Emotional links to animals and pets

She's a Kune Kune cross Potbellied. She stands no taller than our Labrador, although she's a bit fatter!

That reminds me of what Kevin Richardson said about being with animals. He said that if he had to choose between a human and a lion if ever stuck on a desert island, he'd choose a lion, because they are much easier to read and he knew where you are much better with a lion. 

Bureaucrats, eh?

My flat is my own, so no one can stop me having g cats, though there are byelaws for the building that rule against having exotic pets. 

No Savannahs for me then, even if I were rich. Always suspected one of my cats is a Bengal cross though, but that could be vanity.

What kind of a pig is Reu?

I like cows - I used to walk through a field of cows everyday on the way home from school. They 'feel' your presence & energy and decide whether they like you or not. I just made enough small noise so they knew I was there and which direction I was going - don't ever want to catch them by surprise.

I could sit down in the field and they'd come and investigate me. No malice or anything - just curious and nosey. Never had any trouble with them - even when calves were around.

Note: I think it's important to stress that I'm not comparing autistic people to animals in a general, derogatory sense, but specifically the way the environment is experienced. 

I used to think that cows, sheep, pigs and chickens were sort of 'basic' animals that stood around doing/thinking nothing all day, but then I realised that they're the same as anything else (e.g. dog, cat, us) in that they experience a range of emotions, form bonds, play, have families, etc. I don't know how I didn't see that before. I think cognitive dissonance is the correct term for this. Cows in particular are actually pretty smart. They can solve problems (e.g. using a water pump) and jump around with joy when they're happy. It's very sweet actually.

In general I think that there is a link between the way autistic (especially non-verbal) people and animals experience their sensory world. I think this is due to under-developed verbal processing and over-developed smell/taste/hearing. Similar to animals.

Not Vegan but vegetarian, have been since I was 4 and saw a TV programme on meat processing! I'm almost militant in my belief that nothing needs to die for me to live.

I can relate to your story. In general I would have to echo what others have said in that I tend to relate better to animals to humans.

I don't think this is because they are more precious, it's just that their signals are easier to understand. It may be why I'm also vegan - I can't stand the thought of eating something that didn't want to die if I don't need it.

In general I don't agree with linking autism to other issues (e.g. LGBT, feminism, age positivity etc), as is becoming the current trend. But there is clearly a strong link between autistic people and animals.

I didn't know I was an 'animal person' until adulthood as I was never allowed to have pets growing up. But now my pets positively enrich my life.

Believe me I tried all of that. Piggy was actually bought for us all on the grounds of being a compaion as we were both suffering with our mental health at the time. That's exactly what I threatened them with a solicitor for. No chance!

We had a little black cat, Annie. We had her from when she was smaller than a tennis ball.  She spent her first night with us in bed snuggled in my armpit.

She never grew up – she stayed as a kitten her whole life – probably because of the way we interacted with her. She was a real personality. She used to love to play fetch using those foam hair-curlers coiled into spring shapes that bounced unpredictably. She chatted all the time to us (cat owners will know what I mean).

She only ever caught one bird in her life when she fell on it from out of a tree.

When we used to go on holiday, she used to board with the in-laws. They were dog-people. Their Lab was terrified of our little ball of fun.

She died some years ago, a 19-year old kitten.

The in-laws never realised a cat could be so much fun so when their Lab died, they got a kitten. The most miserable, cantankerous, antisocial cat, ever.

I think animals reflect their owners.

That is so sad

Question: have you tried saying she's a therapeutic pig? It's not a joke. I don't know which steps you should take to make that possible, but there are people who have been able to keep their animals that way. And she seems very important to you.

I've got three cats, two dogs. One female red cat, who seems more dog at times. Two males who are very 'untough', and when they get into squarrels with neighbourhood cats, I have to go out and save them

I'm highly allergic to cats and one of my dogs

Do you think there's more empathy between those on the spectrum than we can have for those not?

I can't describe the feeling of lose too well either. We have lots a pets. At present we still have 12 chinchillas but we have lost 3 in the past 12 months. I go through the ritual of saying goodbye and burying them. I don't cry, I just can't understand why they are gone. We lost our oldest one this summer, he was 14 years old. There's a hole, a piece missing. Maybe it's a reflection of the fact I don't like change and that the truth is things can't last that way forever.

