Where do you get your love of animals from?

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

I was quite a shy little girl and found it hard to fit in and I think animals always gave me comfort when I found life difficult.

I have always had a love and awe of nature which I got from my dad. We used to snuggle up and watch nature programmes on TV together or go for long walks in the countryside with us both being delighted and fascinated by the simplest things like a snail curled up on a leaf or beautiful butterfly.

My dad bless his soul once stayed up all night with a tiny kitten he found abandoned outside in the street one dark night. He snuggled with him in his bed and the next morning I remember tears in his eyes when he told me the kitten had lost his struggle but I knew that my dad had him safe and warm in his arms in his final hours.

Things like that made me respect and love my father so much. I have never had that sort of connection with another person in my life as I had with my father.

I wonder where do you get your love of cats or animals from?

caitlinmarie · **Joined:** Wed Aug 12, 2015 4:13 pm **Posts:** 118

It's interesting to look back and ponder where our experiences have molded us.

Caitlin grew up with animals, so I'm sure that is where hers came from.

My story is quite the opposite. I was never allowed pets growing up. When I was like 23-24 (I'm 29 now), my sister got her dog. That was the first pet that could bear our last name. I think it was just the fact that I was never allowed to have one that made them so special when I visited friends' houses.

Fast forward to now - I moved to Florida and bought a house with Caitlin so now I am free to own pets - 4 kitties to be exact. :biggrin:

spitspot · **Joined:** Mon Jan 12, 2015 2:26 pm **Posts:** 734

We always had animals growing up. None of our animals were pedigree and all were rescues. Cats, dogs and horses. Any waif and stray was welcome and I consider myself very lucky to have known them all. The only time I have ever seen my father cry was when we had to have a cherished pet put to sleep. All kids need to learn to love and care for animals. I actually think it should be part of the national curriculum. Don't think the teachers would agree to even more work though! If only I ran the country! :lol:

CMYKjill · **Joined:** Tue Sep 23, 2014 6:38 pm **Posts:** 1838

We always had a dog and a cat growing up in the country. When I was a baby we had an all gray cat (Woody-Woody). After that they were always siamese. My mother loved her cats (Dad too but the dog was his responsibility). The dogs were great but usually knocked me down so I have always been more of a cat person. I would knit little outfits for our kitty and pay lots of attention to him. Cats are like pure love and wonderful for children have growing up.

Sherry · **Joined:** Thu May 23, 2013 2:21 pm **Posts:** 9217

I've got pictures of me as a toddler with our cocker spaniels. We always had pets -- dogs mostly, then cats. I much prefer cats over dogs and have had cats for most of my adult life. I need to add that many of my relatives were farmers and had chickens, pigs, cattle, horses, goats, sheep, barn cats, so I feel as if I've grown up around animals.

Eggman · **Joined:** Thu Aug 28, 2014 11:22 pm **Posts:** 730

Yes I'm sure if it having animals from an early age particularly if you had a parent who was an animal lover.

My son James loves his cats to bits and is so affectionate and loving with them. I really see this as a good quality in a person that they can care and nurture so much. I think it transfers to when you are an adult and your relationship with other people and how caring you are towards them too.

Clare&magic · **Joined:** Sat Oct 31, 2015 9:44 pm **Posts:** 707

We have always had cats all my life, I have a picture of me has a toddler asleep in bed with a cat mum rescued from the streets snuggled up next to my face, mum always had cats when she was little as they lived on a farm.

brianj12 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 3:14 am

I dunno, it's a good question. I have always loved nature. Backpacking and hiking and playing outdoors etc. But I think the honest answer to this question is that I learned/acquired my love of animals mainly from the first few cats that we had when I was a kid. Through them I learned to respect animals, that animals had feelings and could be very special friends, and that we had to take responsibility to help and not harm them. My dad had a lot of empathy for animals. I guess some of that rubbed off. Everytime we went camping we would attend "campfire programs", and do guided hikes and such with naturalists who taught us about the local animals. But honestly, for the last 20 years of his life, I probably had more of an influence on him regarding animals than he did on me. I was always dragging him to zoos, and animals parks, and making sure every trip to a coastal city included a trip to the aquarium. I pretty much insisted on it :lol:

Unfortunately, most of what I learned about pets from him and my mom was how *not* to care for pets. But I don't hold that against them. They were just like everybody else back then.

jodonut99 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 20, 2016 10:41 am

I cannot remember a day in my life without a pet.
Paddyruskus (Ruskie) the tabby from before I was born right through to Merlin, now.
I have had cats, dogs, horses, gerbils, hamsters, goldfish, koi, slow-worms, terrapins, rabbits, and even a tame Song Thrush (Sky) over the years - Sky lived indoors and flew outdoors or in and around the house, wherever he wanted. He used to perch on Ruskie's head and they would even eat from the same bowl! If he heard my mum's voice because she was working in the study, he would go mad flying around upstairs until we opened the door and let him get in to her - often pooping on the stairs in protest at having been shut out!

In Ireland we had a pack of 17 working dogs at one time - My father still has three over there, even though he's now pushing 80 and had multiple strokes!

I really cannot imagine ever being without some kind of furry or scaly in my life... :thumbup:

Where do you get your love of animals from?

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