I have owned cats practically my entire life, I grew up with them. Listing all their names would rival the genealogy of Jesus Christ, located in the bible. Only twice in my life have I not had a cat by my side, those times combined only equal 4 months. So when I hear about studies that "discover" house cats know how to get attention*, I go, well duh. Other studies that make me roll my eyes are the ones that "discover", cats sleep a lot, I say to that, define a lot.
Give me one month with a cat and I will learn pretty much all there is to learn about that cat. Animals don't have emotions, they only have instincts. That is a load of bull. I am surprised when I hear about how many people actually believe that ONLY humans have emotion. I guarantee that none of these people have had a house pet for a long time and actually cared enough to pay attention to their companion. Animals get jealous, territorial, angry, depressed and exited just like humans do. Now I can't say for certain that animals have the same range of emotions that people can experience but at times it is more than obvious that emotions are there.
This is almost a debate of evolution vs. creationism. Every mammal is an animal, humans are mammals, humans are animals, humans have emotions... so do animals. Now even if you do believe in creationism you can't ignore that Jack Russell terrier jumping at the door when you get home because he is 'happy' to see you or that 'angry' Siamese cat hissing because the newborn baby is getting all the attention. If you still want to say that those responses are just instincts, what makes you think that human emotion isn't just instinct?
Pets are our companions, they give of company, comfort and even confirmation that we aren't the only ones with a heart.
*http://www.boingboing.net/2009/07/13/how-cats-manipulate.html
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