I still see piggy a few times a week, take her for walks and talk to her. Still every time I have to say goodbye and leave her there until the next visit

Thank you. Well you’ve been part way there, it doesn’t matter in what form, a loss is still a loss and it hurts like you’ve been stabbed and the wound never heals over. That’s how I feel every single day and sometimes expressing those emotions is so difficult. I ‘felt’ for you as well when reading your post, I could feel how hurt you were which is why I decided to tell you about Senna.

The one good thing here is that at least Reu is still a part of you and your life. Do you see her often?

I watched Chris Packhams documentary last year, before I even though about being on the spectrum was a possibility. It was strange, because what he said, what he described, his emotions, they struck a chord with me then, it made me stop and think, "could that be me"? The thought passed and it wasn't until this year when it was offered to me as an explanation that I remembered. I've found his film online and watched it again, I felt I really understood the deep lose he felt with the bird he had in his teens and definitely that lack of giving a care for anonymous authority figures.

Thanks for the kind words again. Just having 'people' I can talk to and understand is the greatest gift I could ask for

Thank  you. I read your story the other day. It's strange, because if I'm talking with NT people I find it hard to even care what they have to say, sorry if I sound cold, but thats the truth, but reading your post and what you've just said I actually 'felt' for you, I actually felt like I understood what you were trying to express and the deep cutting sadness that the empty hole that is left behind causes.

This is a sad tale.  I'm sorry that Reu is no longer living with you.  But you know she's in safe hands and that you can see her when you wish.  Hopefully, if things change in the future, you will be able to get her back again.

I feel certain that, without my rescue cat Daisy, I could easily have given up on life when my mother passed away last year.  I could have drunk myself to an early grave.  But I had Daisy to be responsible for.  She was happy with me after a miserable early life, and she is reliant on me.  I've not doubt that if anything happened to me, she would have no trouble finding another happy home through the rescue charity I adopted her from.  But if anything happened to her, then I really don't know what I'd do.  My life revolves around her now.  I put her needs before my own, in many ways.  She is a tie for me - I can't go anywhere unless she can come with me (I won't put her in a cattery) - but I knew that at the outset.  And I'm sure I owe my life to her, as I said.  I remember reading that Chris Packham became suicidal after losing one of his dogs, and it was only the intercession of friends that got him through.  We do form a close bond with our pets.  Closer, I think, than the bonds NTs feel.  They don't stab us in the back.  They don't gossip about us. They don't bully us.  They're always loyal and trustworthy.

I know how you must be hurting.  Like I said, I hope things can change in the future.

Hi,

I'm sorry you, your family and your lovely pig Reu went through all that tragedy. I'm lucky to live in a house we bought, but I know rental owners can be so stupid sometimes. So long as you were looking after the place who really cares? There are some people who are far messier than pigs and ruin the homes they rent. My dad is a landlord, he does up houses and rents them out, and he's very fair. I just told him about this and he said he would have rented the house on the terms that he could see the property every month or two just to make sure it's still being kept well, which really, is all your landlords had to do.

I think that's adorable that you had Reu. My Grandad used to have a pet pig, he loved him very much.

I'm sorry that you're hurting now. I'm not surprised. Animals are like people, we become attached and they fill a special place in our hearts which just can't be replaced when they're taken away from us. I used to own a dog called Senna and she was gorgeous, she had the most golden fur imaginable, like the sun and was such a happy and warm dog. Always brought a smile to my face, even on the saddest days like when I lost my sister. Even through all that Senna could still make me smile, just by being there.

I haven't told anyone this before. But last year an owner's dog attacked me when I was walking Senna, I have a scar on my right leg where it bit me - pain was excruciating!! Even when I was nearly dying in hospital with the flu wasn't as bad as that pain - and Senna jumped in and saved my life, sadly she sustained a nasty bite from the dog that bit me and that dog was put down, and so was Senna because her injuries were too severe to repair.

Some people don't deserve animals because they don't give them enough love, care and attention. It's people like you who should have pets because you clearly love them and give them all the care and attention in the world! I miss Senna every day, just like I miss my sister, they were both a part of my world and I would give anything to have them both back in my life again.

I'm so sorry about Reu, but I am glad she's still a part of your life. I'm sorry your landlords aren't more open minded about these things, Reu sounds totally adorable