Animals and shedding tears.

[Lilikins]

This is sorta a ninja from another thread, yet nevertheless its something that has a different aspect as in animals reacting to it.

As some know...I just got a kitten a couple weeks ago, if not, grats! I got a kitten in the last couple of weeks. Nevertheless...has anyone who has pets noticed that they notice a change in emotions?

The point where I properly realized this is...my kitten is..16 weeks old now and that little bugger jumps around everywhere...yet I watched 'My Lunch' from Scrubs...started getting teary eyed....whilst he was chasing that evil string of evulness and protecting the world.

Yet what I noticed..has this ever been a position for another?
He got on my lap...licked the single tear from my cheek...rubbed his against mine and just cuddled until I felt better again. He jumped off afterwards..but nevertheless..Ill say this.

Hes 100% deaf, so he cant hear sniffling, I donno if folks who dont have pets can react to it but nevertheless...


Have you ever noticed that your pet...actually is more of a comfort then anyone else?

One of the bigger questions in this area may be..do you personally think that owning a pet may withdraw suicide attempts? Im really interested in what the escapist community thinks from such a sensitve subject.

Edit: No Suicide is not by far an option ;o I was just putting it into a drastic situation.

 

[tippy2k2]

Now I haven't "technically" done any research whether this is true or not but I'm relatively certain that there have been studies showing that animals help with plenty of those issues (sadness and suicide attempt).

Specifically, I can think of PTSD and plenty of programs designed to help soldiers deal with the various issues that crop up during war. For example...

http://www.canines4hope.com/

http://soldiersbestfriend.org/

http://pets-for-vets.com/

For most people, a pet is the perfect companion when dealing with issues. For the most part, people just want to be able to vent/talk through what they're going through without worrying about being judged and/or having someone try to "fix" the situation. A dog (or cat I suppose) is perfect with their non-judging eyes, loyalty, and lacking the ability to talk back and try to fix you.

 

[DementedSheep]

My dog who died last year was like that. If you were sick or upset she would come lie next to you rather than be in her usual spot or gently lick your hand.
I think pets are good for comfort because they don't talk back, they can't tell anyone else or openly judge (as far as you can tell anyway) so it's less embarrassing. Taking care of something or someone also tends make people feel good. As for them being used to help with people who are suicidal? I know someone who that was tried on and it seem to help a fair bit but they still need a lot more help than that. How much it helps would depend on the person I would guess.

 

[Lilikins]

well, one of the main reasons, I thought about this, not alone from the reason I 'noticed' it from my own dork... (yes thats his nickname by now ^^) but emm, I read in teh news recently about a similiar case.

It was also a cat, but the cat lived in a retirement home, and would always 'cuddle' folks, she was very friendly to everyone and usually slept in her corner, yet nevertheless, when someone was nearing their end, she would always lay down on that persons chest and cuddle with them an extra portion.

It just gives me more reason to believe that animals themselves have a certain...Ill say 6th sence to that sort of thing, by all means, Ive heard of dogs often enough who will sit by their owners through death for a prolonged time.

 

[Colour Scientist]

My dog who died last year was like that. If you were sick or upset she would come lie next to you rather than be in her usual spot or gently lick your hand.

Pretty much this.

My dog died last year when he was 15, I got him when I was 7.
He was always a pretty hyperactive dog but when I was little, there was a curb I used to sit on whenever I got upset. He always used to just plonk himself down next to me and stay really still and quiet until I stopped crying or got up to leave. I think those were the only times he wasn't jumping all over me or running circles around my feet.

 

[GeneralFungi]

I don't think it would be unreasonable to think that perhaps animals that had evolved to be human companions (Dogs, Cats) would have the ability to sense distress from their owners. It is hypothesized that the only reason house cats have the ability to "Meow" is because they had no easier way to get a human's attention. It makes a lot of sense for such animals to develop behaviors like this, and I'd be interested if we can find any evidence supporting such a claim.

However, no matter what evolutionary science might say, that kitten of yours sounds like a sweetie.

 

[Bellvedere]

Yeah defnitely - animals are even used in therapy. My own dog makes me immensely happy - from laughing at the stupid stuff he does, to enjoying dog cuddles while I'm sitting around (despite being 50kg he doesn't realize he's not a lap sized dog). I find it impossible to maintain a bad mood when I'm around him.

That being said, caution is advised in getting a pet if you are suffering from a depressive illness or are coping with a recent tragedy. I know this to be the case with dogs: Like the OP said animals realize when something's wrong and your sad, but they're not able to understand what is wrong. This can lead to the pet becoming fearful and anxious which can than manifest in aggressive and/or self-destructive behaviors. That's not even to mention that the cause of a person's distress may prevent them from delivering the level of care required for their pet.

