# What is the purpose of having a pet? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 1, 2004, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005 "2004-02-01T05:25:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/81 "2004-02-03T00:39:41Z")
First, **escapol** , you must accept that not everything that happens in this world, not every behavior of human beings, is founded on the principle of It Stands To Reason. Not every event in the multiverse falls into the category of It Makes Sense To Escapol. So people _do_ enjoy having animals around because they enjoy the love and companionship of a warm and forgiving animal. You say this doesn’t make sense to you. Well, work on comprehension; you cannot simply dismiss the argument because you feel it is invalid or unquantifiable. For additional research into Things That Don’t Necessarily Stand To Reason, ask yourself the following questions: 1. Why do we prefer to eat food that tastes good? 2. Why do we have friends? 3. Why do we like to be comfortable? 4. Why do we human beings find rejection uncomfortable? 5. Why do we continue to acquire material possessions after we have food, clothing and shelter? We do what we must to survive. After we have mastered survival, we do things that make our lives better. For some people, this means ice cream; for others, broccoli. For some, goldfish; for others, golden retrievers. Are we all the same? No. Are we all expected to give up our pets because _you_ don’t understand them? Sheesh. Did you _have_ a point to make or are you just asking a provocative question? ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/82 "2004-02-03T00:40:16Z")
Heh. Reading this is almost convincing me to go out and get a pet. That’s a pretty great dog there, **SamStone**. However, I still have an infant and a 3-yo, which is enough messiness to clean up after for now. 😛 But maybe one of these days… ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/83 "2004-02-03T00:58:16Z")
Here is a [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=237718) to a thread I created, inspired by this one. For those who, due to this thread, have started a train of thought about their pets. I am sure **escapol** will just _love_ to read about the Joy people get out of their pets. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/84 "2004-02-03T01:05:05Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Here is a [link](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=237718) to a thread I created, inspired by this one. For those who, due to this thread, have started a train of thought about their pets. > > I am sure **escapol** will just _love_ to read about the Joy people get out of their pets. Weird. Where I made the word ‘love’ into italics it becomes a link. I didn’t intend that. Anyone else seeing it as a link? I’ve seen that on other MBs. someone types the word ‘love’ and it becomes a link, to the same place as mine. ---
**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/85 "2004-02-03T01:18:12Z")
> [@Eve](#): > > What you never heard of growing your own coat? > > “C’mere, kitties, it’s lunchtime–eat up!” **Eve** are you having a **Dread Cthulhu** moment 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/86 "2004-02-03T01:22:53Z")
> [@Lobsang](#): > > Weird. Where I made the word ‘love’ into italics it becomes a link. I didn’t intend that. Anyone else seeing it as a link? Nope. > [@](#): > > I’ve seen that on other MBs. someone types the word ‘love’ and it becomes a link, to the same place as mine. Sounds like you have some sort of software installed that creates links out of certain keywords in your browser. You might want to run something like AdAware to cleanse your system of spyware. ---
**Author:** ![Lobsang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobsang/32/4067_2.png) [@Lobsang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobsang)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/87 "2004-02-03T01:53:03Z")
> [@Joe Random](#): > > Nope. > > Sounds like you have some sort of software installed that creates links out of certain keywords in your browser. You might want to run something like AdAware to cleanse your system of spyware. I do have adaware (I had problems with popups, so I installed adaware. On first use it seemed to solve all problems. Then eventually things got back to the way they were. Now, whenever I run adaware it makes no difference to the popup situation) ---
**Author:** ![clayton\_e](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c57346/32.png) [@clayton\_e](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clayton_e)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 6:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/88 "2004-02-03T06:23:36Z")
I live in a dorm room. I have a busy schedule that often has me doing hours of work sitting at my desk. On the corner of my desk there’s small fishbowl with one fish (named Phish). Talking to him (or is it her? How would I go about finding that out?) or just having it around to watch it go in circles is kind of relaxing when I’m stressed out from a lot of work. ---
