5 ways to say ‘I Love You’ to your pets
Having pets can have a lot of benefits for us such as having a constant companion, an opportunity to exercise and socialize, a stress reliever, and lead a life of daily adventure. Pets can also extend our ability to show love and deeper understanding, not only to our fellow human beings, but to other creatures as well.
In many ways, we experience how to care for our pets like how we would for a loved one, which is why it is easy for many pet owners to consider their pets as part of their family. Our ability to care for them increases our ability to care for others because it transcends the barriers of communication between man and creature.
Showing love to our pets can also expand our understanding on what it is to be human, and to know what unconditional love feels like from those who do not speak our human language. Here are some ways we can make them feel loved as well:
1. Know Your Pet’s Love Language
Like us humans, our pets have preferences too with how they want to be treated. Providing food, water, and shelter is part of their basic necessity, but we also have to consider their preferred living conditions.
For example, some dogs prefer a cool-weathered dwelling, while some can adjust anywhere. Some cats are picky with their food, while some prefer nibble on kibbles. Some types of fish or birds cannot survive in small tanks or cages.
The characteristics of our pets are also different from one another, whether they are in the same species or not. Some pets are clingy and prefer to stick to their owners all the time, while some require little attention. It’s important to understand how they communicate with us because most of the time, they tell us what they need. A little research on how to care for them also goes a long way.
2. Pamper and Play
Some pets are bundles of energy in animal form and they need to release it through play. These hyper little furries need exercise and excitement for them to stay happy. Buying them toys to play with or taking them out for a walk are one of the ways to make sure that they are having a pleasant time. This can also be good for pet owners because it can also become an exercise routine for them.
Pet care and dental care are also essential to make sure your pets stay healthy. Regular visits to the vet, pampering with a good bath and trim, making sure their living spaces are clean are also some of the ways they stay in good shape mentally and physically.
3. Say “Treats!”
The magic word to get our pet’s attention: Treats. Rewarding our pets with some tasty treats can also make them feel loved. Give them a little treat every time they show good behavior, or when they learn a new skill, or even just for being cute.
Aside from giving them an extra chunk of chicken nuggets or catnip, spending time with them just to play or cuddle can also become a treat for them. The more that they feel confident with us, the easier it is for them to show their love for us.
But be careful with what we feed our pets. Some of the regular treats for ourselves may be dangerous or lethal to our beloved pets. Before giving them treats, make sure to research what they can or cannot consume.
4. Pay Attention To Their Health
Being aware of our pet’s health is also a way for us to guarantee a longer time for us to be with them. Make sure to visit your local veterinary clinic for their check-ups and to complete their vaccines against diseases.
What we feed our pets can also contribute to their health and well-being. While human food can be an alternative to their daily nutrition, some of our food should not be consumed by them. It is better to train them to get used to the food made for them than to spoil them with our overly seasoned food which might lead to a number of diseases for them.
Visiting the doctor can also be quite a scary experience to them as it is for some of us. By giving them treats, maybe they can learn to tolerate your visits to the vet more.
5. Cherish Your Time With Them
Our pets do not have the same lifespan as us. From the moment we become their family, their whole life is only us. We should cherish the short time we have with them by showing them how meaningful they are to us.
Our pets would appreciate our undivided attention for them once in a while. Petting or cuddling them can boost their level of happiness and make them feel closer to you. Praising them can also let them know that you like them.
Interacting with them daily makes the connection between you two stronger, as well as learning their body language. For some pets, just being in the same room as you while you attend to your human duties is enough for them to feel the bond.
Loving our pets opens a new world where we can explore our abilities to love and care for other beings, despite the short time given to them to spend with us. They may not be the same species as we are, our ability to love each other triumphs over our differences. Our ability to love one another makes our humanity and their animal nature shine better.
Kathleen Mae Guerrero
