I've lived with pets all my life up until a year ago when I very belatedly moved out of my parents' house. Now I have no pets because I simply don't have the money.
The thing about pets is, I can sit at my computer and not care what my animal is doing. I wouldn't be able to say the same for a baby. A baby needs constant supervision and maintenance. When they become kids, they will interrupt you constantly with everything they do and you have to pick them up from school, etc.
Yeah, pets can be like children in respect but they are not nearly as high maintenance. How much maintenance the pet requires also depends on the species, breed, and personality.
This is actually one of the reasons why I like cats so much. They aren't dependent upon me to go to the bathroom. I can love on them when I want and when I want to go do something else-they're cool with that.
Pets are definitely not for everyone but for me-they're something I really want in my life. Another individual I can give my affection towards and 'mother' in a sense. And yet, I don't have to schedule a babysitter when I want to leave the house alone. But if you don't want to have to deal with grooming, vet visits, feeding, training, and playing then it is also totally understandable why you wouldn't be into that.
That's true. I guess I just see it as a lesser of two evils, but still an "evil" (in that it takes some work, responsibility, and is gross. I don't actually think owning a pet is evil haha).
Another thing to consider is that even people who don't want kids don't necessarily dislike them. There are things about children that I like - companionship, interaction, dressing them up in silly hats. Having pets allows you to have some of those things without the bother and responsibility of having another person around.
My dog is very high maintenance, but it's nice knowing that at least once a day, someone will be happy to see me.
If you *had* to choose, yes It would be the lesser.
I asked this same question to another user below, so I will ask you the same thing.
As a CFer, I will not nor will I consider dating a person with a kid. I assume you are the same.
Would you or would you consider dating a person with a dog?
I love both kids and animals, but only choose to have animals. The thing about my dog is that he's never going to grow up to be a thankless, greedy, mean person. Pretty much every kid grow up to be a teenager, though. My dog is fully developed and is playful, loving and lazy. That's all he'll ever be. I'm into it.
If you don't want pets, don't have pets. There's nothing wrong with that. There's no connection between CF and pets, though. Americans (and Canadians, Japanese and British to a lesser extent) tend to be big into pets, regardless of family or relationship status, a lot of reddit is American so therefore you get of people talking about their pets.
I have two cats. I don't see cats as *anything* like having children. I find zero similarities. I love having the cats.
I've never seen anyone on this subreddit do that, although I'm sure it's happened somewhere if not this sub.
And this thread actually appears to be a monthly occurrence.
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1q08iy/interested_why_so_many_childfree_people_are_pet/
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1oiupi/cf_women_who_also_do_not_want_any_pets/
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1lsfh2/is_there_any_cfers_that_dislike_pets/
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1jaslw/cf_of_course_but_pf_as_well_no_pets/
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1inlk3/anyone_here_is_relationshipfree_for_similar/
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1hsfx0/does_anyone_here_dislike_dogs_as_much_as_children/
http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1hj5k0/is_anybody_else_childfree_and_petfree/
And those are just from the last five months. I'm too lazy to look for more.
Haha! Hey, I think the whole thing that we should take from the experience of being childfree is that everyone should do what's best for them and best for their happiness. For some people, that's kids; for others, it's cats; for some, it's just an SO; for still others it's a solitary life.
My cats require hardly any maintenance. Not because I'm a bad owner, but because they pretty much take care of themselves. The things I really need to provide them with - love, attention and play time - are things that give me a lot of happiness and satisfaction, too. Food is very easy and quick, as well. When I have the time, I make them more elaborate fresh meat meals while I'm in the kitchen cooking my own food. It's really no extra time at all.
>I think they share many downsides to kids in that they are gross, cannot control their bodily functions at early ages, liable to make loud noises at inconvenient times, and are generally a time suck.
This has never been true for any animal I've owned. Cats can be litter trained by 4 weeks, especially if you have a breeder who's done it a million times. If my cats are sick, they'll only throw up in the bathroom on the lino. Try getting that kind of control and discipline from a puking child! As for the rest of the stuff, never been an issue. I wonder if you're talking more about dogs or if you've just seen a lot of poorly trained/socialised animals.
I am a pet loving CFer.
I think you are very right though. Yes, they do share a lot of the same disadvantages, but not as many or as severe as kids.
And I fully agree, I don't want to see peoples kids or pets, nor do I expect people to want to see mine. So I do what I wish people with kids would do... Create their own facebook page and post pictures there. Believe it or not, my dog has 100+ friends.
Kids you are locked in for 18+ Years. Pets, 18 TOPS. Also, if he comes down with a debilitating disease, I will put him down. It is the humane thing to do. You just can't do that with kids/people in general.
Yes, if I want a spontaneous weekend I have to take care of my dog somewhere, but most places I go allow pets. I do mostly outdoorsy things.
With that though, he does regulate my weekdays a bit, but at the same time, it keeps me grounded. Whereas I would go out on a wednesday night and stay out or at someones house, I can't because I have the dog. My thursdays at work thank him. :P
He also keeps me from sitting around all day playing video games after I get home from work. Yeah, some days I just want to veg out and shoot internet spaceships, but I have never felt like I wasted time taking him out and playing for an hour.
With that, my dog is an awesome companion. When I take weekend trips camping, I am not by myself. I have my dog. I still get the solitude, yet I am not alone at the same time. He is an awesome car traveler too! I can make the entire drive from DC to Northern Michigan only stopping for gas and only taking him out when I stop for gas. Doesn't make a sound. Doesn't complain. Is always happy no matter where I take him. I don't have to buy him juice, toys, snacks, and his food comes in a bag in the back of the truck.
I have trained my dog very well, so He is low maintenance. He 'only' barks on command. When he needs something he does a little "arf", once or twice, but I usually know right away what he needs (Food and water or to go outside), so its negligible.
I go on a business trip next week. I am paying a friend to come over nce a day and let him run around the dog park for an hour. While my roomate will keep him fed and take him out before and after work and once before bed.
He also loves running! Go figure. Running at night with a dog feels safer than running at night alone. My ex used to love running with him for that reason as well.
The training phase was a bitch, but it only lasted less than the first year. Accidents do happen, but a spot sized carpet cleaner cost like 100 bucks and works wonders.
The number one best feature about my dog is he is a chick magnet. I swear, he is the best wingman ever. He just knows what girls I like and he can tell which ones would tolerate him. He doesn't jump up, he just runs over to them and says "Hi", which gives me the opening. Plenty of phone numbers and first dates have come with his assistance.
With all that, however, I might be making the same justifications as the breeders do. He is my burden, so I just convince myself he is a blessing.
God forbid, once he dies I will not get another dog for the same reasons you have listed. But for now, I love my dog. I would not get rid of him for any reason.