**Author:** ![Intent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5e9695/32.png) [@Intent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intent)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 6:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/89 "2004-02-03T06:43:29Z")
Escapol, I have to ask. Do you have anything that you love? A human, a hobby, a child, anything? Now, ask yourself why. Can you explain to me why you love that thing? I don’t love it. I probably don’t even know it. Why do you love it? I honestly can’t explain love, but I can say that I love my pets. I enjoy waking up to seeing them. Do you enjoy waking up to anything in the morning? Why? Anyway, I’m not going to make this a personal attack. Maybe you don’t understand love. That really stinks, and you have my pity. But if you can understand loving anything, than maybe you can realize that not everyone loves that thing, and that most people love other things. I love my pets. I have heard before that true love makes you a better person. I like that definition. And I can honestly say that my pets make me a better person. They teach me at least as much, if not more, than what I teach them. When I get up in the morning, I play with my dogs. They like to wrestle, and they’re always making me laugh. Being around them makes me smile. It’s a good way to start the day. Later, I like to work with my 8 month old horse. She has taught me about the real miracle of life, which didn’t sink in for me until I saw it. She teaches me to be patient. If I have a bad day, I can go hug another one of my horses. I’ve had him for almost five years now, and whenever anything bad happens, I get dumped, mom’s in the hospital, grandmother died, I hug him. He can always make me feel better. I have memories of driving to my house, so upset, and crying so hard, that I couldn’t see the road, and repeating his name over and over. He has taught me how to deal with my problems in a healthy manner, and how to be content with what I have. Maybe a person could have taught me all these things, but no one ever did. I may have taught my pets a few tricks, or changed their conduct with humans, but they have taught me far more. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 6:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/90 "2004-02-03T06:51:25Z")
> [@SanguineSpider](#): > > PETA is sending in trolls now? > [@Optihut](#): > > For your next thread, I would like to suggest the title “What is the purpose of being a troll?” **Moderator’s Note:** **SanguineSpider** and **Optihut** , [do not make accusations of trolling in the middle of a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2670336#post2670336). ---
**Author:** ![Optihut](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/edb3f5/32.png) [@Optihut](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Optihut)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 8:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/91 "2004-02-03T08:24:28Z")
> [@MEBuckner](#): > > **Moderator’s Note:** **SanguineSpider** and **Optihut** , [do not make accusations of trolling in the middle of a thread](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?postid=2670336#post2670336). You are right. I read the link and now that you mention it, I recall that I read it before and just forgot about it. My apologies. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/92 "2004-02-03T14:51:32Z")
> [@escapol](#): > > I don’t understand it. How does having an animal enhance your life? > > Is it a power thing? Do you feel unloved or unwanted? Do you feel you have no purpose in life, and having an animal gives you purpose? > > In fact, I’d propose that owning a pet is a subconcious egomaniacal act of self importance. “This animal is completely dependent on me for its life!” Believe me, if you’ve ever owned a cat, you’d know that it’s not about you…it’s all about them. Animals are proven to be beneficial to human health. They lower blood pressure, combat depression, and give some folks a reason to live. There are a few people who don’t like animals, but I think it’s abnormal. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/93 "2004-02-03T15:51:12Z")
Y’all really aren’t being fair here. At work, we receive a copy of PETA’s magazine _Animal Times_. They regularly contain articles about people who love their pets (“companion animals” in PETA parlance), and these articles are very positive. The closest I can find to a position statement on PETA’s website is this [Fact Sheet on Animal Shelters](http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp?ID=40) which states that the ideal shelter has the following traits (among others): > [@](#): > > Through various methods of publicity, the public is made aware of the animals available for adoption at the shelter. Sometimes, as a public service, local newspapers will publish a list or notice of animals available for adoption, along with the hours the shelter is open to the public. They may also print a photo of one of the animals, which is a good way to attract attention. Local radio and television stations may also publicize the shelter as a public service. Notices and photos can be posted in animal hospitals, stores, etc. > > The shelter is