> I genuinely recommend a pet, especially a cat, to any depressed person reading this comment I can second that, my first boss (excluding family cats before I

> I genuinely recommend a pet, especially a cat, to any depressed person reading this comment I can second that, my first boss (excluding family cats before I went to Uni and later had my own place) helped me through some bad spots¹ by just existing and being pleased to see me. On days I would otherwise have hibernated, getting up to make sure she had breakfast and a clean tray meant I was up and that made doing something with the day for myself much easier. She was one of my key constants through the ups & downs. And after a bad day at work, being purred at is wonderful, as was just playing around with a thing-on-a-string for her entertainment. I went a bit odd(er) during the covid lockdowns, I would have no doubt dealt even worse with the “stir-crazy” thing without her company. > with even just a modicum of income. Though if you only have “a modicum”, I strongly recommend pet insurance. Gayle was taken two years ago, after ~12.5 years as my boss, by an aggressive case of lymphoma. The diagnosis and treatment for that² cost a goodly chunk of money. I was in a position to handle that financial hit without worry, but someone working minimum wage with few savings would have had little choice but to euthanise considerably sooner to avoid a drawn-out painful end without actually properly knowing what was wrong. A couple of months after Gayle, I adopted an elderly pair (10 years each) from a local rescue. I wasn't quite ready, but the heartstrings were pulled as they'd been there for months with no interest because of their age and how shy they were, they didn't do well in the rescue & foster environments. Max (the shyest of the two) took quite some time to properly settle in and feel safe, but has since become a most affectionate companion (I am sometimes headbutted & massaged to within an inch of my life!). He unfortunately has developed a minor heart condition and had a little trouble with his waterworks³, again nothing that I can't afford to deal with but that someone living closer to their means might struggle to manage. ---- [1] FYI: I am <checks official bit of paper> “prone to bouts of bipolar behavioural activity” and have been suffered from burn out. [2] Palliative care was the only practical option really, the prognosis was such that anything else would likely have had little effect on the outcome and would have just served reduced her QoL in her final months due to vet stress and side effects. [3] neither uncommon in older males, cats and humans alike!