I recently had to say goodbye to my wonderful cat Zoey. A very tough day. She had been sick with various ailments, but even so, I felt like an executioner when I had to ask my vet to put her to sleep.
I rescued her 13 years ago from a shelter and gave her a great life: food, shelter, and medical care, lots of scratches under the chin, and cuddles. She was a wonderful cat and my best friend. Those who have pets will know how I felt. We all know when we adopt an animal dog or cat, that the moment to say goodbye will arrive one day, but the joys and memories in between that time far outweigh that last day.
I never grew up with pets. My late parents were not pet lovers. My mother in particular was scared of them and when she came to visit me in Canada, I reminded her I had a cat, Chloe. I have a picture of Chloe on my mother’s lap which is so precious to me. I remember sending it to my family and they thought it had been photo-shopped! All these years she missed without a pet to comfort her and me and siblings missing out when we were kids, too. Shame.
Pets are family, and those who have never owned one, find it difficult to understand the attachment. According to a survey conducted by Gfk in 2016, 57% of those surveyed in 22 countries, own a pet. Dogs are the most popular at 33%, cats 23%, fish 12%, birds 6%, and other pet types (use your imagination!), at 6%.
What are the benefits of owning a pet:
- stress reduction
- they are loyal and don’t judge you
- they provide the love we all crave
- lifetime companionship
- when life is challenging a pet can help you cope
- teach you to more patient and responsible
- your social life improves
- gets you exercising and healthier
- keeps your mood good, staving off depression
Thanks to my friend Joe who had a dog and an ex-girlfriend Susan who had a cat, I became comfortable with dogs and cats. Later I became a cat owner and I got to experience the joy of pet ownership. I became a cat dad and love everything about them. I know there is a cat waiting for me to come into his/her life and I look forward to the benefits. If you are considering bringing a pet into your family for the first time, then do it. Sure there is a responsibility and financial commitment, but it is well worth it and if Zoey was still here, she would be meowing in agreement.