open for redemption and adoption of animals during hours convenient for working people. It is open at least several evenings a week and for at least several hours each weekend. Wait – [here’s something better from them](http://www.peta.org/factsheet/files/FactsheetDisplay.asp?ID=29): > [@](#): > > In a perfect world, animals would be free to live their lives to the fullest: raising their young, enjoying their native environments, and following their natural instincts. However, domesticated dogs and cats cannot survive “free” in our concrete jungles, so we must take as good care of them as possible. People with the time, money, love, and patience to make a lifetime commitment to an animal can make an enormous difference by adopting from shelters or rescuing animals from a perilous life on the street. But it is also important to stop manufacturing “pets,” thereby perpetuating a class of animals forced to rely on humans to survive. So it looks like while they support gradual phasing out of pets, they definitely support having pets in the short term. This dude’s position, such as it is, is completely at odds with PETA’s. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![BellaDellaItalia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/fbc32d/32.png) [@BellaDellaItalia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BellaDellaItalia)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/94 "2004-02-03T20:49:45Z")
As of March 2003: Reason for Ownership Dogs Cats Someone To Play With 90% 93% Companionship 83% 84% Help Children Learn 82% 78% Someone To Communicate With 57% 62% Security 79% 51% NOTE: These numbers add up to more than 100% showing that people must have a pet for more than one reason. Source: American Pet Association [http://www.apapets.com/petstats2.htm](http://www.apapets.com/petstats2.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Hinten](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/ecd19e/32.png) [@Hinten](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hinten)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/95 "2004-02-03T21:00:31Z")
To give people a little more esoteric insight on the attachment that people have to animals I recommend reading ‘Do Androids dream of electric sheep?’ by Philip K. Dick. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/96 "2004-02-03T21:07:01Z")
Since the OP has fled to other climes, and since we are getting technical with cites and all, here is THE definitive answer for why humans have cats as pets: [Pliocene Pussy Cat Theory (PPCT).](http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume7/v7i5/pliocene-pussy.html) Just some of the highlights from this groundbreaking theory that will revolutionize anthropology and the understanding of man and cat: > [@PPCT](#): > > How did the australopithecines find food given that they had no natural adaptations for hunting, no tools and (in the case of the gracile form) teeth unadapted for a vegetarian diet? Their cats fed them. Anyone who has owned modern cats knows that there is nothing cats love more than to bring home presents of food for their masters. Thus modern man owes his entire existance to cats. > [@PPCT](#): > > Question: How did the early hominines protect themselves from the many large predators with which they coexisted, without any weapons? > Answer: They did have a weapon. The cat. > Imagine that you have an angry tomcat thrown at your face. That would discourage even a lion or a hyena, at least long enough for the thrower to make his escape. Hard on the cat, but they breed replacements quickly. Male cats would be the primary weapon. The australopithecine may not have been able to conceptualize that they were preserving females for future breeding, however it doesn’t take much thought to know that the slightly larger tomcats would make a better weapon. The self defense possibilities are obvious for our early ancestors. > [@](#): > > At night, the African savanna can be a savage and dangerous place even today. > During the time of our australopithecine ancestors it was far more dangerous than it is now. It is hard to see how a small and defenseless animal like an australopithecine could survive it on the ground. It has often been said that an australopithecine, with its feet and legs well adapted to bipedalism, could not climb trees very well, and would have a very hard time spending an entire night in a tree hanging on with just its hands. Females with young would have been especially vulnerable. > > \ > > As anyone who has ever petted a cat during dry weather (weather like that on the African savanna) knows, cat fur has the potential for producing enormous amounts of static electricity. Rub a child’s balloon on a cat and it will stick to the ceiling, sometimes for days. I propose that australopithecines used this static-producing property of cats to help them spend the nights safely in the trees, out of the reach of the many large carnivores that roamed the African savanna. If an australopithecine rubbed itself briskly with one or more cats, it might be able to build up a large enough electro-static charge for it to stick to the branches of the tree just as the balloon