What Is A 'Soul Pet' And How Do You Know If You've Found Yours?

Pets are more than just animals. They deserve the warmth and protection of a home, the comfort of some of the best dog beds, and the love of a family, because they're family, too. Without even trying, dogs, cats, and other pets can form a powerful, unbreakable bond with their owners unlike any other. Thousands of people who have experienced this bond refer to the pet as their "soul pet." Like a soul mate, a soul pet involves the belief that a specific animal is destined to be in someone's life based on their intense emotional connection.

Some people have more than one soul pet in their lifetimes, but others have only one despite having multiple pets. So, how do you know when you've found your soul pet? The answers vary from person to person, as they can involve variables like personality, species, breed, previous experiences, age, and other factors. However, if there's one thing they all have in common, it's that they include an emotional attachment, a deep love, and a palpable difference compared to other pets the person has owned.

Both pet owners and veterinary experts have offered their thoughts on the topic on social media, in magazine interviews, and in other places. More specifically, they shared the criteria that a pet must meet to gain the title of "soul pet."

When you truly love a person, you want to be near them. You look forward to spending time together and enjoy each other's company, which may include physical touch. Many people feel this same way about their pets, but not all pets reciprocate the sentiment. Certain animals and breeds tend to be less affectionate than others, so while some welcome the proximity and touch of their owners, others do not. This lack of reciprocation could prevent a close human-animal bond from forming. On the other hand, if you find yourself wanting to be close to your pet and it joyfully returns your affection as if it were born to love you, there's a good chance you've found your soul pet.

It's easy to know when a pet loves being around you, particularly a dog or cat. It'll follow you around the house, cry if you're in your closed bedroom without it, cheerfully greet you at the front door when you come home, or jump on the sofa or lay on the floor next to you the moment you sit down. Or, if it's a cat, it might rub its face against your leg or headbutt you. A soul pet just can't get enough of you, and you can't get enough of it, either. You may not even know why you feel so drawn to it, but the connection feels natural. A soul pet will do that to you.

Of course, most animals can't speak, but dogs, cats, and other species can definitely understand certain things when their owners speak. It might be a command, a question, a complaint, or a praise. They hear specific words and phrases so often that they know how to interpret them. Someone with a soul pet might be able to interpret their companion's means of communication as well, whether it's audible or physical.

One pet parent on Reddit claimed they could decipher their soul cat's meows and body language, stating, "I understood what he meant by his tone and expression." They continued, "I could always predict his behavior, what he'd like/not like, and he'd seek me out for protection, even when startled, instead of hiding."

A soul pet might be able to understand what you need in return, even when you don't use words. Many dogs can also sense their owners' sadness or depression and respond by resting their heads on their lap or just sitting beside them. This simple act has the power to create a deep and emotional connection, converting a regular pet to a soul pet.

In many households, people spend more time around their pets than with their significant other or other family members they live with. Pets obviously don't have to go to work or school like humans do. They can't run errands (although we wish they could), and many follow their owners around the house from room to room. Perhaps yours is one of them. They're there when you wake up and come home. They're there when you sit down to relax or when you have a bad day and need a good cry. They're the relationship that remains, even when certain human ones don't.

Whether you've had a pet for years or just a few months, these tender moments together can accumulate quickly. Before long, you realize that some of your favorite or emotion-filled home memories and even recollections of outdoor adventures or trips include your pet. Moving from one place to another, dealing with a breakup or loss of a loved one, people watching on the front porch, RV-ing across the country, and so on. If a pet is part of your personal journey, it becomes a soul pet, attached to you in its own unique, special way.

Any pet can give you a sense of purpose, but that doesn't necessarily equate to giving you joy or improving your mood. It does for a soul pet, though. It might be from feeling the paws of your cat kneading your lap, touching its soft fur (or feathers), or having it rub its head against you. It might be witnessing its joy in seeing you come home from work every day that feeds your happiness. One Redditor shared this feeling with their soul pet, stating, "Everything just feels better when they're around, and you know that the feeling is mutual."

Some pet owners can feel happier as a result of having a soul pet, even when they aren't in the room. Researchers have studied this correlation between mood and pets for years and continue to find proof that pets can, in fact, improve their owners' disposition. One 2013 study published in PLoS One found that anxiety levels dropped for children with autism after they played with guinea pigs. Therapy dogs are also used to reduce anxiety and other negative emotions in hospital patients. Although an animal doesn't have to be a soul pet to have this effect on people, the effect is sometimes what causes it to become a soul pet, especially when it's consistent.

You may already suspect that you've found your soul pet, but sometimes it takes its absence to truly confirm it. The intense relationship between a human and a soul pet usually equates to spending a lot of time together, and the love is undeniable. However, the truth no pet owner wants to face is that one day, we have to say goodbye. This loss can be painful and overwhelming. "Even after they're gone, a soul pet leaves a permanent imprint on your heart," Dr. Liza Cahn, a Seattle-based veterinarian, told Newsweek.

She added that soul pets can essentially leave a scar that no other pet can heal. One former dog owner confirmed this in a Reddit post, sharing, "I lost my buddy of 15 years ... I truly doubt I'll be getting another dog ... I think I found my guy, and we had a good run, and he was far better than I deserved, but I think to me that's what a 'soul pet' is." This person's experience mirrors that of others who have lost a soul pet. 

Some pets simply cannot be replaced because of the heart scars they leave behind. Sometimes, a specific human-animal bond is so deep that it can happen only once in a lifetime. A soul pet can touch our lives while it's in it, and beyond, and we're lucky to have such wonderful bonds with our furry, and feathered, companions.