If you own a pet, chances are you’ve already noticed something about them that reminds you of humanistic traits. Some of their actions even mimic that of our babies or little children! After all, we provide our furbabies with mattresses, sweets, and clothes. So, it’s understandable that they start exhibiting some similar traits after being treated like our own children.
As furmamas, we let our furry pals enjoy playing with toys, having play dates, and cuddling with "mom" and "dad"—and it's understandable why: we see them as a part of our family and, for others, they’re seen as actual fur babies. A recent study found that our dogs behave in ways that uncannily resemble the way human children behave toward their parents. These similarities in behavior between our pets and babies are the result of a special bond they have with their humans.
So, if you’ve noticed these humanlike or baby-like traits, you’re not alone! They can be funny, memorable, and heartwarming, but they’re also completely normal, especially if they’ve bonded with you (and those around you) pretty well. So we’ve listed the top 4 instances pets have typically acted like human babies. Read on to find out more and let us know if your little furballs have done the same!
1.) Crying When They Want Something
Pets, just like human babies, can’t exactly talk and tell you when something is wrong or if they want something from you. They, much like babies, have their own significant little ways of showing us if or when they need something such as food, water, a walk, cuddles, if they’re hurt, or if they just want more playtime.
So, what do they do? They cry, howl, whine, or make loud noises to get your attention! Unless your pet is trained and knows how to use certain signal buttons to help you figure out what they want, your pets will usually give you a shout if they want something.
If you have a routine it might be easier to figure out what they want or need based on the time of day they ask for it. So, if it’s mealtime and you haven’t yet fed them, you can expect them to whine until you remember it’s feeding time. If it’s time for a potty break and you haven’t yet let them out, they will definitely find ways to get your attention so you do so. You simply have to take some time to get to know their routine, quirks, and personalities and in time, you’ll be able to easily see what they want from you, just like your little babies!
2.) Throwing Tantrums
Even furbabies aren’t beyond throwing the occasional tantrum. So, if you thought you’d be safe from dealing with tantrums, you thought wrong. After all, if you treat your pet like a part of your family or like your child, they will learn to let you know when they need more attention from you or if they’re disappointed by showing how upset they are, and one way of doing this is by throwing tantrums.
Oftentimes, pets do this by acting out - they might do things they’re not normally allowed to do such as tipping over the trash can and playing with the garbage, or they destroy furniture as they know this will upset you. Throwing tantrums is normal. As a furmama, you just have to learn how and when to discipline your pets, and when to coddle them, just as you would with a human baby.
3.) Loving Playtime
Pets enjoy playtime just as much as children do. After all, it’s the perfect time to run around, have fun, explore new things, and just take the time to try new activities either by yourself or with friends. Babies normally do this by playing with toys or educational items that introduce them to different textures, sounds, shapes, and colors. These are the kinds of toys that are typically safe for children to hold, throw, and bite such as balls, rattles, stuffed toys, and the like.
Well, pets are one and the same, with the main difference being that they can run around and explore their surroundings more quickly than a baby can. However, pets also like to explore and have fun with toys that capture their attention such as balls, rattles, stuffed toys, and other items that they can chew on or throw around. And, just like our little ones, pets can do this for hours on end, especially if the toy or game is particularly interesting and immersive.
4.) Pets Look For Their Parents
At the end of the day, pets will look for their caregivers just as babies look for their parents. While pets are naturally capable of surviving on their own, unlike infants, they will still look for the humans who give them love and support since this is what they’re used to. This is especially true when they’ve found a human or group of people who they’ve bonded with as this will ultimately be the reason why they look for you.
Pets can survive without you but they also depend on you for food and affection. Anyone else can give them these, but if they’ve formed a bond with you and see you as their parent or protector, then they will ultimately look for you when you’re gone as they’re used to depending on you. So, if you’ve ever felt like your pet missed you each time you went away without them, it’s most likely true as they’ve most likely looked for you while you were gone.
It comes as no surprise that a lot of us find pets to be our best friends and family members. After all, animals lived alongside humans for many years and it’s obvious that animals and humans have the capability to form bonds with one another. You might be surprised to hear, however, that your babies and your pets may have a lot more in common than you might think! Just like our young, pets have the uncanny ability to show us how happy they are and how loved they feel. You simply have to learn to see how they show it like you would with your own kids.
