Have You Ever Had an Imaginary Pet?
By M. K. Albus
@MKAlubs (455)
United States
August 24, 2016 9:51am CST
When I was a kid my mother vehemently refused to allow us kids to have pets. She said pets were filthy, disease-ridden and dangerous. Animals have no place in a human home, according to her..... or even in human backyards. We begged for pets but she refused.
So I resorted to having an imaginary pet. My pet was a full-grown Bengal tiger named Raj. We went everywhere together.
As a kid I was enamored of all the big cats. I read everything I could find about mountain lions, jaguars, cheetahs, leopards, lions, lynx, bobcats, tigers, and ocelots.
As an adult I finally got my first pet; a kitty cat. I no longer needed an imaginary pet.
Have you ever had an imaginary pet? What kind of animal was it? And what did you name it?
9 people like this
11 responses
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 Aug 16
My Dad is the one who didn't like animals @MKAlubs ; although I remember a dog named Jack that we had as a child. I think that was my Mother's dog that she brought from the farm where she grew up. My Mom loved all kinds of critters. I guess that's why I've had 3 dogs, 16 cats and 3 donkeys. Not to mention running an animal shelter. I have always wanted a BIG cat though.
1 person likes this
@MKAlubs (455)
• United States
24 Aug 16
Wow, @nanette64 you really are a serious animal-lover. As a kid I read the Joy Adamson books about her pet lions and they really made me want a BIG cat. I still think it would be wonderful. As an adult, I was married for over 16 years to a wolf/dog. She was 16% Gray Wolf and 84% Siberian Husky. She managed to pull my fascination for big cats towards a fascination with wolves. She taught me so much and I miss her every day. Having known someone who worked at a wolf refuge I got to spend some intimate hands-on time with pure wolves and I wholeheartedly fell in love with all of them. They are so fascinating. Thank God for animals!
1 person likes this
@nanette64 (20364)
• Fairfield, Texas
24 Aug 16
@MKAlubs How funny you should mention wolves. I have more framed pictures and statues of wolves throughout my house than you can count. One of my dogs was an Akita. I trained him on voice and hand command from the time he was 6-weeks old. I have pictures of my Mom with her arms wrapped around a Bengal Tiger that was at a refuge in Nebraska. I prefer animals over humans.
1 person likes this
@yongcaderoriginal (101)
•
24 Aug 16
Since I was yet a kid, I do really love to have a pet either wish have it, but since it's quite uneasy to do due of my age, I couldn't buy my own. My parents never refuses to have a pet either them are also a pet lover, however it's not a part of their time to spend just to buy any animals from the pet store. Therefore, I use to have an imaginary pet but they aren't just one. Imagination is free and it's up to you if how many things would you one to imagine, thereof, I have imagined a bird, a fish, a cat, a dog, and many other pets assuming that they are around me. Until I get in my young age and therefore i will be able to provide my own pet nah ...
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39509)
• United States
25 Aug 16
i reckon i 'twas most fortunate 'n surrounded by many critters whilst i 'twas growin' 'p. momma 'tweren't too crazy 'bout 'em, but dad held his ground, lol.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99380)
• Canada
24 Aug 16
What a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing with us. I never had have an imaginary pet because always had pets growing up. We had cats, dogs, birds, fish, guinea pigs, hamster, bunnies, ducks, and even a pig. Not all at the same time though but both my parents were animal lovers. I did have a pet rock once though. His name was Fred. Pet rocks were the thing back then. lol
1 person likes this
@MKAlubs (455)
• United States
24 Aug 16
Ah yes, I remember the pet rock fad. But I never had one. Or did I? In addition to being an animal-lover I am also a rock freak. All my life whenever I see an interesting rock on the ground I will pick it up for closer inspection. If it was pretty and had good vibes I often brought it home with me. Even as I type this I have several pretty rocks sitting on my writing desk. They're just silly rocks that I've picked up on my daily walks. But I haven't considered them as pets. But maybe they are! Now I'm confused.
@Firestorm0122 (735)
• United States
24 Aug 16
When I was a child, my imaginary pet was a dog named Champ. He was a type of husky with blue eyes, very brave, and daring. I even drew pictures of him. I would tell my friends and classmates about him, but never specified he was imaginary. I knew he was, but to me he was so very real. I've had many real dogs and real cats though. We've always had animals as a part of our family, particularly dogs. Even though it's been years ago, I never forgot Champ, even if he was never actually real.
1 person likes this
@Poppylicious (11133)
•
24 Dec 16
When I was two I had an imaginary pet dog who I used to take for walks on an imaginary lead. I have no idea where he came from, or where he went. I've always preferred cats to dogs!
@LindaCPearson (2240)
• United States
24 Aug 16
I've never had an imaginary pet but I've had several real pets, including my beautiful kitty Mildred right now. I'm glad to hear you also finally have a real pet in your life. Nothing much better!
1 person likes this
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
24 Aug 16
We had pets while I was growing up.
But since I hated school and was that awkward shy girl who never spoke to anyone...I used to imagine I had a pack of wolves that ran with me. They were especially helpful in P.E., where I could imagine them running over the bleachers and howling at my school mates.
I hated P.E. more than any other class.
1 person likes this
@JellyBeanMkr (50)
• United States
24 Aug 16
In my household we always had some sort of pet, whether dogs, cats, or rodents. However I was still a child and liked to imagine that my stuffed bear was a pet and friend that responded when I spoke to it (something my real pets didn't really do).
