The saying goes…you get out of it what you put into it. Wise words, I’m sure you will agree. And mostly true. Except when it comes to my pets.

Over the years I have learned that while I like animals, pets are not the wonderful ‘blood pressure lowering,’ ‘always giving,’ ‘lovable’ creatures they’re made out to be. I call it the pet owner conspiracy.

Case in point: My pets. We have 3 cats, several goldfish, and a dog. They are all a big stressor in my life. I have tried to get the benefits I’m supposed to get out of them, starting with petting the furry creatures (the fish don’t seem to like this so I’ve given up on them). Seems like a win-win situation, doesn’t it? I get to relax with the soothing motion and they get, well, petted. Except…every time I pet my cats, my allergies kick up. So I startle them with my sneezes and then I get claw marks all over my body as they briefly freak out. Then I have to get up and blow my nose, which ruins the whole relaxation effect, as well, because now I’m standing up and the cat has fled the scene. And every time I pet our one cat, Beanie (we used to call her Sabrina – but that’s just too nice a name – now she’s Needy Beanie), it just kicks in her neediness and she gets all clingy and the claws come out so she can cling even better and she goes nuts if you try to stop petting her. When I try to pet our lab, she ends up chewing on my hand.

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