Your Pets aren’t spoiled, they are Blessed!

One of my pet peeves is when people called pets spoiled. I hear it as much now as I did when I first started as an animal communicator. It is strange to me that we enjoy giving our pets what they want and enjoy, but then we feel guilty about it so we have to call them spoiled. Our pets love us beyond measure- what are we supposed to do, be mean to them because of that?

Think of the people who tell you that your pet is spoiled. They usually say it with a derogatory tone. From talking to dogs, I know that they can smell emotions on people. If someone says that with distain, the dog knows it. They can “feel” the emotion on the statement, even if they don’t understand the words.

When I was a kid, my mom and I were going to a get together with my mom’s sisters and my thirty plus cousins. We were walking up to my grandmother’s house, and she pulled me aside. She looked into my face intently and stated: “Your spoiled. Just realize that fact. It is what it is. I don’t feel bad about it, but I don’t want to deny it either.”
With that we went into the gathering. Meanwhile, I was mystified. I had not heard the word before, at least in that context. I did not know how I was spoiled. On the other hand, my mother did not seem concerned about it, so I decided not to be either.

When she said that, I didn’t know what it meant (I think I was six or seven). I certainly didn’t feel spoiled; in the same way I didn’t feel like a sinner on Sundays when the minister prayed with us to have our sins forgiven. What sins? I had been good all week. Well, your pets don’t know what spoiled means either, but they know by the vibration and context the sentence it’s in it is derogatory. Please, do not call your dog or cat spoiled!
Why should my pets uncomfortably suffer doing things they don’t want to do? That wouldn’t really be very loving of me. Don’t get me wrong, I make them behave. However, the house rules are much more lenient than my rules were twenty years ago.

I get a ton of flack for my cat Samson being in a stroller. He is spoiled I am told. How is a cat supposed to travel? It is actually easier for me and more comfortable for him in a stroller than being in a carrier. He refuses to walk on a leash like a dog, mainly because he doesn’t like being vulnerable down on the ground when there are dogs at events. It is common sense to make my cat want to feel safe and not afraid. I don’t believe we can be spoiled, not like that.
If you see a fat pet, is that a pet that is spoiled? One that their owner loves so much they don’t say no when the pet wants more food? I do not see that as loving. But I do have nights when I give me pets special foods that they like. We have a “Bacon” night, and I love giving them their special treats.

I make sure my pets get to do things that bring them pleasure. That they have a safe dry place to sleep, great food, and enjoy life as much as possible. I respect their feelings and needs and know them because I communicate with them.
Then there is my relationship with Buffy. She reincarnated to back to me from a barn cat I had as a kid. Apparently, I promised her that she could be a house cat and eat as much as she wants. She won’t let me out of that vow. I have always free fed my cats dry food since that was our regiment on the farm. All my other cats have always been okay with that and maintained their weight. However, for Buffy, her best life is being her porky little self.

Every pet I have, every pet I have ever lost, when they pass, what I am left with is the feeling that I wish I had treated them better. That I had stayed home and snuggled with them instead of going to a meeting. That I had given them some of that can of tuna they were meowing for when I opened it. Bought them more toys. Not been so irritated when Boo-boo jumped out and snagged my tights because she thought it was so much fun!
Each new pet I get benefits from my regret about treating my last cat less than ideal. Even though I know I treat my pets better than most, there is always still room for improvement. I know each new pet more intimately than I did the last, because I treat them with respect. I yearn to find out what really makes them happy. That in turn bonds us together even more.

Your pets aren’t spoiled. They are blessed. So are you to have them in your life. My advice? When someone now tells you that your pet is spoiled, just say: “Thank you. I have worked very hard to make sure it is that way!”