Out-purr-ing of Love

When it comes to expressing adoration, these caring felines prove they have more than their nine lives worth of love to give.

Change Of Character

"My cat stayed In bed with me the entire time I had [the virus]. I was shocked because he's usually an a**hole."

– GaryNOVA

Jacky Boy

"Just existed. When I moved schools my sophomore year my mom got me an old man cat named jack. He was the one I talked to after and before school. He was the one who waited for me by the door when I got home. He was the one who cuddled me at night making sure I wasn't lonely or cold. He never left my side as long as I was home and it did more for me than words can express.

When you're a confused teenager who's whole world was just turned upside down due to your mom moving in with her a**hole boyfriend, all you want is a friend and that exactly what he was. If it weren't for him I wouldn't have woken up in the morning for school/work. I wouldn't have tried. I wouldn't have cared. He sadly passed away last month but I'll never forget how he changed my life. You'll never truly understand how great of an impact an animal can have until they're gone. I'll never meet another cat like him. Rest In Peace Jacky boy."

– Accomplished-Art-301

Best Mama Cat

"Back when I was rather trapped in an abusive relationship(seriously, he would threaten to kill me, and getting out took help), I was sobbing once after one of my exe's abusive episodes and his cat came up to me, put her paw on my cheek and started licking my face and purring for me, basically being the best mama cat she could be for me at that moment. I still tear up thinking about it."

– jadepalmtree

In Grief

"When I was pregnant my cat would just lay across my belly, he started this before I even knew that I was pregnant. Every once in a while he would lick my stomach. When I miscarried he moved up to my chest and would lay his head right over my heart. It's been years but he still does it. It makes me cry sometimes but I know he had been excited about my pregnancy."

– mgentry999

"Gatita"

"A skinny stray cat showed up on my porch, so I began feeding it. A few weeks later, I was in a traumatic highway accident that left me hospitalized for a month."

"Sadly, the cat I had already owned for a few years ran away during that time, but the skinny stray stuck around and waited for me."

"Naturally, I adopted that stray cat (naming her "Gatita") and she's probably the best cat I've owned."

– RubySoledad

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Dogs

Frederick the Great presumably declared a "dog is man's best friend" – a phrase later popularized by a poem about dogs written by Odgen Nash.

But we know that when it comes to being a loyal companion, regardless of gender, dogs don't discriminate.

The Angel

"I survived stage IV cancer and a bone marrow transplant. Often I would have a hard time sleeping because of the steroids I was on w/ chemo. I would go upstairs to the den and would see some random sad commercial, or a poignant scene in a show/movie, and I would silently cry. I don't know why silently, but my dog Fry always came up; without fail. He would sleep on my tumors during my treatment. I'm not religious, but if there are angels, Fry was one. 'Acquiring a dog may be the only opportunity a human has to choose a relative.' – Mordecai Siegal."

– blueridgechic

After A Breakup

"I was going through a bad break-up and had all the classic heartbreak signs: loss of appetite, bad sleeping patterns, lethargy. If I fell asleep on the couch, my dog would (try to) pull a blanket off the back of the couch over me. If I didn't eat, she would either drag me to her full bowl or wake me up by dropping kibble on me. If I slept too long, she would drop toys on my face. Up to and including her favorite Chewing Rock. Which was a fist-sized rock she liked to chew on."

"I miss her."

– Q-Dot_DoublePrime

The Protector

"When I had home health PT after I broke my leg, my dog would lay next to me to try to prevent the physical therapist from hurting me."

– Too_tired_for_this

Doggie To The Rescue

"Saved my life."

"When I was a baby my aunt was on her phone not paying attention at all and baby me was crawling on our deck and then all of a sudden I fell into the pool my dog Zoie saw and began to bark like crazy until my aunt came over and saw me drowning. I was told I was under the water for 10 minutes and the doctors said I wouldn't make it but I survived and it's all thanks to her I literally wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her."

– Gingerkid64

More Than A Hound Dog

"When my dad had a heart attack our Border Collie/Hound dog mix would not leave his side and even kept jumping in the ambulance while they were working on him. I just know it was because nearly every Friday night he would drag her up into his lap and sing Elvis Presely's Hound Dog while rubbing her ears."

– notjawn

The Yellow Rose

"I had an aunt who loved yellow roses, but she passed away in 2013. We were very close before she passed and I was devastated. This is important."

"Six years later I was in a bad place. My medication for my mental illness wasn't working so I was spiraling pretty hard. I have a dog, a mutt who I'll call Rosy for this story. One day I was taking Rosy for a walk and contemplated how I would commit s**cide. We were walking through the woods near my house and I let her off leash. We live in the country so no leash laws or high chances of running into anyone else. I was mentally writing my note and deciding my affairs when she came back to me, carrying a yellow rose. I have no idea where she found it, but it was just the flower and leaves and no stem. After that she stuck to me like glue, which was unusual since she usually did her own thing. She even cuddled up to me that night. After that I decided I couldn't leave her, because she cared so much and something must have happened for her to bring that rose to me. My mom even had a tattoo of a yellow rose in remembrance of my aunt. She saved my life, and I don't know if she was even fully aware. But she did, and now I'm happier than ever. She's a happy four year old now, and I'm happier than ever. Thank you, Rosy, for being my best friend and partner for the last four years of my life, and my savior for the last two."

– ImperviousInsomniac

Loving Companions

Dogs and cats aren't the only ones capable of showing affection.

What's Hoppin'?

"He licked my face"

"He's a rabbit"

– insanity_banana5267

Such A Sweet Cheese

"I had a pet rat once, she was the sweetest thing. Of course, some people don't like rats because they think they're mean and dirty and things like that, but whenever I hear that I tell the story of the one time my rat bit me. I was giving her a small piece of carrot as a treat, and she was so excited that she missed the carrot and barely put her teeth on my finger instead, she didn't bite down or anything, but I guess she realized that she almost bit me, so she then proceeded to lick my finger instead, like she was apologizing for almost biting me."

"She was a really good rat."

– kasimyrmidon

Affectionate Birdie

"I had a parrot and got dumped by this girl and was heartbroken. Granted I was only 14 at the time so I just started crying."

"That bird flew down to my bed, ran up my arm and stared giving me kisses and wouldn't stop till I broke out laughing then it joined me."

"His name was Elvis, he was my buddy for about 24 years and always was at my side when I was down."

– MadLintElf

Sweet Lizard

"My gecko pinky licked my face when I was sad and laid his head on my finger."

– Solsticewolfdog

Loyal Turtle

"I was in a bad state and was crying a lot . Suddenly my baby turtle climbs on my feet and keeps staring at me. I then pick him up and keep him in my lap,he still keeps staring. I begin to laugh and then he basically puts his head in his shell and sleeps lol."

– kabir_222

I never had a pet, but only because my mother loathed them. She thought they were filthy and were just too much stress to have around the home.

When I asked her later in life why we really didn't have any pets – particularly a dog – she said I wasn't given one because my parents were concerned I would get too attached and not be able to endure the grief of a dying dog.

I remember strongly objecting to that rationale. How else would I, as a kid, be prepared to grapple with the harsh reality of mortality?

Still, I believe there is something to that line of thinking.

But although I was being protected, I feel like I've missed out on experiencing the love from a dog who would have placed its head on my lap whenever I cried like a baby during a rough time I had as a teenager. Sigh.