Do you ever wonder if your pet can actually understand what you’re saying when you talk to them?
They tilt their head and make direct eye contact as if they’re not just hearing you, but are listening to you? Or when you’re acting extra emotional and they look at you, move closer and then just gaze into your eyes?
It’s hard to imagine that our pets are actual “mind readers” but studies have shown that they are capable of having empathy and can pick up on feeling what we’re feeling. Pretty cool, right? But, also a little unnerving at times.
Both dogs and cats are empathetic to human emotions.
Cats and dogs are particularly empathetic and responsive to human emotions through our tone of voice.
Cats can be just as empathetic as dogs, and will behave in certain (sometimes peculiar) ways in response to our moods and voice tones.
According to cats.com, when this happens, some felines will stick close to you to make sure you're okay. Or they might ignore you because your sadness brings them discomfort. Especially during times of loud noises, like crying or arguing. Some cats will even try to distract you by meowing loudly to mimic you, scoot around your legs, or jump on you unexpectedly.
While we don’t ever intend or want for our stress related moments to affect our pets, sometimes this is unavoidable. They are family and almost always present in most family home moments, even when we don’t always wish them to be.
Obviously, as much as we try to avoid exposing our pets to when we’re feeling these intense feelings, it happens. And inevitably, they pick up what we're feeling, through instinct.
When this happens, how can we destress our pets?
Our Pets On The Bay Pack has some shares about what we do to comfort our pets in these moments:
A little snuggle attention goes a long way.
Gently approach them and use soothing words. Snuggle up and hug them to let them know they are loved and safe.
Walk It Away.
Sometimes, a change of scenery, a little fresh air and exercise is all it takes to get your pet (and yourself) feeling right again.
Couch Potato Time.
Spending time together lounging on the couch or in a fave resting place is a fabulous way for you and your fur baby to decompress. Grab the blanket, maybe (both) your favorite snacks and just chill.
Turn on Some Tunes.
Soft music or a noise machine (like waterfalls) help cleanse a room from the lingering sounds that may have stressed them. Running water, birds chirping quietly, and/or even the enjoyment of total silence… where you can both sit back and just be for a moment.
Our pets are domesticated because we choose to bring them into our homes and lives and make them family. They learn some of our humaness-good and not so good and then they try to feel this. They don’t always understand us, but they try to. We can only try to understand their emotions and comfort them back.
Next time you’re feeling the feels and your pet gives you the head tilt and barks, or meows loudly and then gives you a paw swipe, turn to them and just say “I hear you, I feel you.”
*The information and research materials used for this blog were cited from Pets On The Bay, link.springer.com, rover.com, brilliatio.com, cbsnews.com and cats.com.
留言