this post was submitted on 14 Aug 2025
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Really not that different from losing a pet cat.
Animals, while not sentient and capable of complex emotions, can still feel. My dog is sad when I leave the house, and is happy when I come back.
The degree does depend on the pet to be fair. I have said similar "it's not that they care, it's that I care and find that rewarding" type things when family members have asked why I'd have non-social animals like lizards as pets.
True! Same reason I keep fish. I know the fish don't love me back, but I derive joy from keeping little creatures in an ecosystem that I've cultivated for them. In conclusion, I'm God.
And plants and teddy bears, even Tamagotchi and Aibo too. People get attached to them, so on an emotional level it's very similar to falling for ChatGPT. I still feel it's kinda silly.
Most animals are sentient: they respond to outside stimulus in complex ways. Cats in particular can be trained and can understand spoken language to some degree. Many are self-aware and most are capable of simple negotiations.
On the scale of sapience, cats aren't nearly at the level of humans, but they are above average, alongside the average dog. Definitely at the level of social feelings.
Sure, same for my dog. But I’ve had cats that are almost irritated by my existence.