Happy Mother's Day: A Letter from the Pets Who Call You Mom

By: Tank the Chocolate Labrador & Madam Fluffington, Persian Cat

Curated by Petworld.co.za – where fur families are everything.

Dear Mom,

We know you’re busy. There’s always something—work, laundry, vacuuming fur off the curtains (you’re welcome). But today, we ask you to pause. Just for a moment.

Because it’s Mother’s Day, and while there are brunches and flowers for moms of the human kind, we believe fur-moms like you deserve something better.

A letter. From us. Your four-legged children, chosen and cherished.

Dog Mom Moments: How Adoption Changed My Life (From Tank, Your Chocolate Labbie)

Hi Mom. It’s me. Tank.

You probably can’t read this without imagining me sprinting through the house with wet paws, but please... stay seated.

I wasn’t always this lucky. Before you, I lived behind bars, with concrete floors and barking that never stopped. I didn’t know what “home” meant until you whispered, “You’re safe now.”

You gave me more than shelter. You gave me belonging. And science agrees: studies have shown that adopted pets like me experience reduced stress and better behavioural outcomes when placed in stable, loving homes (ASPCA, 2022).

When you adopted me, you didn’t just save my life — you changed yours. You made space for loyalty so big, it wags.

“Adopting a pet is not just rescuing them; they also rescue you from a life without their love and companionship.”
— Karen Davison, Animal Welfare Advocate

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Madam Fluffington: A Persian Cat’s Perspective on Being Truly Loved by Her Cat Mom

Greetings.

As you know, I’m not a rescue. I’m a reclamation.

“Every cat is an introverted philosopher.”
— Unknown (Possibly your cat.)

But I do remember the glass cage, the children tapping on it, the noise. I remember shrinking into corners and pretending I was invisible. Then you came. No tapping. No fuss. Just kindness. Quiet. Respect.

You saw my potential. You saw that I wasn't just a kitten—I was someone.

Research from Oregon State University shows that cats form secure attachment bonds to their humans, just like dogs and even babies do. So despite what Tank may tell you, my affection is not transactional. It is profound.

And, yes, I did shed on your new sofa. It needed character.

What It Means to Be a Pet Mom: Chosen Motherhood, Emotional Labor & Real Love

You don’t have human children. Or maybe you do. But what we know is this:

You mother.

You choose love every day. When you skip dinner plans because someone’s limping. When you carry me during a thunderstorm. When you hold Tank’s paw at the vet and pretend you’re not scared too.

It’s not biology that makes you a mom. It’s the small, consistent, invisible choices that say: “You matter.”

Social science calls it nurturant caregiving—the act of emotionally investing in another being's safety and development. Whether it’s for a child, partner, or companion animal, the emotional labour is real. And it transforms you. - The Managed Heart: Commercialization of Human Feeling by Arlie Russell Hochschild

The Real Life of a Pet Parent: Chaos, Cuddles & Unconditional Love

Let’s take a moment to appreciate everything you’ve done in your role as our fur mom:

Sacrificed your sleep when Tank had “tummy trouble” (after that bin incident)

Brushed me for 45 minutes, and still found fur on your dinner plate

Googled, “why is my cat staring like she knows something I don’t?” (she did)

Cancelled your Friday night because someone had separation anxiety (again, Tank)

You’ve learned our rhythms, our preferences, our triggers. You’ve become a translator of tail wags and meows.

And do you know what else? We’ve changed you too.

Studies from the NIH show that interacting with companion animals improves cardiovascular health, reduces loneliness, and even increases lifespan. (News in Health, 2018)

So if you’re wondering whether you’re “just” a pet mom? Not a chance, you're everything.

“The bond between humans and animals is truly magical. As veterinarians, we have the honor of being there for both in times of need.”
— Anonymous Veterinarian

Labrador Love: Tank’s Heartfelt Mother’s Day Message to His Dog Mom

You’ve taught me so much, Mom. How to wait. How to trust. That bath time isn’t punishment, it’s love (debatable).

And while I may never graduate college or give you grandchildren, I do something else: I greet you like sunshine. I follow you room to room. I lay my head on your lap when you’re sad — and that, science says, can help regulate your nervous system through heart-rhythm synchronisation. (HeartMath Institute)

In dog years, I may be getting older. But in my heart, I’m still that little pup who believed you hung the moon.

Cat Mom Appreciation: Madam Fluffington’s Message for Mother’s Day

Let’s be clear: I am not easy.

I am discerning. Dramatic. Slightly unhinged at 3:00 AM.

But you… you never asked me to be less. You never forced affection. You simply made space, and I stepped into it.

That’s what real mothering is, isn’t it? Creating a world safe enough for someone to become themselves.

You gave me silence when I needed it. Laughter when I didn’t. And a catnip mouse that I pretend not to like but absolutely maul when no one’s watching.