# Do You Tell Your Pet "I Love You"?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [September 6, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973 "2003-09-06T19:35:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/1 "2003-09-06T19:35:29Z")

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I bet you _do_, right? 😃

I am of the belief that pets, (whether they be dogs, cats, gerbils, fish or whatever) help to keep us healthy, and my Himalayan-Persian kitty **Suzi-Q** gets the “I love you” daily. Who **cares** that she doesn’t understand it?! She’s my baby, and loves me unconditionally. That’s very special to me!

One thing she does (and I wonder if this happens to any of you other cat lovers) is that when I tell her “Good Night. Gotta go to work”, the next morning when I walk in the door she starts “bitching” at me and when I pick her up, she puts her arms and paws around my neck. It isn’t that she needs food or water, because I always check both before I leave, but I have to believe she is happy to see me.

That’s the way I choose to perceive it anyway!

Quasi

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**Author:** ![MLS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MLS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MLS)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/2 "2003-09-06T19:47:09Z")

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I say sweet things to all 3 of our cats as often as I can. Logically, of course, they have no idea what I’m saying, but are actually responding to a familiar sound and general tone of voice. My guess is that the low, soft tones we use to the cats probably resembles a sort of purring to them.

I know for sure that dogs respond just to the tone of voice. I used to say to our Weimaraner (who was not too much of a dope) “Are you a stupid dog? Are you just a big idiot?” and so forth, but using the same style as if I were saying something lovey-dovey. And he would wag his tail joyfully as if to say, "Yeah, I am. "

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**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/3 "2003-09-06T19:48:36Z")

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Well, of course! How could I not, faced with this:

[http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psvaughan/vwp?.dir=/pics&.dnm=summer2003+030.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3A//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psvaughan/lst%3F%26.dir=/pics%26.src=ph%26.view=t](http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psvaughan/vwp?.dir=/pics&.dnm=summer2003+030.jpg&.view=t&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psvaughan/lst%3f%26.dir=/pics%26.src=ph%26.view=t)

**Quasi** , we’re going to need pictures of **Suzi-Q** ; funny, I was just thinking that we need another cat picture thread!

I also kiss all three of my cats (eeeww all you want), which they don’t seem to like much - and tell them goodbye in the morning as I’m leaving. I actually go around to each cat and say “bye, sweetie! See you this evening.”

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**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/4 "2003-09-06T19:50:24Z")

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No, usually what I tell my dog is “Stop following me into the bathroom!!”

😃

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**Author:** ![DreadCthulhu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/db5fbb/32.png) [@DreadCthulhu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreadCthulhu)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/5 "2003-09-06T19:54:55Z")

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Does calling them “The evil spawn of Satan” count?

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**Author:** ![EddyTeddyFreddy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eddyteddyfreddy/32/18796_2.png) [@EddyTeddyFreddy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EddyTeddyFreddy)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/6 "2003-09-06T19:57:44Z")

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I KISS MY HORSES!!! Yes, I do. On their velvety noses. They snurfle softly on my cheek, and I return the greeting by blowing softly into their nostrils. Ever buried your face in a horse’s mane while you hugged their neck? It’s wonderful.

My old horse likes to come up behind me when I’m cleaning the paddock and nuzzle my neck and head. Then he swings his side to me so that I can drape one arm over his mighty back, snuggle into his side, and scratch his belly while he makes ecstatic faces.

Since I have eight cats, they have to take their turns at affection, but every one gets stroked, or scritched, or played with – whatever their preference may be. Especially Squash, who loves to play fetch with plastic spoons and forks. And I talk to them a lot, too.

Of course, I’m a Crazy Cat Lady, so it sorta goes with the territory… 😉

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**Author:** ![Bugnorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bugnorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bugnorton)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/7 "2003-09-06T20:01:42Z")

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Of course I do! Always have, after all, I’ve never had my dog or cat friends break up with me after telling them I love them. I also firmly believe that they know it and love me back. In fact **Suzi-Q** told me to tell you that she most certainly does understand it and if you don’t straighten up and believe _that_ right now, I’m to call her back and rat (pun intended) you out.

**Suzi-Q** also reads Homer in the original Greek while you’re at work and would explain it to you but she doesn’t think you’d understand…[insert]silly cat smilie[/insert]

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**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/8 "2003-09-06T20:14:02Z")

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Of course. The NinjaPooch gets just about anything she wants, really. Spoiled rotten, that dog is.

But honestly, I think she deserves it (other than getting away with waking me up on Saturday mornings.) She’s always glad to see me. I know she at least knows the difference between my parents and me - she reacts differently when I come home than when one of the parents do. She’s completely loyal and loving; I adore her for that. In return for that companionship, she gets all the tummy rubs, cheese (yeah, my dog _loves_ cheese), rights to sleep on my bed, and long walks that she wants.

