Can pets like cats and dogs actually feel love (fish, animals, humans)
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Do wild animals that live in packs feel love for their pack mates?
Do the mothers feel love for their children, and then feel extreme sadness when one of the young die? What is the motivated factors that makes mother mammals raise their young for a bit?
I think they can. They can feel love toward one another and people. I treat mine like family members and they respond in kind.
These feelings are felt by all animals. I grew up around farms and have seen it first hand. You mentioned mothers; here is a video of how distressed cows are when they are separated from their calves. I can never understand how people who profess to love dogs and cats so much can still think it's ok to eat baby animals. <SMH>
They have done fMRIs to this effect (although the methodology is suspect in some).
Yes. Dogs really do love you.
No. They don't love anyone who feeds them.
A family dog will actually prefer praise from a loved one over food from a stranger.
Do wild animals that live in packs feel love for their pack mates?
Do the mothers feel love for their children, and then feel extreme sadness when one of the young die? What is the motivated factors that makes mother mammals raise their young for a bit?
Its more likely in social species like dogs. Part of it is because social behavior (including care or affection) for other group members favors survival of all the members of the pack.
Love is also a form of investment. If you love something you tend to take better care of it, and that benefits you especially if its a mate or your offspring. If you love your offspring and take care of them better they are more likely to survive to pass on YOUR genes.
The length of time a mammal takes care of young isn't just a matter of affection, its a matter of how long it takes that particular species to become physically independent. Mammals nurse for some given amount of time. They tend to be born at a less-developed state so it tends to take longer for them to mature physically. Also, social mammals need time to learn social behavior.
Of course this is sort of a coldly biological view, but it does help explain how the motivation started. Pet animals have also been selected over generations. Those that tended to show more affection for their humans ended up being bred and picked for pets more and more often. They get what they need from their humans and have a protected life. THAT is also a survival mechanism! Thank goodness!
I think they can. They can feel love toward one another and people. I treat mine like family members and they respond in kind.
These feelings are felt by all animals. I grew up around farms and have seen it first hand. You mentioned mothers; here is a video of how distressed cows are when they are separated from their calves. I can never understand how people who profess to love dogs and cats so much can still think it's ok to eat baby animals. <SMH>
I think they can. They can feel love toward one another and people. I treat mine like family members and they respond in kind.
These feelings are felt by all animals. I grew up around farms and have seen it first hand. You mentioned mothers; here is a video of how distressed cows are when they are separated from their calves. I can never understand how people who profess to love dogs and cats so much can still think it's ok to eat baby animals. <SMH>
I think they can. They can feel love toward one another and people. I treat mine like family members and they respond in kind.
These feelings are felt by all animals. I grew up around farms and have seen it first hand. You mentioned mothers; here is a video of how distressed cows are when they are separated from their calves. I can never understand how people who profess to love dogs and cats so much can still think it's ok to eat baby animals. <SMH>
As a child, I spent part of each summer on my relative's farm and can remember lying awake at night hearing the cows crying after they were separated from their calves.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