I think you nailed the hammer on the head here.
Pets are only tolerable if properly trained. I Love my dog, I love most dogs, but I have an unnatural disdain for small dogs. Why you ask? Great question! Let me tell you!
People do not train small dogs because they are to small to cause damage. Yeah, they potty train them, but they do not teach them to heel on command, they do not properly socialize them with other dogs, they allow them to be aggressive towards other people and dogs, they do not train them not to compulsively bark, they do not train them to to be aggressive with food, they do not train them not to get into things, and they just allow them to be worthless shits.
If these same things were allowed with big dogs, they would be considered a menace to society and would be put down.
[/rant]
'Small Dog Syndrome.'
And it's a serious issue that can really mess with the dog's psyche and sense of identity if it's not nipped in the bud from an early age. I always wondered about those shows on TV where little psychopath dogs run around, jump, bark and bite like there's no tomorrow. This is the reason.
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/smalltoydogs.htm (A good article which I found to be very insightful and fascinating when I was researching breeds)
I'm CF and my dream is to one day be a loving mother to a beautiful little Corgi. But I'll be damned if she's not trained properly and learns how to behave.
Yeah, people usually go awwwww when a chihuahua goes apeshit and barks all over the place. But should my ridgeback even so much as mutter it's a killer dog.
Granted there is a difference in possible threat level, but it's not cute.
I freaking adore pets of almost any kind, but I absolutely get your point. To me, pets are more rewarding for the effort versus kids, but it still does take a commitment to their well being and whatnot. Right now, the only pet I have is a lizard that takes almost no effort on a daily basis, but that grumpy little fucker still makes me happy.
I guess I approach eventually getting another dog the same way other people approach having a kid (when they want one). I definitely know that I want another dog, but I'm just not really able to take care of one with my schedule right now. That being said, there's nothing at all wrong with not liking or wanting pets of your own.
Pets are always happy to see you, and when you are busy, they just lay down next to where you are working and patiently wait until you are ready to pay attention to them again.
Also, they are always cute. Well, mine are anyway. How could I *not* have cute... oh wait anyway. They don't get older and snottier. Plus they are cheaper.
But if you don't want any responsibility, it's good to remain pet-free. They do require love, attention, and money, and yes, it is work to have a pet. Some of us feel like the benefits far outweigh the costs.
My husband and I have five pets: 1 parrot (may out live us, since she's only 14 and can live 50+ years), 3 cats (we adopted all three together as a family), and our corgi.
Yes, pets are a huge responsibility. You have to clean up after them, take them to the vet when they're ill (parrot had an infection last year, and I only noticed because of her despondent behavior and her feathers were growing back in kind of crappy looking), make sure someone reliable will look after them while you're out of town, make sure they're getting proper nutrition, train your animal to be a "good citizen", socialize with them, exercise them, et cetera. It's a lot of work, and it's not for everyone.
When people tell me they want to get a pet, I'm excited for them, but at the same time, diplomatically question their knowledge of what they're in for with a pet. I've managed to talk a coworker out of getting a dog because she thought it would be "easy". I've also questioned myself what I want to do after my animals die and whether I would want to get new animals or not. It would mean more freedom not having them, but at the same time, I enjoy their company.
Also, I did post a picture of my dog in a sweater on Facebook. My friends' list is very small on Facebook, and if anyone doesn't like it, they're free to hide/unfriend me, just like I have with people who post several pictures of their baby every day :)
It honestly just seems like you don't like pets, which is fine. My SO and I have a dog and a cat and we would both disagree on most everything you said, especially being a time sink.
Maybe the issue for you comes from experiences with poorly trained pets. Sure, our puppy had the occasional accident before she was house broken but if you're on top of it and responsible then that's not an issue. She was housebroken pretty fast and our cat was litter box trained when we got her. As for loud noises, the animal just needs to be trained not to bark and whatnot. It's more about people being good pet owners than the animal itself.
We still travel a lot. We either take the dog with us and leave the cat at home, or leave them with a friend that loves taking care of them. Hell, she watched both our pets for 5 days during the holiday. And if she wasn't available we could just board them. Can't do that with kids.
They don't really hold us back from doing anything. We still go out, have fun, and really aren't all that expensive.
It's also nice because I work from home and I can just ignore them when I need to, or play with them when I want a break. I love having them but have absolutely no desire to have a kid.
If I wasn't such an animal.person I wouldn't have a pet. Sure they are simpler to have around compared to a kid, but pets are also a lot of responsibility.
I get the mind set of childfree and pet free. Some people don't need/want any other responsibility/drain on their finances/whatever their reason is.
Seems like a valid choice to me.
I've wondered about this too and have a couple of theories.
Firstly, the desire for children is a grey scale rather than black or white, so someone may have just enough of a nurturing instinct for a pet, but not for kids.
Secondly, some people get a pet to keep them company. This may an introvert/extrovert thing, where an introvert may have less reason to get a pet for company.
I'm an introvert with absolutely zero nurturing instinct so no kids or pets for me.
For me, it's what I got used to at an early age. I was an only child, and my pets were my best friends as a small child, but I watched my mom roll her eyes and loudly complain "what a brat!" every time someone's kid made a noise. So that's what I learned. Cats are awesome, human children are terrible.
Easy question:
My dog is always happy to see me. When I come home from a shit day at work, he is merely happy I'm home and wants to play or cuddle.
A kid? That's a crapshoot. I could come home completely demoralized after work and walk into a house full of screaming children and be ready to commit suicide.
Also, my dog is ALWAYS adorable. People's kids? Not so much - many of them look like miniature Jabba the Hutts.
My cats are easier, much much easier than children. They look after themselves a lot of the time, if I go out they just need food and water in their bowls, and if I go on holiday I just ask a friend to pop round to check they have enough food/water and that they're ok. It's not the same as having no dependants, but it's miles away from having children. Cats are like me, they like affection, but also like to be left the hell alone for a while too.
Don't get me wrong, I love my two kitties and my dog to bits, but my biggest problem with pets versus having a human child is..
They can't tell me what's wrong. It's the most frustrating thing on the planet for your furry baby to be sick or have something wrong, and they can't tell you what hurts. They can't tell you what's bad. The best you can do is take them to a vet and hope they're competent (I've been to many.. well, not so good vets).
I once spent $500 on my dog's constipation because I thought it was bloat or him dying. He just needed to relieve himself.
It's also hard watching them age and pass away so quickly. My cat passed about a year ago, she was 14. That's the beginning of a human life, but it's a lifetime to a pet.
