A lot of people kiss their pets or non-human animals in general. I find that very weird. I understand that it is a sign of affection but it seems so off. One reason is that I doubt whether animals really understand this. Also it seems to be on a level of intimacy to me that I find weird sharing with a pet. Not necessarily romantically or sexually (that would be even more weird and wrong and probably illegal). But it is still “more”. I am not sure whether I can really explain why exactly I find that weird.
Anyway, what is something that is weird to you but not to most other people?
I always find it weird when people treat their pets like babies…for their whole lives. I’m like “this is an adult animal…why are you treating it like a baby?”
It’s just a circuit in our brain that is rewarding to exercise. Same reason non human mammals have been known to “adopt” animals outside their species.
To the extent that a pet is dependent on their human, it makes sense. Domesticated animals need someone to look out for them, much as a baby does. In this light, seeing a pet as one’s “baby” doesn’t seem too bizarre.
Good point! Domesticated animals also tend towards neotany - we literally genetically select for them to be baby.
I totally get this… but at the same time, even a dog with whiskers gone all white is a baby to me and always will be