The Importance of Touch
With many animals, just like people, touch and connection is very important. They want to know they are being heard and understood. This can go beyond acknowledgement of their presence to one-on-one connection. This becomes more than an option when they have lost a sibling and are now the only animal being in the household.
Much like a person who has lost a spouse, our pet friends experience the household noises, shifts, appliances coming on and off, sounds in the yard and outside as well as the silence can seem deafening to most. The addition of a radio played low or a tv can help provide the background noise that is so much a part of their normal lives with us.
Touch in one form or another becomes integral. It is something I have seen with my own mom since my dad’s passing, and I have observed with many cats and dogs who have lost a sibling. That is true once again this week while watching a feline friend who lost his best buddy and brother earlier this year. This is the first time his person has been gone for an extended period plus his brother hadn’t ever lived in this place.
We spend the most of our visits together with him touching a paw to me akin to holding a hand as it provides connection and a sense of security. They too want to know they are not alone in this world. Many of the animal beings I have visited in a similar situation - much of our time together is spent with them napping knowing any sound that is heard, I will be there to acknowledge, and they will wake up in comfort knowing another being is there.
Compassion and understanding goes a long way to assist the animal beings as well as the human beings in our lives cope with the vast changes taking place. A key question to ask ourselves when offering support to another is what would I want for myself in the same situation? And knowing how you might respond to the assistance you are wanting to give? With a person this is a very important step in the equation If we ourselves know we wouldn’t handle the help given in that manner then the answer may be providing choices to them.
Modify it for the one in need of the companionship and include them in the conversation giving them a voice and a choice. So, for example with my feline friend, it was asking him whether he wants time connecting first or me to take care of the tasks (i.e., getting him food or a treat, refilling his water dish, taking care of the litterbox, or even watering the flowers outside). His answer has been touching over food every day. Turning the radio on has also been comforting to him when I am not there.