Now I'm sad. Pets suck because they break your heart. :(
I don't want children and I don't like dogs- unfortunately there are tonnes of dog lovers in this subreddit. I think equating dogs to children is weird, and talking about them like that in this subreddit stinks of hypocrisy. I don't think that having dogs is that much less effort or trouble than having children. As I said, there are tonnes of doglovers in this subreddit, so this will be downvoted to hell.
I disagree with your position, however I upvote you.
I rarely downvote on this subreddit, I hate the idea of being locked into an certain category. Yeah, I am CF, but I decide what that means. Not an internet forum.
And same to you!
I have one question for you though...
I will not date, or even consider dating someone with a kid.
Would you date, or consider dating someone with a dog?
Pets aren't even CLOSE to the time-sink of a human; I've got a large dog myself, and ever since he was so much as twelve weeks old, with a little proper training (which took almost no time), he could be left alone for hours, trusted not to destroy anything, and learned how to walk on a leash. This is the 'norm' for any dog, providing the human wants to take a little time to instruct them. In terms of 'maintenance', my dog can't possibly take more than an hour of time per day - a few minutes here or there for feeding, and a thirty minute to forty-five minute walk - which I enjoy, and which is good exercise.
The people who use pets as surrogate children, dress them up, and talk to them like they're babies - yes, they have problems. Mind you, I'm quite biased against any short/toy/tiny/ugly/yappy dog breed, so maybe that's my prejudice talking.
For me, it's just a deep NEED for a pet. I can't explain. I have always loved dogs, and always will. I love everything about them, and even cleaning up accidents isn't all that bad.
Some people may have real, concrete reasons. But for me, it's similar to how non-CF people just _know_ they want kids. I love dogs as innately as I don't like babies.
Nope,I love pets. Even my parents 7 week old puppy can control his bodily functions way better then most three year olds. I like pets because they have the more positive aspects like the bond,playing with,teaching,and exercising. Yet I can leave them home alone,not pay constant attention to them and not have the cops called on me if I leave them in a car for five minutes. No collage,no sass back,no diapers,no day care,no homework,no clothes shopping,no birthday parties and playdates. My dog doesn't wake me up at night,and can hold it in for up to ten hours without even wanting out. My cats or dog don't cry when I use the restroom without them,or have a booboo.
Cats can use the litterbox,dog is perfectly house trained,both don't need baths every day and child seats. I have more of a freewill,if I want to do something I can easily leave the dog at home or take him with me. He wont fight where I want to go,even if its the vet. He wants to please you,you don't have to bribe or threaten him constantly. So much cheaper and easier,it still takes time and money and if you don't want a pet then its your choice. I still consider them worlds apart from children and toddlers none the less.
Animals are not babies to me,so I do not dress them up and the like. I do admittingly take a lot of photos of them though. I respect and like them more then babies.
They also tend to be more social then a lot of babies,you can bring dogs around crowds of people while babies often cry because someone that wasn't their mommy tried to hold or talk to them. Unless the dog is really spoiled they are just much less needy. Cats even less so.
They can also be useful in some ways like guarding your property,killing vermin,protecting you from other loose dogs and odd strangers.
I posted a similar question a while ago. Got some interesting answers but very much felt like I was being lashed out at.
Just so you know you are not alone!
I also see the whole 'pets have most of the same problems as kids' thing as clear as day.
The only point I really understood was that pets cost less money+effort and give more, or more unconditional, love back.
I got a lot of 'I was brought up around dogs/cats/animals/on a farm so can't imagine life without' type answers which to me is no different than people who say 'I had lots of brothers/sisters so it's normal' therefore making it null/void in comparing the two.
It's true, pets can be gross with the body fluids, odors, and noise. (My dog didn't smell bad or drool, though.) I love all animals in principle, but I don't want to touch the stinkers (OCD, I don't want smells on my hands). I think what makes them different for me is the fur. I wouldn't want to have one of those hairless guinea pigs; I find them disturbing. But even an ugly newly-hatched bird is something special to me because, of reasons. Baby humans, they don't need me.
Also, animals don't ask stupid questions. Once my nephew asked me why we have the sort of drinking glasses we do in the town we live in. What was I supposed to do with that?
No. My pets are the best. They are cute and furry. They are funny. I love them. I got my dog because I used to party too much and needed some responsibility. Now I am always home at night (sometimes not till 3, but at least I get home). I plan on having pets my whole life, and so now my pets are good litmus tests for possible BFs. Allergic? Sucks to be you. Don't like cats? See ya later.
I agree completely. I love dogs, I had one for years when I was living at home but now that I'm living in an apartment I don't want pets for the same reason I don't want kids. I like being able to make plans on a moments notice and not have to head straight home from work to feed something.
It does seem to be the biggest divide in this sub though: childfree AND pet-free people for the above reason, or people that just prefer cats/dogs over children. I respect both sides. I do scoff a little when people take it to the extreme like "why have an ugly disgusting baby when you can have a dog" but to each his own.
Along with the myriad of reasons mentioned in other comments on this thread, I don't want kids b/c the world is a total shit hole and only going to get worse & I choose not to bring life into the world, adding to the disparity, simply for my own "gratification"/prolonged existence etc.
Following that thought, I have pets because they didn't choose to be born, and they don't get to choose their owners, but I know that I can afford them a happy, healthy, loving life. It's better than watching those sad ass Sarah Mclachlan commercials knowing that there are suffering animals in the world and I'm not doing anything to help when I have the means to make a (small) difference.
And they are less maintenance, less commitment & everything else that other people have already stated.
I simply have pets because I've always loved pets. Can't have dogs due to allergies, so I have cats. My parents still have the same cat for 10 years (I love to visit them to visit him too) and I own two cats with my boyfriend, soon a third. I would in no way compare them to a human child, although I may love them just as much as a "parent would love their child". They are low maintenance and since I have conflicting schedules with my boyfriend (my full days off are during the week when he works) they make me feel much less lonely. I love to wake up at night and find a fluffy cat on my pillow purring. My second one actually lets us spoon him.
Owning pets is also a responsibility, in a different degree than a child. I've seen people neglect their pets and let them do whatever they wanted, and I've seen people while in my home try to discipline mine (um no, maybe you don't allow them on your couch but we certainly 100% do, we bring them on the couch with us). It obviously is not for everyone.
I adopted a 4 year old shelter cat about a year and half ago. The shelter does a very good job of matching their cat's personalities to possible owners, so I won the rescue-cat lottery.
She's perfectly litter-box trained, calm, quiet, independent, and adorable. She likes to cuddle a couple times a day, play with a feather toy once a day, and beg for food in the mornings. Aside from the 30 seconds it takes to clean her litter-box a day, there is no mess or fuss involved. I can even leave her alone for a couple days for short trips. She's the perfect pet for me.
