Do you own a Furkid?

[Elaine]

My cats are cats, I love them dearly, spoil them rotten and wouldnt be apart from them. As Eva is very talkative, I do tend to have conversations with her as if she were human, simply for my own amusement . I try to understand them as cats, although i still dont understand why Eva ****s on the floor . The only time I was very doubtful about taking a holiday was when Winston was ill, I was afraid I'd never get the chance to say goodbye, but I did go on holiday and he was always here on my return, bless his old bones. We have a pretty good set up by where Graham and I have different ideas on what a holiday should be and so we very rarely go away together, so one of us is always here, no need for cattery's. I dont think Eva would cope with a cattery anyway.
No, they are not furkids, they are my highly amusing and very beautiful cats.

[mumof3]

I have 4 children and 9 grandchildren so my 3 kittens are not surrogate children, they are just very loved CATS!

[PoshPuss]

I chose my doggie Bron and my cat Posh, chose us! )

They are both furkids but they share in a happy extended family hom, where their 'aunties' sit them and 'cousins' pet the. Although they are not human, I give them the same love and regard as I do my human family. They get the same attention to their health, and other basic needs met. You can't put a measure on love and compassion and it should extend to all creatures.

I think think the term 'furkids' is a fun way of saying, I care for them as I would another person; and if truth be told I prefer my furkids than many 'flesh kids' I could think of... except my own of course!

[yola]

For a long time before I had the boys, I was fairly certain that I would not have children - not a 'feeling', but medical (almost) fact. And I desperately wanted them.

So the cats, especially Balie who has always been 'my' cat, is probably the definition of a furkid as intended in the discussion. He has been indulged, cuddled, brushed, hand-fed, spoilt, has slept on my pillow, been carried around . . . I've never done stuff like dressing him up or silly stuff like that, he's always been a cat, but he has had significant slices of attention.

Now, he is still loved (as is Fifi), cared for and fussed and when the house was broken into, my first terror was as to whether they had got out but they are no longer the 110% focus they used to be.

[catsmum]

I see mine as friends in fur coats We don't have kids and they are not substitute children but I love them dealry and would go to the ends of the earth for them. We're not saying never to children but at the moment and for the immediate future it is "cats not kids". I do feel differently about Jefferson, we have a strong bond but I know he is a cat but I love him dearly. I had an ache when we lost Jasper and Amber. it is so different when they are your pets and not the ones you lost as a child when you lived at home. Your pets are your responsibility and you make the decisions and are responsible so I guess perhaps my maternal instincts are towrds my cats but they are not a substitute. I love the term furkids it is really cute I think you have to have a happy medium balance between the 2

[Daisy-Doo]

Nope, mine are definitely not a baby substitute. They are my little companions, and I feel very privileged to have them in my life. I try to do the very best for them within my means, and I love each and every one of them dearly. They get a good diet, attention when they want it, and a cozy place to sleep. They roam through the house as they please and sleep wherever they want. But I don't see them as children.
I can no longer go on holiday because of one of my ferrets, as he eats things he shouldn't and I dare'nt take the risk of leaving him with anyone else. I would be devastated if anything happened to him.

However, I'm definitely in the minority here, as I loathe the terms 'furbabies' and 'furkids' for animals. Sorry, no offence meant to anyone that uses them, as it's each to their own, but that's all a bit sickly for me. I have 7 companion animals....Two cats and five ferrets.
Mine are what they are - 7 truly wonderful, carnivorous predators

[Darky]

I do consider my pets as children of sorts, because I'm horribly maternal for a bloke. However, I am sensible enough to see them as animals, because if I didn't I don't think I'd be able to care for them properly.

Pets are also a hobby to me, and I love researching how best to care for them - though, I'll probably be the same when I have kids. XD

They always seem 'more than just pets', though, due to the level of companionship that they provide.