 

[Lieju]

I'm fairly sure my ferret Milou is oblivious to my feelings, but she makes me feel a lot better.
It's just so nice to wake up in the morning and have someone be really happy you did.

In addition to that, having a pet gives you routine, and with something like a dog, makes you go outside and get at least some exercise.

 

[Denamic]

Social animals are really good at reading body language. It's their primary means for communication, after all. Just like you can tell when your pet's happy or excited, it can tell, to an extent, when you are too. Of course, less intelligent animals are less likely to perceive body language that's not part of their instinctual range. Rodents can tell when you're aggressive or afraid, but they couldn't give fewer shits if you're sad or happy. This is one of the reasons dogs are 'man's best friend'. Their body language is very compatible with ours. We can understand them and vice versa more easily than most other animals can.

 

[schiz0phren1c]

well, one of the main reasons, I thought about this, not alone from the reason I 'noticed' it from my own dork... (yes thats his nickname by now ^^) but emm, I read in teh news recently about a similiar case.

It was also a cat, but the cat lived in a retirement home, and would always 'cuddle' folks, she was very friendly to everyone and usually slept in her corner, yet nevertheless, when someone was nearing their end, she would always lay down on that persons chest and cuddle with them an extra portion.

It just gives me more reason to believe that animals themselves have a certain...Ill say 6th sence to that sort of thing, by all means, Ive heard of dogs often enough who will sit by their owners through death for a prolonged time.

If it's the same story I read then the cat in question had to be moved because the residents were threatening to poison it as they were freaked out at it's ability to "predict" people's deaths,
so it's not all happiness and sunshine on that front

As to the OP it has been proven that stroking any kind of pet that reacts positively to the attention releases similar endorphins as those released while nursing a baby/being nursed so their is clinical backing for pets being good for your health,and not just your mental health,you live longer too,
I know Dogs in particular are incredibly sensitive to Human vibes(if you haven't,watch "the secret life of Dogs" it's an amazing DOGumentary(see wut I did there?),and though a lot of people reckon cats are manipulative little buggers(they are)it's entirely possible your kitty knew you were sad and decided to cheer you up...or else feed on your delicious tears!

 

[BiscuitTrouser]

Animals are beautiful creatures. My ex's dog was one I helped raise from a puppy, since the rest of her family didnt like wrestling with it except for her dad who was often at work I always got to rough house with their golden retreiver 4 days out of the week. We bonded on a pretty deep level, i loved that dog and, despite me NEVER feeding her, she loved me too.

Anyway she very suddenly developed cancer and was lying prone for about 3 days. On the final day she was alive she didnt stand up for anyone. Except when I came over after hearing she was very sick. I was pretty upset and that poor dog used some of the last effort she had to lift herself up and walk over to me for a cuddle. I didnt know she was going to die then so I thought it was just rather sweet at the time. I hope i comforted her. Damn this memory still makes me tear up. This is when I became a dog person. This is why i still debate becoming vegetarian.

 

[Lynx]

I had two cats for a couple of years. The boy cat, Mr Bubbles, was extremely social, cuddly 24/7 (would literally jump up in your lap and mush his face in your face to get attention), and always slept next to me at night. He was basically a furry baby.

But the funny thing about our girl, Alice, was that even though she was very reserved and often preferred my then boyfriend's company to mine, she was the one who picked up on my moods. I was incredibly sad one night and was just lying down in bed staring into nothing, and out of nowhere she jumped into bed with me for the first time and just lay very close to me until I felt alright again. I'll never forget that.

 

[Eclipse Dragon]

When my grandfather got ill, my uncle moved in with him and my grandmother to help take care of my grandfather.
My uncle brought his dog, Lucy with him. She had no attachment to my grandfather, he hadn't raised her from a puppy or anything like that, but in my grandfather's final moments, that dog would not leave his side.

We also had a relative with a pet cat who would always sleep on her chest, she would try to move the cat, but the cat would jump right back up. She always wondered why, turned out, she had breast cancer.

My cat also licks the tears from my cheeks when I cry and curls up by my side when I feel sad.

 

[Treeinthewoods]

I do believe animals respond to human emotion, but since your animal is a cat he was most likely absorbing your sadness so that he could grow stronger. Cats are evil.

When my daughter is sick our dog will not leave her side, she snuggles up and fusses over her until she feels better and only leaves her when she has to step outside or eat.

 

[Lilikins]

I pass my condolences to everyone who lost a pet..really, you have my thoughts with you. Ive had mine for about...2 weeks and I seriously couldnt imagine life without him for some reason.

I must admit though Im somewhat proud, that so many escapists have opened up and told about the tales of their pets, its somewhat...calming to know that ehh...how to put it?

Ill just say theres more then a 'name' behind the post? in a way? Its nice to know that everyone who answerwed had a thought in the back of their head and also shared the thought of a loved one