What would you ask your pet if they could talk? One man posed the question — and the answers are tear-jerking

For many people, their deepest bonds in life stem from companionship with their pets. A furry friend who sticks by their side, no matter what. Although this does not work in the same way as human relationships do, a Reddit user (u/godzillavkk) imagined what it would be like if pet owners could ask their pawed pal one question they would understand and answer. While one man unveiled the burning question he had for his pet cat, the post hosted a pool of imaginary, one-sided conversations of several pet owners. 

“If you could ask your pet one question that they could understand and reply to, what would you ask?” the post was titled. The Reddit user got candid about his question, which entailed a deeper meaning. “I would ask my cat why he chose me. And why he loves me. Me, someone who constantly struggles with financial issues,” he revealed. The pet owner disclosed his subpar social skills, grappling with mental health issues, solitude, and low self-esteem, which sometimes prevented him from even taking care of his pet. Yet, the feline never left his side. Weighing his weaknesses and lows, the pet owner never understood why his pet cat chose him at the animal shelter. “Why was he the only cat in that shelter who wanted me when someone else may have given him a better life?” he asked. 

The cat owner marked it as a “true story” and urged fellow pet parents to ask away their questions for their pets. A wave of heartwarming stories and questions followed. “I would ask my dog if she would be willing to let me (and others) know when she is in pain,” penned u/Elenorelore, a pet owner struggling to make ends meet with her pet’s due surgery. “Enzo, do you really miss me when I'm gone all day?” said u/BlackDogOrangeCat. “I'd ask my big girl if she forgives me for the day I tried to beat her to the rainbow bridge, I'd ask her if she's doing okay as she gets older, and what I can do to make her final days more comfortable. Then I will tell her I will meet her at the bridge soon after she gets there, so we never have to be apart,” wrote an emotional pet owner (u/foolofabaggins). 

Another moving note came from u/Little_Ad6868, who shared their story of grieving a beloved pet. The pet owner had lost a Chihuahua, their best friend, and struggled deeply with the loss. One year later, a Labrador came into their life, healing the owner’s soul. “It was such completely extraordinary, odd circumstances, and honestly, I want to ask her if Lily sent her to me because she knew I needed her,” they wrote. In an imaginary world, pets understand human words, but it's not really a complete fantasy. Dogs can recognize human words and can tell the difference between nonsense words and language. They typically associate certain sounds with an action, thus bearing close resemblance to comprehension, per the American Kennel Club.