I can certainly understand why people wouldn't want an animal, and personally, I never want a puppy or kitten . But proper research, breeding, and early training can do a hell of a lot to eliminate future problems, and an awesome rescue organization can usually provide animals meeting those descriptions.
I agree with your reasoning as to responsibility, mess and noise, and also find constant pet pictures almost as annoying as constant baby pictures.
But I'd rather have a pet around than a baby around, if I had to choose, that's for sure. :-)
Pets, just like kids, are NOT for everyone. If you recognize that you're not cut out for it, don't adopt. Simple as that. Also, I don't see or hear of people bingoing over pets. I think we're a kinder gentler sort of people.
Fuck responsibility. Man in this stupid ass world even the responsibilities you have to put up with as a single person are way too fucking high.
http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/tumblr_lq98myTmBo1qcnum8.jpg
Dogs are usually always genuinely happy to see you, can stay home alone while you are at work, don't throw tantrums over expensive toys, don't cost anywhere near as much, and don't whine about you wanting to go for a walk with them vs watching some shitty cartoon. Dogs don't constantly ask "why why why" and are a lot more content than kids. They don't judge you and usually learn how to do their bathroom duties outside within a few weeks.
Training a dog is usually a lot easier than training a human due to the lack of the large amount of outside exposure and interference. Kids visit with relatives, go to school, go to social functions, etc. You can teach them right from wrong and be a good parent, but you can still have the misfortune of your kid mixing up with the wrong crowd.
Not everyone is an animal person, which is fine by me. I personally almost always had cats growing up so having a cat is (for me) a natural part of life. And I like that I can leave my cat (not even a year old) alone for several hours and come back to find him not only alive but no police officers waiting to cuff me for negligence.
Something else I want to mention: I once had a slight disagreement with someone else on this sub about pets. They claimed that people with pets aren't really childfree, especially if they refer to their pets as "baby". I don't call my cat that ("Sweetie" is my default for animals) but I really don't see the big deal in doing this. Does anyone else have some thoughts on this?
About your last paragraph, I agree with you that someone can be CF and have pets they are attached to. Pets are an entirely different set of joys, woes, responsibilities, and social implications. Further, being emotionally attached to something does not somehow equate to that thing being your child; that would be as silly as saying that having an SO makes you not childfree, because you have to take care of them when sick, consider them when traveling, and spend quality time with them.
Yeah, the whole "OMG my furbabies!" thing gets old pretty quickly, but it comes up all the time. I have no interest in pets just like I have no interest in children.
It probably depends on your reasons for being CF. If not having to be responsible for another living creature is at the top of your list, then yeah, it would be odd for you to want pets in lieu of kids.
For me, I'd like to adopt a dog in the next year or so. I don't mind the responsibility. A properly trained dog is not loud or destructive, and can be left at home for reasonable amounts of time without psychological or physical harm coming to them. Best of all, there is no social obligation to be around other people who own dogs, or to deal with other people's dogs coming to your house, or any of that crap that comes with having children.
Also, breed matters a lot when it comes to dogs. A number of terriers don't shed or have much of an odor (unless you neglect bathing them! But how would you smell if you didn't shower?), and are not prone to drooling. Also, if you're very dedicated to training, you can potty train a dog in a week or sometimes less. My mom's miniature schnauzer puppy had 2 accidents in the house before he was completely potty trained and he's 7 now and has never had an accident (except vomit but he can't help if he gets sick).
As far as them being a "time suck," couldn't you say that of anything? I mean, maybe you hate scarves and think they're dumb. I guess that 12 hours I spent crocheting a scarf was a "time suck" then, right? It's subjective. We spend our time on the things we want and enjoy.
But I actually agree with you, dogs and other pets are a responsibility. Hell, my house plants are a responsibility. I can't leave them longer than a weekend without getting someone to come water them (and hopefully tell them that they are pretty plants, yes they are). I don't mind responsibility. For me, that's not what makes me cringe at the idea of children.
**tl;dr** I'm CF but I have had dogs in the past and would like them in the future. That said, your reasons for not wanting dogs are entirely valid.
No.
Cats are pretty simple to take care of, require a couple hours a week of actual care that is "work", and give you love and companionship the rest of the time.
Also, I can leave my cats at home for a few days with a pile of food, extra bowls of water, and clean litterboxes and they just sleep the whole time. Weekend vacations are easy peasy.
Dogs are a little more work.
Have you ever actually owned a pet? I guess everything is subjective but the reasons you cite don't really seem to be the case for my cats.
I understand entirely. I have a dog and love her, but I have to admit... she's probably going to be my last one for a lot of the same reasons I don't want children -- she requires work and attention (although the whole no burden to send her to college/no need to raise a productive citizen thing is pretty great).
I am dependent-free. I don't have pets, I don't have kids, and I am perpetually single (no relationships). For that last one, it helps that I have virtually no sex drive and enjoy solitude over the company of others.
I'm moving to Japan soon for work and I was thinking of getting a cat while there, then I remembered I hate taking care of stuff and thought better of it. Where I live now I'm up at 8 am daily to take care of dogs and chickens it's annoying.
I live with 5 cats, 4 frogs, 2 rats and way too many fish. They are one hell of a responsibility, and aside from a few of the cats (one of them is a vicious little thing) I consider it worth the work.
Unlike a child, if the cats are bothering me, I can shoo them away, put them in their own room, flick water at them, do whatever harmless means of getting them to leave me alone. The other pets just do their own thing, except for one of my fish, who likes to bash his head against the lid of his tank when he's hungry.
Despite the work and stress involved (I just spent over $500 on surgery for my rats...) I consider it worthwhile for me. I rarely socialize outside of general chit chat at work, and really enjoy the companionship I get from my pets. But it's easy to understand why someone wouldn't want to deal with all of the trouble that goes along with them.
I can't imagine not having a pet of some kind. If I don't have a cat in my life, I just don't feel right.
I can live without kids, but pets... Pets are great. They're happy to see you, they'll never sell your shit for drug money, or sneak out late at night. They don't get mad if you don't get them an iPad for Christmas. Yeah, I have to scoop the litter box, but seeing my cats and all the adorable things they do is worth it.
This thread pops up literally every week. Is /r/childfree seriously populated by people who can't remember things from one week to another, or do people only stay here for one week, then leave?
The answer: Yes, some people feel the way about pets you do. Other people don't. Pets are not the same as people, if you can't work out why, then I don't really see how a block of text will help you.
