. It's not that great of a pet for a family. And then I ask someone who has a cat, or a dog, and either they'll be blunt and honest, or they'll be the typical reddit cat lover that lets their cat wreck the house because upvotes. Given the choice, I would not stand for having another dove, let alone bird, in the house.

I'd really only want an animal that I've had 100% positive hands-on experience with. Cats fit that. Every cat that's liked me I've been able to reciprocate that feeling to them in the form of scratches. I don't feel the same way about dogs. They constantly feel like they're going to bite me, with the exception of corgis, which I find quite sweet from experience.

Cats have one downside, and it's the allergies. I had a cat at a monastery jump on my lap and demand scratches (it even lightly reminded me when I stopped). I didn't have a reaction to its fur. Neighbor's cat that wanders over? Sneezing and itchy hand. I'd have to find one I'm not allergic to.

Now this is turning into "why i like cats and i'm not a weirdo and not everyone needs pets."

TL;DR, I'm uncertain about more chickens, somewhat certain I want a cat at some point, and fairly certain a dog would be a terrible pet for me.

 

[notabitail]

Ohh. I'm so sorry to turn down your gracious refreshing beverage service...
But like Mr. Monk, I can only drink bottled water from one brand. Not the same brand, of course, different coasts and all. But likewise sweat and sand free.

Ew bottled water. Get a water filter. Save the planet. My Diocletian-Approved, Athlete-Loved 100% Pure Roman Athlete Sweat comes in a glass bottle, or can come in a biodegradable leather water skin.

 

[notabitail]

Pet rocks exist for a reason. All I'm sayin'.

I grew up sans pet, and I have pet devices as a result. I even have a rescue from the side o a ditch. It's a nice paperweight. And it's not suffering in dusty winds and rain anymore, or being run over by a 4x4.

And the Trash Can Laptop, it's essentially useless, but at least it can live out its days in happiness next to its much newer cousins.

 

[SourRoses]

Ew bottled water. Get a water filter. Save the planet. My Diocletian-Approved, Athlete-Loved 100% Pure Roman Athlete Sweat comes in a glass bottle, or can come in a biodegradable leather water skin.

Bottled spring water.
If I were going to filter my drinking water, since I don't trust R/O, I'd need a proper distiller and add back minerals for taste.
But then there's all that washing of water glasses. And rewashing when I examine before use and find a mote of dust or lint.
Really just better for me to use disposables.

Anyway, you know those leather water skins of yours are actually preserved animal bladders, right? You're serving pee sweat sandy fungus liquid!

 

[PeaShack]

Never imagined “To pet or not to pet” would be such a polarizing topic!

Someone has to love and care for unwanted animals. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea but it is the life choice I made. I don’t think pet free people are weird—I find it odd that they would think I’m weird, but..meh, what-evs.

 

[notabitail]

Bottled spring water.
If I were going to filter my drinking water, since I don't trust R/O, I'd need a proper distiller and add back minerals for taste.
But then there's all that washing of water glasses. And rewashing when I examine before use and find a mote of dust or lint.
Really just better for me to use disposables.

Anyway, you know those leather water skins of yours are actually preserved animal bladders, right? You're serving pee sweat sandy fungus liquid!

Ooo even better. I'm not serving it. I got it from Lucius Georgius Antonius.

 

[SourRoses]

And then I ask someone who has a cat, or a dog, and either they'll be blunt and honest, or they'll be the typical reddit cat lover that lets their cat wreck the house because upvotes.

Our current two kitties are honestly darling. Wreck the house, never. Not all cats are wonderful but when you meet the right one and you know it, that makes for an easy companion to have.

Caveats:
- Kitties need a kitty tree. A good big one. That gives them necessary scratching and climbing and hiding places.
- Kitties make hairballs. Ours are on a chewable treat supplement that keeps hair moving the other way. Otherwise they barf where you don't want them to, usually where they feel safe and comfortable.
- Kitty litter arrangements are worth investing in. The robotic things are cool (still waiting to get one) but otherwise they all have slightly different needs. My Mia Meowy needs high sides on her box. And Fluffles the Shadow just never covers her doo. She needs Mia to come clean up after her. Come to think of it, we really need a robotic litter box here...

Cats have one downside, and it's the allergies. I had a cat at a monastery jump on my lap and demand scratches (it even lightly reminded me when I stopped). I didn't have a reaction to its fur. Neighbor's cat that wanders over? Sneezing and itchy hand. I'd have to find one I'm not allergic to.

Maybe it was something the neighbors cat rolled in? We have a stray hanging outside that we feed, she frequently lolls around in the garden area. And plays batting rocks around. She's actually in the bathroom right now, because it's freezing and raining outside. If Mia would accept another cat she could properly join the family, but her highness says one sister is quite enough, and we really don't have the room, or budget for more cat trees. So Tippy has to stay a coop/porch cat.

 

[notabitail]

Our current two kitties are honestly darling. Wreck the house, never. Not all cats are wonderful but when you meet the right one and you know it, that makes for an easy companion to have.

Caveats:
- Kitties need a kitty tree. A good big one. That gives them necessary scratching and climbing and hiding places.
- Kitties make hairballs. Ours are on a chewable treat supplement that keeps hair moving the other way. Otherwise they barf where you don't want them to, usually where they feel safe and comfortable.
- Kitty litter arrangements are worth investing in. The robotic things are cool (still waiting to get one) but otherwise they all have slightly different needs. My Mia Meowy needs high sides on her box. And Fluffles the Shadow just never covers her doo. She needs Mia to come clean up after her. Come to think of it, we really need a robotic litter box here...

That's good stuff to know. I'll keep it in mind.

Maybe it was something the neighbors cat rolled in? We have a stray hanging outside that we feed, she frequently lolls around in the garden area. And plays batting rocks around. She's actually in the bathroom right now, because it's freezing and raining outside. If Mia would accept another cat she could properly join the family, but her highness says one sister is quite enough, and we really don't have the room, or budget for more cat trees. So Tippy has to stay a coop/porch cat.

Maybe. He rolls in the grass sometimes.

He once went sneaking into the house to find me because I didn't put his food out. Almost walked right into Dad's field of vision, and there's no way he'd be happy seeing that thing in the house. Nana probably would have fainted.

 

[FrostRanger]

Kitty litter arrangements are worth investing in. The robotic things are cool (still waiting to get one) but otherwise they all have slightly different needs. My Mia Meowy needs high sides on her box. And Fluffles the Shadow just never covers her doo. She needs Mia to come clean up after her. Come to think of it, we really need a robotic litter box here.

Be very careful with those, especially cheaper models. Cats have gotten caught in them and have even died, especially if they linger. I think some people have even had kids get hurt from automatic litter boxes

 

[Not-so Slick Chicken]

Be very careful with those, especially cheaper models. Cats have gotten caught in them and have even died, especially if they linger. I think some people have even had kids get hurt from automatic litter boxes

for anybody interested in this comment, go to you tube and look up "one man five cats"
He has reviewed automatic litter boxes. (I haven't watched the most recent video yet)