Being a pet parent is a special job. While you don’t have the livelihood of a human being in your hands, your hands are still full with the life of your four legged best friend. They are there to celebrate the big moments and there to comfort you in the low moments. Pets have a huge impact on our lives, whether we realize it or not. Pet parents are all different, just like their pets. Some care for their pets as normal while others of us take our parenting of our pets to the extreme. But if you’re not sure which one you are, but relate to all these points, you’re definitely the weird pet parent.
1. Talk baby talk.
We all know all the weird pet parents are the ones that talk to any animal like A, the can understand them, and B, like they are a baby that smiles at baby talk. And if you can’t think of anyone who does this, you might be the one. Although this, weirdly enough, is really not that frowned up or even thought of as completely abnormal. Not everyone does it, but at least they don’t think you’re that weird.
2. Showing off pictures.
Like most proud parents, you want to show off all the pictures on your camera roll to complete strangers of what you call the world’s cutest cat or dog. Or show them the funny thing they did and of course their latest cute pictures. The goofy way they were sleeping the other day or the innocent puppy face that you’re dog gave you after tearing up his new bed (although you’re probably not too thrilled over that).
3. Sharing the latest accomplishments of your pet.
Just because they can’t make President’s list for you to brag on, but there are plenty of other things that your pet can do that make you a proud parent. They’re first run with you, learning to sit and shake, training your cat to come at the sound of a clicker for treats (this is actually really easy to do if you’re interested), or even graduating from puppy training school! There is so much that your pet can do for you to brag on. Or even just talking about how cute your pet is to anyone that will listen.
4. Dressing your pet better than most children.
Halloween costumes, Christmas sweaters, or a shirt just because, I’m starting to believe some pets have a better closet than I do. While dogs are more traditionally the pet that gets dressed up, it’s very achievable with some dedication to dress up other common, house-held pets. Whether they like it or not, not a whole lot is cuter than a fluffy little dog running around in a tutu or a cat in an elf costume (I know this from personal experience.
5. Referring to your pet as your child.
For all intents and purposes, your pet is like your child. While this tends to upset people with human children, your four legged and furry babies might as well be your own flesh and blood. Most of the time, you got your babies at the beginning of their lives and watched them grow up unsettling fast. You dealt with the biting phases, the endless energy phase, the clawing everything phase, and you taught them to be a better pet from it. Sure they’re not a human, but that doesn’t mean you love them any less!
6. You have separation anxiety anytime you’re away from each other.
Whether it’s for a week or two months, anytime away from your baby is too much time. While I’ve been in college, I’ve had to learn how to be separated from my cat for months at a time which is a lot harder than I had ever anticipated for both us. Pets grow attachments to us that you can’t understand until you have a pet of your own that you bond with. For me, I have my mom put my cat on Facetime or send me pictures of whatever he’s doing, but it’s never the same as actually being there. So the less you’re away from your pet, the better!
So the next time someone calls you a crazy pet parent, own up to it! There is nothing wrong with being slightly (really) over attached to your pet because believe me, you aren’t the only one.
