I literally don't know what life would be like without a dog or a cat. Or any animal, for that matter. My first cat was 2 months older than me, and my mom has always had cats since. My father has dogs. My stepfather had dogs, cats. My grandparents had a menagerie of critters...goats, sheep, cats, dogs, ducks, geese, rabbits...you name it. And, all were pets.