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That hurried dash to the door to greet us when we come home after a tiring day is also a sign of the strength of the human-canine bond. We dote on our cats and dogs and it’s definitely not a one-sided relationship. Anyone who owns a pet knows the bond of unconditional love that exists between the animal and human even comparable to one’s offspring. Studies have shown that looking into a pet’s eyes can boost our oxytocin (also known as the love hormone of the body) levels which leads to building trust, sincerity and loyalty. Gently stroking a pet can lower your blood pressure levels. That’s how strong a bond can be between a pet and its owner.
When it comes to our daily life stuck in a deadly pandemic, this article will send your boredom socks flying out of the window. These oh-too-adorable pictures of pets looking lovingly into their owner’s eyes are guaranteed to put a smile on your face and boost your energy to the point of tackling that weekly to-do list of yours. We’ve collected some of the most wholesome photos for you to enjoy from the very wholesome r/Catsmirin and r/DogsMirin subreddits. Get ready for some ‘aww’ moments as you go through this article.
You’ll also find our interview about how social pets are and how they respond to shifts in their owners’ moods with the Arizona Humane Society below, so read on to learn something new!
Upon talking to one of the representatives of the Arizona Humane Society, we found out that our behaviours can have a huge impact on our pets and their behaviours.
“A few studies have found that pets can mirror their owner’s moods and can be sensitive to human’s feelings of stress and anxiety,” the AHS representative detailed that our furry little friends pick up on our body language and signs we show them.
However, they told us that we shouldn’t worry too much about inflicting our stress and anxiety on our pets. “Pet owners do not need to worry about this particular, as pets are more of a social support for us just like we are social support for them.” The AHS rep said that we’re still in charge of our pets’ physical and mental healthcare that’s necessary for them to live long and happy lives.
“Giving our pets the physical and mental care they require, along with lots of love and safety will ensure a lifetime of reciprocated love and affection between our four-legged friends and their human family.”
Earlier, we spoke about bonding between cats and their owners with Dr. Kristyn Vitale from the Human-Animal Interaction Lab at Oregon State University.
“Our research has demonstrated that pet cats can form stable, affectional attachment bonds with their owners,” Dr. Vitale told us.
“The majority of cats have the capacity to use their owner as a source of comfort and security, especially when faced with stressful or unfamiliar situations. Our research has also shown that cats can be very social toward their owners, especially when their owner pays attention to them,” Dr. Vitale said.
“Kittens aged 3-8 months and adult cats display secure bonds with their owners. However we don’t yet know how long it usually takes for cats to forms bonds with their owners,” the expert on animal bonding gave us an example.
“We do know that at least in kittens, these bonds do not easily change. When we followed up with kittens, 81% of them displayed the same attachment type as they had previously (either secure or insecure). If a kitten was secure during the first testing session, they were likely to be secure upon follow-up. Although we don’t know how long these bonds take to form, they seem to be relatively stable once established.”
According to Dr Vitale, we can maintain the secure bonds that form with our pets by being receptive to them, especially during situations that are very stressful. “In humans, we know that attachment bonds can be impacted by how the caretaker handles negative experiences. So if you know that a stressful event is going to occur, such as if you are moving or taking the cat to the veterinarian, it is particularly important to remain calm and provide positive attention to your cat. This can help the cat continue to see you as a source of comfort and security.”
Pets give people so much in terms of love and emotional support. A dog may show their devotion to you by guarding you while you eat. Dogs often want to protect those they love, even if there’s no real threat — so some dogs show they love their owners by keeping them “safe” while they eat or relax. Similarly, cats will look out for you in the truest meaning of the word. If the bond with your cat is strong, they’ll follow you around. They’ll jump in your lap or just sit in a chair nearby. They might even get slightly depressed when you leave, and greet you merrily when you return. Your pets, cats or dogs, will love you unconditionally and will always be there for you, no matter what.
All in all, our pets love us to the point where it stops making sense anymore. Some of us even think that we don’t deserve the love they shower upon us but that’s okay. If we are loyal to them, take their care and treat them kindly, it’s all in good hands and will be reciprocated 10X times. Do your pets look at you lovingly? Do you take pictures with them? Do let us know in the comments and share your oh-too-purrfect pictures!
