Wife had 2 big house cats, they would go outside some. We are out in the country but there are neighbors. Something got them dog or owl r ???> We have livestock fence, but not a gate at that time. So we wind up with a moma barn cat an then kitten you can't give away. But we got them spayed and neutered chap enough by a good vet that travels the are 100 miles any direction. OK here the funny part. Several of them follow us around outside like puppy dogs. Several will wait at the gate till we return when gone. So funny.
And my little dashound he has a half dozen little squeeky balls, he takes them to his feed and water bowls every day for eats!
There is no measure for the amount of pleasure these critters give.
Nothing replaces any loved one, be it human or critter, but the measure of importance in our live is what matters.
