I'm the total opposite. If I'm not surrounded by animals, I feel lost. I grew up on farms, so it's natural for me to be among critters. I have quite the menagerie of my own. 2 dogs, 2 cats, and 10 ducks. I also informally adopted a horse, but I don't pay for her bills. I just buy her things she deserves like a winter blanket and treats and other things like that.

One of the cats that I've been lucky enough to know in my life was quite simply the kindest, most lovable soul who has ever walked upon this Earth.

Everyone who met her loved her, and everyone she met, she loved.

Her heart was unaware of the existence of hatred, or cruelty, or guile, and she breathed the air of this world for 12 years having never experienced any of those feelings.

I promise you: there are connections that you can make with animals that can change the shape of your heart and the course of your life. It's fine and no biggie if you never want to or get to experience that, but just know: some of the most beautiful hearts you might ever meet just happen to be animals. :)

I got a tiny terrier/Chihuahua mix dog last year and she is the best thing that's happened to me in a long time. She is so adorable and funny and playful, and makes me look forward to coming home. She loves wrestling with her toys, and she sleeps next to me just about every night. She also helps me get outside and go on walks more.

How could I not like that??

Having a cat as a roommate, I understand. My arms/hands/ankles are especially unsafe around him... At least the 3-4am blood-curdling screams have stopped. He learned that screaming me into sudden half-awakeness doesn't usually get him food, so I guess there's less reason to do it. 🥲

I have a close friend who is terrified of pets. She is embarrassed by it though and tells people she’s allergic. She grew up in a country that had a lot of free-range dogs and stuff outside, and I imagine that’s why.

She came over one day when we had three cats. She had never met a cat before. Everyone says this, but our cats are the chillest cute lil MFs ever… and they LOVED her. And she LOVED them. She was so shocked at how chill they were, and I think they could sense that she was nervous around them so they just loafed around her or showed her their belly (they love belly pets.)

She’s still terrified of dogs, which I get—they ignore personal boundaries. But having her meet our chill-ass cats warmed my heart very much.