Pets

We love our cats and dogs, and some people collect other species: birds, snakes, horses, pigs, lizards, insects.

It seems to me however that one function, the MAJOR function of a pet is in the name: we need to touch.

Cats love to be petted, dogs love to be petted and scratched. We love to touch them -- there's a primeval pleasure we mammals derive from physically touching. Elephants are big touchers, dolphins are big touchers, and of course all primates are big touchers.

Reptiles not so much.

Birds seem to preen themselves and occasionally other birds, so maybe they're touchers too.

The name "pet" seems hard to apply to any animal outside the mammal kingdom.

Birds do like to be touched, but you have to know how to do it right.

I can't understand why people try to make pets of reptiles. They're not cuddly in any way shape or form, and if they are big enough, they consider you food. That just doesn't meet the definition of "pet" for me.

Yeah. Pet snakes make no sense.

The kids next door have pet chickens.
Many years ago, I knew a couple who had a pet lion (named Jenny).

Different strokes, I guess.

Lions probably like to be touched.

But only by somebody who isn't "food."

There's an old canard somewhere about "housecats would eat you if they could."

Jenny did like being petted. She was only a kitten the few times I saw her. About 20-25 pounds, but still a kitten.