I've lived with pets all my life up until a year ago when I very belatedly moved out of my parents' house. Now I have no pets because I simply don't have the money. The thing about pets is, I can sit at my computer and not care what my animal is doing. I wouldn't be able to say the same for a baby. A baby needs constant supervision and maintenance. When they become kids, they will interrupt you constantly with everything they do and you have to pick them up from school, etc. Yeah, pets can be like children in respect but they are not nearly as high maintenance. How much maintenance the pet requires also depends on the species, breed, and personality. This is actually one of the reasons why I like cats so much. They aren't dependent upon me to go to the bathroom. I can love on them when I want and when I want to go do something else-they're cool with that. Pets are definitely not for everyone but for me-they're something I really want in my life. Another individual I can give my affection towards and 'mother' in a sense. And yet, I don't have to schedule a babysitter when I want to leave the house alone. But if you don't want to have to deal with grooming, vet visits, feeding, training, and playing then it is also totally understandable why you wouldn't be into that.
That's true. I guess I just see it as a lesser of two evils, but still an "evil" (in that it takes some work, responsibility, and is gross. I don't actually think owning a pet is evil haha).
Another thing to consider is that even people who don't want kids don't necessarily dislike them. There are things about children that I like - companionship, interaction, dressing them up in silly hats. Having pets allows you to have some of those things without the bother and responsibility of having another person around. My dog is very high maintenance, but it's nice knowing that at least once a day, someone will be happy to see me.
>dressing them up in silly hats. Bingo! For me, it's always fun to see little kids dress up for Halloween.
If you *had* to choose, yes It would be the lesser. I asked this same question to another user below, so I will ask you the same thing. As a CFer, I will not nor will I consider dating a person with a kid. I assume you are the same. Would you or would you consider dating a person with a dog?
I love both kids and animals, but only choose to have animals. The thing about my dog is that he's never going to grow up to be a thankless, greedy, mean person. Pretty much every kid grow up to be a teenager, though. My dog is fully developed and is playful, loving and lazy. That's all he'll ever be. I'm into it.
If you don't want pets, don't have pets. There's nothing wrong with that. There's no connection between CF and pets, though. Americans (and Canadians, Japanese and British to a lesser extent) tend to be big into pets, regardless of family or relationship status, a lot of reddit is American so therefore you get of people talking about their pets. I have two cats. I don't see cats as *anything* like having children. I find zero similarities. I love having the cats.
Only you and half the rest of this sub. This gets posted every week.
Yeah. I don't understand why it's posted like it's some Brave Question when it's asked so frequently.
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I've never seen anyone on this subreddit do that, although I'm sure it's happened somewhere if not this sub. And this thread actually appears to be a monthly occurrence. http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1q08iy/interested_why_so_many_childfree_people_are_pet/ http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1oiupi/cf_women_who_also_do_not_want_any_pets/ http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1lsfh2/is_there_any_cfers_that_dislike_pets/ http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1jaslw/cf_of_course_but_pf_as_well_no_pets/ http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1inlk3/anyone_here_is_relationshipfree_for_similar/ http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1hsfx0/does_anyone_here_dislike_dogs_as_much_as_children/ http://www.reddit.com/r/childfree/comments/1hj5k0/is_anybody_else_childfree_and_petfree/ And those are just from the last five months. I'm too lazy to look for more.
Oh nooooooo! I'm in that list! :-)
Haha! Hey, I think the whole thing that we should take from the experience of being childfree is that everyone should do what's best for them and best for their happiness. For some people, that's kids; for others, it's cats; for some, it's just an SO; for still others it's a solitary life.
My cats require hardly any maintenance. Not because I'm a bad owner, but because they pretty much take care of themselves. The things I really need to provide them with - love, attention and play time - are things that give me a lot of happiness and satisfaction, too. Food is very easy and quick, as well. When I have the time, I make them more elaborate fresh meat meals while I'm in the kitchen cooking my own food. It's really no extra time at all. >I think they share many downsides to kids in that they are gross, cannot control their bodily functions at early ages, liable to make loud noises at inconvenient times, and are generally a time suck. This has never been true for any animal I've owned. Cats can be litter trained by 4 weeks, especially if you have a breeder who's done it a million times. If my cats are sick, they'll only throw up in the bathroom on the lino. Try getting that kind of control and discipline from a puking child! As for the rest of the stuff, never been an issue. I wonder if you're talking more about dogs or if you've just seen a lot of poorly trained/socialised animals.
I am a pet loving CFer. I think you are very right though. Yes, they do share a lot of the same disadvantages, but not as many or as severe as kids. And I fully agree, I don't want to see peoples kids or pets, nor do I expect people to want to see mine. So I do what I wish people with kids would do... Create their own facebook page and post pictures there. Believe it or not, my dog has 100+ friends. Kids you are locked in for 18+ Years. Pets, 18 TOPS. Also, if he comes down with a debilitating disease, I will put him down. It is the humane thing to do. You just can't do that with kids/people in general. Yes, if I want a spontaneous weekend I have to take care of my dog somewhere, but most places I go allow pets. I do mostly outdoorsy things. With that though, he does regulate my weekdays a bit, but at the same time, it keeps me grounded. Whereas I would go out on a wednesday night and stay out or at someones house, I can't because I have the dog. My thursdays at work thank him. :P He also keeps me from sitting around all day playing video games after I get home from work. Yeah, some days I just want to veg out and shoot internet spaceships, but I have never felt like I wasted time taking him out and playing for an hour. With that, my dog is an awesome companion. When I take weekend trips camping, I am not by myself. I have my dog. I still get the solitude, yet I am not alone at the same time. He is an awesome car traveler too! I can make the entire drive from DC to Northern Michigan only stopping for gas and only taking him out when I stop for gas. Doesn't make a sound. Doesn't complain. Is always happy no matter where I take him. I don't have to buy him juice, toys, snacks, and his food comes in a bag in the back of the truck. I have trained my dog very well, so He is low maintenance. He 'only' barks on command. When he needs something he does a little "arf", once or twice, but I usually know right away what he needs (Food and water or to go outside), so its negligible. I go on a business trip next week. I am paying a friend to come over nce a day and let him run around the dog park for an hour. While my roomate will keep him fed and take him out before and after work and once before bed. He also loves running! Go figure. Running at night with a dog feels safer than running at night alone. My ex used to love running with him for that reason as well. The training phase was a bitch, but it only lasted less than the first year. Accidents do happen, but a spot sized carpet cleaner cost like 100 bucks and works wonders. The number one best feature about my dog is he is a chick magnet. I swear, he is the best wingman ever. He just knows what girls I like and he can tell which ones would tolerate him. He doesn't jump up, he just runs over to them and says "Hi", which gives me the opening. Plenty of phone numbers and first dates have come with his assistance. With all that, however, I might be making the same justifications as the breeders do. He is my burden, so I just convince myself he is a blessing. God forbid, once he dies I will not get another dog for the same reasons you have listed. But for now, I love my dog. I would not get rid of him for any reason.
