Pets
None of this is expert advice. It's what people worked out for themselves, usually the hard way — what actually helped, and what they'd tell someone standing where you are. Take what fits and leave the rest.
If you only read a few
Record audio of your pets making happy sounds, such as purring or barking.
You can listen to these recordings when you miss them or need help sleeping.
3 people, independently
Rely on a puppy's inability to hold their bladder to wake up early.
The fear of them peeing in the bedroom forces you out of bed.
one person who lived it
Show pets nail clippers to make them slink away and provide peace.
One person reported that one peek at the clippers results in hours of peace.
one person who lived it
If your pet rejects purchased toys, take them to the store to choose their own.
Pets know what they like better than owners do.
- Some stores do not allow pets inside.
- Some owners are unwilling to make special trips for this purpose.
one person who lived it
Store digital assets in several places, using both cloud services and separate physical drives.
Physical drives fail within a few years, flash storage is unstable, and one technical glitch can wipe out all key files simultaneously.
5 people, independently
Search for 'cat tv' or 'dog tv' on YouTube to distract pets during Zoom calls.
One person found their cats stopped bothering them during calls.
one person who lived it
Play with your cats using a laser pointer every night before turning off the light, and on non-work days before getting out of bed.
It may help reduce them bothering you while you try to sleep.
one person who lived it
Let new pets come to you first rather than forcing interaction, respecting their need for space.
Approaching them constantly is like having a stranger pick you up; they need space.
one person who lived it
Treat your pets as family rather than just pets, giving them every second of love and attention they deserve since their lives are short.
Most people treat them merely as pets, but they want love and attention.
one person who lived it
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Record videos of your pets now to avoid regretting the lack of footage later.
Smartphone technology was not widely available in the past, leading to few recordings of older pets.
one person who lived it
Tell your pet where you are going and how long you will be before leaving the house.
To prevent them from thinking you are leaving because you have things to do.
one person who lived it
Leave nail clippers visible on your desk to deter dogs from interrupting work or homework.
One person's dog side-eyes them instead of interrupting.
- One person found no solution for cats.
one person who lived it
Recognize that parents, not children, are ultimately responsible for caring for a family pet.
Most children stop caring for the pet within a month; failing to accept this responsibility can lead to rehoming the animal.
one person who lived it
Allow your dog to dry its face on you after drinking water as a form of cuddle time.
One person noted this served as cuddle time for a dog that normally wouldn't come for attention.
one person who lived it
If you accidentally hurt a pet, say sorry in a gentle voice while giving them space.
They are smart enough to learn you didn't mean harm and may associate the word with clumsy actions.
one person who lived it
Set a bedtime routine involving pats and snuggles with your pet to help calm down from the day.
It helps the owner calm down and provides dedicated time for the pet.
one person who lived it
Understand that pets may prefer family members who feed them, care for them, and remain calm without sudden movements.
One person noted pets liked them more because they fed/cared for them and were calmer than their ex-husband.
one person who lived it
Print physical copies of great photo moments and frame some of them.
Digital data can last but is not always available; a physical picture you'll have forever.
2 people, independently
Remember that if your pet is clingy, it is because you are their world and it is not their fault that they rely on you.
one person who lived it
Avoid spraying cats with water bottles for bad behavior, as they interpret it as personal hostility rather than correction.
Cats do not associate the spray with the bad action; they view the sprayer as a jerk.
one person who lived it
Save digital pet memories to an external drive or cloud storage to prevent loss from phone damage or theft.
Phones can be stolen or wear out, risking the loss of these files.
one person who lived it
Document mundane, everyday interactions with your pet rather than just special occasions.
Listening to recordings of simple moments, like a cat purring on your lap, can bring smiles and comfort later.
one person who lived it
Introduce your significant other to your friends early on.
It helps friends know the person is stable; also, avoid only complaining about your partner to friends, as this creates bad opinions.
one person who lived it
Hold the camera frame steady for five seconds before stopping a video recording.
It prevents an abrupt stop feeling and provides room for editing.
one person who lived it
End playtime with a meal to trigger natural hunting-eating-grooming-sleeping cycles and help high-energy cats settle down.
Hunting followed by eating activates washing time and naptime.
one person who lived it
Take photos from your pet's eye level or lower to create more natural-looking images.
This angle makes pictures and movies look more natural.
one person who lived it
Play 'Sailor's Hornpipe' (the Popeye theme) on a squeezebox to make cats leave the room.
One person called it a 'gentle cat laxative' because the cat exits immediately.
one person who lived it
Share the duty of snuggling your pet with a partner by passing it back and forth while getting ready in the morning.
one person who lived it
Do not assume placing a pet on an anxious person's lap will provide comfort, as some pets may not respond.
one person who lived it
Stop and start recording whenever you do something great to isolate clips for easy finding later.
This makes clips easy to find when putting together a montage.
one person who lived it
Reflect on whether you are treating your pet like an accessory to decorate your life without requiring much work.
one person who lived it
Treat pets as companions rather than worshipers or ego inflators; earn their affection through respect for their individuality.
Relationships with pets improve drastically when you remember they are companions, not there to worship humans.
one person who lived it
Give your pet undivided attention when you are bored.
Pets deserve focused attention.
one person who lived it
Use positive reinforcement, such as treats, to encourage cooperation during necessary but unpleasant procedures like nail clipping.
Associating the procedure with rewards motivates compliance without force.
one person who lived it
Recognize that dogs may distinguish between different types of outings based on who puts on shoes.
one person who lived it