sticks to the ceiling. > It’s possible the australopithecines had to wait for the coming of the morning dew to discharge the static charge and allow them to drop to the ground. More likely they discharged themselves by urinating. A stream of urine is a good conductor. You can test this by peeing on an electric fence. This history may explain why humans have such a disproportional large penis, the largest penis of any primate. The males may have used the better aim their long penis gave them to “shoot down” the females and young. Nothing further to add on this part. It says it all right there. I’m in awe of our early ancestors and their cat companions!! This is lots more, and I encourage each of you to look closely at the theory. Its jam packed with bovine fecal matter of the highest sort…a truely excellent theory if ever I’ve seen one! Here is one last part. > [@PPCT](#): > > What Did the Cats Get Out of It? > > Basically the same thing they get out of humans today, minus the canned cat food. Protection for their kittens would have been the most important thing, but the cats would have also appreciated a warm body to curl up next to at night, and something that only a hominine can provide, fingers to scratch that spot on the neck that can’t be gotten to any other way. As any cat owner will tell you, the bond between cat and human is a deep one that goes beyond physical needs. BTW, just so folks know I’m an unbiased source for this theory, I’m really a dog person…can’t stand cats. 😃 Reguards, XT ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/97 "2004-02-03T21:23:57Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Since the OP has fled to other climes, and since we are getting technical with cites and all, here is THE definitive answer for why humans have cats as pets: [Pliocene Pussy Cat Theory (PPCT).](http://www.improbable.com/airchives/paperair/volume7/v7i5/pliocene-pussy.html) > XT Awesome! 😃 It’s always good to see a debate settled so conclusively. Can we change the subject? My new question is, why do people have friends? Is it just for the feeling of power when you invite someone over and they obey your command? I mean, I might say I enjoy their company, but what if I said I enjoyed the company of my slaves in 1860, would that be all right? And don’t get mad at me for suggesting you treat your friends like slaves, or it’ll be proof that I’m right. As someone with no friends at all, I’m really curious. Daniel ---
**Author:** ![CrazyCatLady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/dfb087/32.png) [@CrazyCatLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CrazyCatLady)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2004, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/98 "2004-02-04T18:48:23Z")
I dunno, Daniel. It’s sure not the thrill of power over other people’s plans for me; I invite people over, and they stay away in _droves_. I’m not real sure why I have friends; they’re not nearly as fuzzy and soft as my critters, and they’re certainly no more entertaining. And when they come over, I gotta take a bath, and kick a path from the door to the couch, and I can’t shut them in their kennels when they piss me off. Oh, wait, that’s why I like animals better than humans. 😃 I keep pets for the same reason I keep my husband; sure, they’re all loud and messy and huge pains in the butt a lot of the time, but I like having them around anyway. ---
**Author:** ![escapol](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/90ced4/32.png) [@escapol](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/escapol)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/99 "2004-02-05T05:34:01Z")
[QUOTE=Intent] Escapol, I have to ask. Do you have anything that you love? A human, a hobby, a child, anything? Now, ask yourself why. Can you explain to me why you love that thing? I don’t love it. I probably don’t even know it. Why do you love it? [QUOTE] Fear not, I am still here. I have humans that I love. They are able to speak to me. They are able to make their own decisions. We are able to discuss issues. They are able to leave if they want. They are not reliant upon me for meals or water. My fundamental question still has not been answered. What makes a person say, ‘I must get an animal. An animal who will be completely obedient to me, and do what I say.’ And the cat jokes are funny, but avoiding the question. Pets are fun! But so is an X-Box. And an X-Box isn’t alive. PS I’m not a member of PETA. Just curious. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2004, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005/100 "2004-02-05T05:39:38Z")
> [@escapol](#): > > What makes a person say, ‘I must get an animal. An animal who will be completely obedient to me, and do what I say.’ > > And the cat jokes are funny, but avoiding the question. And once again, we say that you are delusional if you think it’s a case of ANY pet being completely obedient to us. None of them are, not even non-pets like companion animals or seeing-eye dogs or even K-9 police dogs. And who said the cat comments were jokes? 😕 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-purpose-of-having-a-pet/227005.md?page=6)