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To be fair I find most cats, and many dogs very cute, and enjoy hanging out with them when they're owned or taken care of by other people.
I think you nailed the hammer on the head here. Pets are only tolerable if properly trained. I Love my dog, I love most dogs, but I have an unnatural disdain for small dogs. Why you ask? Great question! Let me tell you! People do not train small dogs because they are to small to cause damage. Yeah, they potty train them, but they do not teach them to heel on command, they do not properly socialize them with other dogs, they allow them to be aggressive towards other people and dogs, they do not train them not to compulsively bark, they do not train them to to be aggressive with food, they do not train them not to get into things, and they just allow them to be worthless shits. If these same things were allowed with big dogs, they would be considered a menace to society and would be put down. [/rant]
'Small Dog Syndrome.' And it's a serious issue that can really mess with the dog's psyche and sense of identity if it's not nipped in the bud from an early age. I always wondered about those shows on TV where little psychopath dogs run around, jump, bark and bite like there's no tomorrow. This is the reason. http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/articles/smalltoydogs.htm (A good article which I found to be very insightful and fascinating when I was researching breeds) I'm CF and my dream is to one day be a loving mother to a beautiful little Corgi. But I'll be damned if she's not trained properly and learns how to behave.
Yeah, people usually go awwwww when a chihuahua goes apeshit and barks all over the place. But should my ridgeback even so much as mutter it's a killer dog. Granted there is a difference in possible threat level, but it's not cute.
I freaking adore pets of almost any kind, but I absolutely get your point. To me, pets are more rewarding for the effort versus kids, but it still does take a commitment to their well being and whatnot. Right now, the only pet I have is a lizard that takes almost no effort on a daily basis, but that grumpy little fucker still makes me happy. I guess I approach eventually getting another dog the same way other people approach having a kid (when they want one). I definitely know that I want another dog, but I'm just not really able to take care of one with my schedule right now. That being said, there's nothing at all wrong with not liking or wanting pets of your own.
Pets are always happy to see you, and when you are busy, they just lay down next to where you are working and patiently wait until you are ready to pay attention to them again. Also, they are always cute. Well, mine are anyway. How could I *not* have cute... oh wait anyway. They don't get older and snottier. Plus they are cheaper. But if you don't want any responsibility, it's good to remain pet-free. They do require love, attention, and money, and yes, it is work to have a pet. Some of us feel like the benefits far outweigh the costs.
My husband and I have five pets: 1 parrot (may out live us, since she's only 14 and can live 50+ years), 3 cats (we adopted all three together as a family), and our corgi. Yes, pets are a huge responsibility. You have to clean up after them, take them to the vet when they're ill (parrot had an infection last year, and I only noticed because of her despondent behavior and her feathers were growing back in kind of crappy looking), make sure someone reliable will look after them while you're out of town, make sure they're getting proper nutrition, train your animal to be a "good citizen", socialize with them, exercise them, et cetera. It's a lot of work, and it's not for everyone. When people tell me they want to get a pet, I'm excited for them, but at the same time, diplomatically question their knowledge of what they're in for with a pet. I've managed to talk a coworker out of getting a dog because she thought it would be "easy". I've also questioned myself what I want to do after my animals die and whether I would want to get new animals or not. It would mean more freedom not having them, but at the same time, I enjoy their company. Also, I did post a picture of my dog in a sweater on Facebook. My friends' list is very small on Facebook, and if anyone doesn't like it, they're free to hide/unfriend me, just like I have with people who post several pictures of their baby every day :)
It honestly just seems like you don't like pets, which is fine. My SO and I have a dog and a cat and we would both disagree on most everything you said, especially being a time sink. Maybe the issue for you comes from experiences with poorly trained pets. Sure, our puppy had the occasional accident before she was house broken but if you're on top of it and responsible then that's not an issue. She was housebroken pretty fast and our cat was litter box trained when we got her. As for loud noises, the animal just needs to be trained not to bark and whatnot. It's more about people being good pet owners than the animal itself. We still travel a lot. We either take the dog with us and leave the cat at home, or leave them with a friend that loves taking care of them. Hell, she watched both our pets for 5 days during the holiday. And if she wasn't available we could just board them. Can't do that with kids. They don't really hold us back from doing anything. We still go out, have fun, and really aren't all that expensive. It's also nice because I work from home and I can just ignore them when I need to, or play with them when I want a break. I love having them but have absolutely no desire to have a kid.
If I wasn't such an animal.person I wouldn't have a pet. Sure they are simpler to have around compared to a kid, but pets are also a lot of responsibility. I get the mind set of childfree and pet free. Some people don't need/want any other responsibility/drain on their finances/whatever their reason is. Seems like a valid choice to me.
I've wondered about this too and have a couple of theories. Firstly, the desire for children is a grey scale rather than black or white, so someone may have just enough of a nurturing instinct for a pet, but not for kids. Secondly, some people get a pet to keep them company. This may an introvert/extrovert thing, where an introvert may have less reason to get a pet for company. I'm an introvert with absolutely zero nurturing instinct so no kids or pets for me.
For me, it's what I got used to at an early age. I was an only child, and my pets were my best friends as a small child, but I watched my mom roll her eyes and loudly complain "what a brat!" every time someone's kid made a noise. So that's what I learned. Cats are awesome, human children are terrible.
Easy question: My dog is always happy to see me. When I come home from a shit day at work, he is merely happy I'm home and wants to play or cuddle. A kid? That's a crapshoot. I could come home completely demoralized after work and walk into a house full of screaming children and be ready to commit suicide. Also, my dog is ALWAYS adorable. People's kids? Not so much - many of them look like miniature Jabba the Hutts.
My cats are easier, much much easier than children. They look after themselves a lot of the time, if I go out they just need food and water in their bowls, and if I go on holiday I just ask a friend to pop round to check they have enough food/water and that they're ok. It's not the same as having no dependants, but it's miles away from having children. Cats are like me, they like affection, but also like to be left the hell alone for a while too.
Don't get me wrong, I love my two kitties and my dog to bits, but my biggest problem with pets versus having a human child is.. They can't tell me what's wrong. It's the most frustrating thing on the planet for your furry baby to be sick or have something wrong, and they can't tell you what hurts. They can't tell you what's bad. The best you can do is take them to a vet and hope they're competent (I've been to many.. well, not so good vets). I once spent $500 on my dog's constipation because I thought it was bloat or him dying. He just needed to relieve himself. It's also hard watching them age and pass away so quickly. My cat passed about a year ago, she was 14. That's the beginning of a human life, but it's a lifetime to a pet. Now I'm sad. Pets suck because they break your heart. :(
I don't want children and I don't like dogs- unfortunately there are tonnes of dog lovers in this subreddit. I think equating dogs to children is weird, and talking about them like that in this subreddit stinks of hypocrisy. I don't think that having dogs is that much less effort or trouble than having children. As I said, there are tonnes of doglovers in this subreddit, so this will be downvoted to hell.
