Meeting Pets Where They Are

Every personality is unique whether it belongs to a person or a pet. Just as one would not expect to talk with three different people and have them give the same answer, I treat pets with the same level of respect, acceptance, and understanding that one may answer a question in multiple ways.

With your pet friends, despite being in the same household they may think, comprehend, and answer in different manners. There is no right or wrong, it is just alternative ways of being, responding, and what feels right to him or her.  You might experience one who is more outgoing and friendly with people whereas another hides when attention is placed in their direction. Yet this latter individual may come out of hiding as soon as they no longer feel like they are being watched. It is the same thing when a person feels someone’s eyes on them, it can be unnerving – they make inquire to themselves or others what do they want? Likewise for a pet and especially if they do not see the person often – it can just take a little longer to understand where they are emotionally.

And, I have seen this with both dogs and cats as well as other animals. A kitten raised with a canine sibling may take on mannerisms of the dog such as licking your hand upon walking in, reaching up to touch you or getting a toy to play with as soon as you enter the house as those are actions the dog taught. A puppy raised with cats can be more cat-like in nature meaning noises may freak them out or they may have the attitude of run first, ask questions (or investigate) later. A feral cat that is new to a human may tend to be startled easily by the quickness of our movements or the force of our energy coming towards them when we move across a room or in his or her direction.

All of these make up where they are when I meet them initially or ongoing in our visits. With some if they have several siblings, they can remain hidden for longer periods of time or redirect the attention depending on who is visiting. As a child that hid from communication, questions, and the like, I tend to see the hidden kids as well as their more outgoing counterparts. It is just a part of who I am. I also tend to gravitate to the quieter person or animal in the room to include them in the conversation. So yes, even your pets I will ask how they are doing when I enter your home with you there or not. All my feline and canine nieces and nephews know this of me for the home I enter is just as much there’s as yours. Meeting pets where they are is about awareness, acceptance and respect for their journey in to being who or where they are, not judgment.