I actually have some pretty good conversations with her, too, sometimes.

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**Author:** ![Ice\_Wolf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@Ice\_Wolf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Wolf)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/9 "2003-09-06T20:18:22Z")

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When I had my small tribe of cats around, I’d always say I loved them, each one. There were four, all spayed and neutered. I loved them dearly, and they knew that, every day.

I’ll add my voice to th’ chorus asking for a sight of a pic of your **Suzy-Q** , **Quasi**. She sounds an absolute sweetie. While I’m not in a position to have any more pets (sigh … :(), I still love seeing those in the families of my friends.

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**Author:** ![Fionn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Fionn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fionn)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/10 "2003-09-06T20:27:54Z")

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My dog and cat live with my folks, so I tell them as often as I can. Usually in baby talk while scratching behind their ears.

Though I do talk to them on occasion, I’ve never told my fish.

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**Author:** ![White\_Lightning](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@White\_Lightning](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/White_Lightning)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/11 "2003-09-06T20:32:07Z")

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I talk to my cat exactly as if he were capable of responding in English. Sometimes I talk to him as if he _was_ responding in English. It helps that he’s smarter than most cats and has figured out to meow whenever I pause in speaking to him. Amazes my friends.

And yes, I do tell him I love him. Every time I leave the house, particularly if I haven’t seen him in a while; I always let him know where I’m going to be and when I’ll be back.

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**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/12 "2003-09-06T20:32:08Z")

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Oh, yes. And I tell them that they are pretty, cute, and/or handsome, that they have beautiful eyes, and that their tummies are fat! But mostly I tell them that they are good, very, very good.

[Orion and Peaches](http://www.livejournal.com/users/gr8kat/55680.html)  
[Squeaky](http://www.livejournal.com/users/gr8kat/58370.html)

The page that has pictures of Jimmy on it also has pictures of naked ladies, so I won’t post that link.

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**Author:** ![Chimera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Chimera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chimera)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/13 "2003-09-06T20:43:32Z")

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Of course. They’re my family, my children.

And they do know what I’m saying.

Sometimes I know what they’re saying.

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**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/14 "2003-09-06T20:55:13Z")

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Well, I’ll attach a picture of Cherokee:  
[http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psvaughan/vwp?.dir=/pics&.dnm=summer2003+090.jpg&.view=t](http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/psvaughan/vwp?.dir=/pics&.dnm=summer2003+090.jpg&.view=t)

He’s an odd feline - see the brown fur underneath? He’s about one year old, we got him at the 6 month point (too late for the likes of our 10-year old Siamese female, who absolutely despises him!)

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**Author:** ![Blonde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/3be4f8/32.png) [@Blonde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blonde)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/15 "2003-09-06T20:58:20Z")

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I forget to mention - Cherokee has a REALLY long tail, don’t you think? Heh.

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**Author:** ![Bugnorton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bugnorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bugnorton)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/16 "2003-09-06T21:01:25Z")

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**Blonde** , he is awesome! I love the tufted tail.

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**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/17 "2003-09-06T21:01:30Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*\*she starts “bitching” at me and when I pick her up, she puts her arms and paws around my neck.

\*\*

Yes, I’m convinced they are saying things like “oh, I’m so glad your home, I was so worried. You must never leave here again”  
After all, they do have a little problem with that short term memory thing.  
Of course, they could also be saying " How dare you leave me without adequate staff!"

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**Author:** ![Orange\_Skinner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3be4f8/32.png) [@Orange\_Skinner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orange_Skinner)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/18 "2003-09-06T21:03:08Z")

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Yup. I’ll frequently have full one-sided conversastions with my dog. Especially after I walk him, he likes to have me sit in the garage with him and just sort of hang out, discuss whick colored dog food pellet is his favorite, stuff like that.

Occasionally he’ll give me this really great quizical expression when he doesn’t know what to make of my tone of voice that just cracks me up. Even the dog can tell I’m crazy.

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**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/19 "2003-09-06T21:04:55Z")

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We just lost our dog of 13 years 2 weeks ago.

Came back from a James Taylor concert and she was in her fav place, her little pond. She was a Labrador.

She was dead.

It was coming, and we knew it. But it is still hard.

Yes they know you love them, no matter how you say it.

I am a different person because of my dog, and she was a different dog because of me.

And now, I’m going to go cry.

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**Author:** ![Gr8Kat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gr8kat/32/18668_2.png) [@Gr8Kat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gr8Kat)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2003, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-tell-your-pet-i-love-you/199973/20 "2003-09-06T21:41:56Z")

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enipla, I’m so sorry for your loss! {{{enipla}}}

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