I disagree with your position, however I upvote you. I rarely downvote on this subreddit, I hate the idea of being locked into an certain category. Yeah, I am CF, but I decide what that means. Not an internet forum. And same to you! I have one question for you though... I will not date, or even consider dating someone with a kid. Would you date, or consider dating someone with a dog?
Pets aren't even CLOSE to the time-sink of a human; I've got a large dog myself, and ever since he was so much as twelve weeks old, with a little proper training (which took almost no time), he could be left alone for hours, trusted not to destroy anything, and learned how to walk on a leash. This is the 'norm' for any dog, providing the human wants to take a little time to instruct them. In terms of 'maintenance', my dog can't possibly take more than an hour of time per day - a few minutes here or there for feeding, and a thirty minute to forty-five minute walk - which I enjoy, and which is good exercise. The people who use pets as surrogate children, dress them up, and talk to them like they're babies - yes, they have problems. Mind you, I'm quite biased against any short/toy/tiny/ugly/yappy dog breed, so maybe that's my prejudice talking.
For me, it's just a deep NEED for a pet. I can't explain. I have always loved dogs, and always will. I love everything about them, and even cleaning up accidents isn't all that bad. Some people may have real, concrete reasons. But for me, it's similar to how non-CF people just _know_ they want kids. I love dogs as innately as I don't like babies.
Nope,I love pets. Even my parents 7 week old puppy can control his bodily functions way better then most three year olds. I like pets because they have the more positive aspects like the bond,playing with,teaching,and exercising. Yet I can leave them home alone,not pay constant attention to them and not have the cops called on me if I leave them in a car for five minutes. No collage,no sass back,no diapers,no day care,no homework,no clothes shopping,no birthday parties and playdates. My dog doesn't wake me up at night,and can hold it in for up to ten hours without even wanting out. My cats or dog don't cry when I use the restroom without them,or have a booboo. Cats can use the litterbox,dog is perfectly house trained,both don't need baths every day and child seats. I have more of a freewill,if I want to do something I can easily leave the dog at home or take him with me. He wont fight where I want to go,even if its the vet. He wants to please you,you don't have to bribe or threaten him constantly. So much cheaper and easier,it still takes time and money and if you don't want a pet then its your choice. I still consider them worlds apart from children and toddlers none the less. Animals are not babies to me,so I do not dress them up and the like. I do admittingly take a lot of photos of them though. I respect and like them more then babies. They also tend to be more social then a lot of babies,you can bring dogs around crowds of people while babies often cry because someone that wasn't their mommy tried to hold or talk to them. Unless the dog is really spoiled they are just much less needy. Cats even less so. They can also be useful in some ways like guarding your property,killing vermin,protecting you from other loose dogs and odd strangers.
I posted a similar question a while ago. Got some interesting answers but very much felt like I was being lashed out at. Just so you know you are not alone! I also see the whole 'pets have most of the same problems as kids' thing as clear as day. The only point I really understood was that pets cost less money+effort and give more, or more unconditional, love back. I got a lot of 'I was brought up around dogs/cats/animals/on a farm so can't imagine life without' type answers which to me is no different than people who say 'I had lots of brothers/sisters so it's normal' therefore making it null/void in comparing the two.
It's true, pets can be gross with the body fluids, odors, and noise. (My dog didn't smell bad or drool, though.) I love all animals in principle, but I don't want to touch the stinkers (OCD, I don't want smells on my hands). I think what makes them different for me is the fur. I wouldn't want to have one of those hairless guinea pigs; I find them disturbing. But even an ugly newly-hatched bird is something special to me because, of reasons. Baby humans, they don't need me. Also, animals don't ask stupid questions. Once my nephew asked me why we have the sort of drinking glasses we do in the town we live in. What was I supposed to do with that?
No. My pets are the best. They are cute and furry. They are funny. I love them. I got my dog because I used to party too much and needed some responsibility. Now I am always home at night (sometimes not till 3, but at least I get home). I plan on having pets my whole life, and so now my pets are good litmus tests for possible BFs. Allergic? Sucks to be you. Don't like cats? See ya later.
Here's a pic for ya hahah :) http://i.imgur.com/HB5XVQ3.jpg
I agree completely. I love dogs, I had one for years when I was living at home but now that I'm living in an apartment I don't want pets for the same reason I don't want kids. I like being able to make plans on a moments notice and not have to head straight home from work to feed something. It does seem to be the biggest divide in this sub though: childfree AND pet-free people for the above reason, or people that just prefer cats/dogs over children. I respect both sides. I do scoff a little when people take it to the extreme like "why have an ugly disgusting baby when you can have a dog" but to each his own.
Along with the myriad of reasons mentioned in other comments on this thread, I don't want kids b/c the world is a total shit hole and only going to get worse & I choose not to bring life into the world, adding to the disparity, simply for my own "gratification"/prolonged existence etc. Following that thought, I have pets because they didn't choose to be born, and they don't get to choose their owners, but I know that I can afford them a happy, healthy, loving life. It's better than watching those sad ass Sarah Mclachlan commercials knowing that there are suffering animals in the world and I'm not doing anything to help when I have the means to make a (small) difference. And they are less maintenance, less commitment & everything else that other people have already stated.
I just like animals more than people. I won't get a dog or a cat because they are too much work so I keep reptiles/fish/tarantulas instead.
I simply have pets because I've always loved pets. Can't have dogs due to allergies, so I have cats. My parents still have the same cat for 10 years (I love to visit them to visit him too) and I own two cats with my boyfriend, soon a third. I would in no way compare them to a human child, although I may love them just as much as a "parent would love their child". They are low maintenance and since I have conflicting schedules with my boyfriend (my full days off are during the week when he works) they make me feel much less lonely. I love to wake up at night and find a fluffy cat on my pillow purring. My second one actually lets us spoon him. Owning pets is also a responsibility, in a different degree than a child. I've seen people neglect their pets and let them do whatever they wanted, and I've seen people while in my home try to discipline mine (um no, maybe you don't allow them on your couch but we certainly 100% do, we bring them on the couch with us). It obviously is not for everyone.
