Many people treat their pets like family members. So, in a fit of passion, they often cuddle and kiss their faces, even their beaks. But petting animals isn't safe. And there are three compelling reasons for this.
Threat of attack
Even the sweetest and most tame pets occasionally experience animal instincts. An innocent kiss from a cat or dog can result in scratches and bites. An animal can't get inside your head and properly assess an unexpected outpouring of affection. Therefore, your sudden approach to its muzzle may be interpreted as aggression. Instead of reciprocation, you risk injury. Even when showing affection, an animal can become carried away and bite.
For example, a pet's paw or beak could accidentally hit your eye and damage the cornea, which could result in serious injury and subsequent treatment.
Kissing is often accompanied by petting. By accidentally hurting the animal, you provoke it to respond in kind.
Dangerous to health
Pets and birds can be a source of various diseases. They themselves are often carriers of diseases that they can infect you with. Here are just a few:
- toxoplasmosis, which is especially dangerous for pregnant women;
- salmonellosis (carriers – cats, birds and rodents) and other intestinal infections;
- felinosis or "cat scratch disease";
- helminthiasis (most pets have worms);
- staph infection (through bites);
- periodontal disease (can be contracted from dogs);
- ringworm.
In some cases, even our kisses can harm our pets. For example, human saliva is dangerous for birds. So practice good hygiene, wash their bowls and paws, and don't kiss our little friends. Instead, pet them often and feed them well!
Bad omens
There aren't many superstitions associated with kissing pets. For example, folk wisdom holds a prejudice against cats: women shouldn't kiss them, lest they become lonely. Or if a person kisses a beloved cat on the nose, they risk becoming its slave. The treacherous animal will gain power over the person, and they will serve it their entire life, oblivious to everyone else. Whether this is true is difficult to say. But judging by cats' behavior, we've all long been enslaved to them.