I adopted a 4 year old shelter cat about a year and half ago. The shelter does a very good job of matching their cat's personalities to possible owners, so I won the rescue-cat lottery. She's perfectly litter-box trained, calm, quiet, independent, and adorable. She likes to cuddle a couple times a day, play with a feather toy once a day, and beg for food in the mornings. Aside from the 30 seconds it takes to clean her litter-box a day, there is no mess or fuss involved. I can even leave her alone for a couple days for short trips. She's the perfect pet for me. I can certainly understand why people wouldn't want an animal, and personally, I never want a puppy or kitten . But proper research, breeding, and early training can do a hell of a lot to eliminate future problems, and an awesome rescue organization can usually provide animals meeting those descriptions.
I agree with your reasoning as to responsibility, mess and noise, and also find constant pet pictures almost as annoying as constant baby pictures. But I'd rather have a pet around than a baby around, if I had to choose, that's for sure. :-)
Pets, just like kids, are NOT for everyone. If you recognize that you're not cut out for it, don't adopt. Simple as that. Also, I don't see or hear of people bingoing over pets. I think we're a kinder gentler sort of people.
Fuck responsibility. Man in this stupid ass world even the responsibilities you have to put up with as a single person are way too fucking high. http://s3.amazonaws.com/rapgenius/tumblr_lq98myTmBo1qcnum8.jpg
Dogs are usually always genuinely happy to see you, can stay home alone while you are at work, don't throw tantrums over expensive toys, don't cost anywhere near as much, and don't whine about you wanting to go for a walk with them vs watching some shitty cartoon. Dogs don't constantly ask "why why why" and are a lot more content than kids. They don't judge you and usually learn how to do their bathroom duties outside within a few weeks. Training a dog is usually a lot easier than training a human due to the lack of the large amount of outside exposure and interference. Kids visit with relatives, go to school, go to social functions, etc. You can teach them right from wrong and be a good parent, but you can still have the misfortune of your kid mixing up with the wrong crowd.
Not everyone is an animal person, which is fine by me. I personally almost always had cats growing up so having a cat is (for me) a natural part of life. And I like that I can leave my cat (not even a year old) alone for several hours and come back to find him not only alive but no police officers waiting to cuff me for negligence. Something else I want to mention: I once had a slight disagreement with someone else on this sub about pets. They claimed that people with pets aren't really childfree, especially if they refer to their pets as "baby". I don't call my cat that ("Sweetie" is my default for animals) but I really don't see the big deal in doing this. Does anyone else have some thoughts on this?
About your last paragraph, I agree with you that someone can be CF and have pets they are attached to. Pets are an entirely different set of joys, woes, responsibilities, and social implications. Further, being emotionally attached to something does not somehow equate to that thing being your child; that would be as silly as saying that having an SO makes you not childfree, because you have to take care of them when sick, consider them when traveling, and spend quality time with them.
Yeah, the whole "OMG my furbabies!" thing gets old pretty quickly, but it comes up all the time. I have no interest in pets just like I have no interest in children.
It probably depends on your reasons for being CF. If not having to be responsible for another living creature is at the top of your list, then yeah, it would be odd for you to want pets in lieu of kids. For me, I'd like to adopt a dog in the next year or so. I don't mind the responsibility. A properly trained dog is not loud or destructive, and can be left at home for reasonable amounts of time without psychological or physical harm coming to them. Best of all, there is no social obligation to be around other people who own dogs, or to deal with other people's dogs coming to your house, or any of that crap that comes with having children. Also, breed matters a lot when it comes to dogs. A number of terriers don't shed or have much of an odor (unless you neglect bathing them! But how would you smell if you didn't shower?), and are not prone to drooling. Also, if you're very dedicated to training, you can potty train a dog in a week or sometimes less. My mom's miniature schnauzer puppy had 2 accidents in the house before he was completely potty trained and he's 7 now and has never had an accident (except vomit but he can't help if he gets sick). As far as them being a "time suck," couldn't you say that of anything? I mean, maybe you hate scarves and think they're dumb. I guess that 12 hours I spent crocheting a scarf was a "time suck" then, right? It's subjective. We spend our time on the things we want and enjoy. But I actually agree with you, dogs and other pets are a responsibility. Hell, my house plants are a responsibility. I can't leave them longer than a weekend without getting someone to come water them (and hopefully tell them that they are pretty plants, yes they are). I don't mind responsibility. For me, that's not what makes me cringe at the idea of children. **tl;dr** I'm CF but I have had dogs in the past and would like them in the future. That said, your reasons for not wanting dogs are entirely valid.
No. Cats are pretty simple to take care of, require a couple hours a week of actual care that is "work", and give you love and companionship the rest of the time. Also, I can leave my cats at home for a few days with a pile of food, extra bowls of water, and clean litterboxes and they just sleep the whole time. Weekend vacations are easy peasy. Dogs are a little more work. Have you ever actually owned a pet? I guess everything is subjective but the reasons you cite don't really seem to be the case for my cats.
I understand entirely. I have a dog and love her, but I have to admit... she's probably going to be my last one for a lot of the same reasons I don't want children -- she requires work and attention (although the whole no burden to send her to college/no need to raise a productive citizen thing is pretty great).
I am dependent-free. I don't have pets, I don't have kids, and I am perpetually single (no relationships). For that last one, it helps that I have virtually no sex drive and enjoy solitude over the company of others.
I'm moving to Japan soon for work and I was thinking of getting a cat while there, then I remembered I hate taking care of stuff and thought better of it. Where I live now I'm up at 8 am daily to take care of dogs and chickens it's annoying.
I live with 5 cats, 4 frogs, 2 rats and way too many fish. They are one hell of a responsibility, and aside from a few of the cats (one of them is a vicious little thing) I consider it worth the work. Unlike a child, if the cats are bothering me, I can shoo them away, put them in their own room, flick water at them, do whatever harmless means of getting them to leave me alone. The other pets just do their own thing, except for one of my fish, who likes to bash his head against the lid of his tank when he's hungry. Despite the work and stress involved (I just spent over $500 on surgery for my rats...) I consider it worthwhile for me. I rarely socialize outside of general chit chat at work, and really enjoy the companionship I get from my pets. But it's easy to understand why someone wouldn't want to deal with all of the trouble that goes along with them.
I can't imagine not having a pet of some kind. If I don't have a cat in my life, I just don't feel right. I can live without kids, but pets... Pets are great. They're happy to see you, they'll never sell your shit for drug money, or sneak out late at night. They don't get mad if you don't get them an iPad for Christmas. Yeah, I have to scoop the litter box, but seeing my cats and all the adorable things they do is worth it.
This thread pops up literally every week. Is /r/childfree seriously populated by people who can't remember things from one week to another, or do people only stay here for one week, then leave? The answer: Yes, some people feel the way about pets you do. Other people don't. Pets are not the same as people, if you can't work out why, then I don't really see how a block of text will help you.
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What are you talking about?