The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect...wait...Demand that We Follow! Part 2

May 21, 2026

The Unwritten Rules Pets Expect Humans to Follow

Continued...

Rule #4: Fresh Food...Full Bowl Please

You may think filling the food bowl is enough.

Nope.

You may think that having plenty of food in the bowl is enough.

Nope.

Inact Rule #4...The bottom of the bowl shall not be visible--at all! It's simple. If they can see the bottom of the bowl, there isn't enough food in the bowl. If they can see the bottom of the bowl, then obviously, you have not done your job.

To ensure adherence to this very important rule, many pets insist on:

escorting you to the bowl
supervising food preparation
or standing beside the food...eyeing you as they bo...as though every morsel materialized exclusively through their management

Admittedly, it took me a while to catch onto this rule. I would see a bowl full of food with a gap in the center where they had eaten already. Silly me. I would think: "Hey! They've got plenty left!" They would think: "Hey! My bowl is empty! I can see the bottom? Can't you see the bottom?"

To comply, it simple: Either 1) Fill the bowl; or 2) Smoosh the food to cover any gaps (this is what I do! Don't tell anyone!)

Rule #5: Your Work Is Secondary to Their Schedule

Pets do not care about:

deadlines
meetings
emails
or productivity goals

Just ask Cali. Cali is well-known for her constant companionship. This means 'working' with me in the office. Which means, settling on my lap as I work. The nesting process is the trouble spot here. Because as she 'nests' her tail flips and flails.

No big deal, right?

Well, it kinda is. Because with every flip...regardless of how protective I am of my screen...her tail finds my touchscreen. Which on more than one occasion has meant 'picking' up a group of folders and 'dropping' them into another folder--leaving me scrambling.

For more, we could have asked Neyland. If it’s time for attention, it’s time for attention.

This often includes:

sitting on keyboards
blocking computer screens
or strategically attacking my ankles (aka her play-toys)

And keep in mind, this was Neyland--no closed doors allowed. Actually, I had to get another companion/playmate for Neyland to distract in order to get some work done.

Regardless, somehow, both Neyland and Bocce would always look offended when I attempted to continue working.

Rule #6: The Bed Belongs to Them First

You may technically pay for the bed.

But 'technically' is the key word here. Because that information means nothing to your pets.

By bedtime, an invisible agreement has already been established:

they choose the sleeping positions
you adjust accordingly
everyone pretends this arrangement is fair

I remember my Mammaw Brown saying of bad drivers, "Well, they're taking their half out of the middle." Have you heard that saying?

I've constantly had pets that claimed the middle of the bed. I know I am not alone here because many pet owners end up sleeping on approximately 14% of the mattress while trying not to disturb a peacefully sleeping pet.

Why Pets Love Routine and “Rules”

As funny as these habits are, there’s actually something deeper behind them.

Pets thrive on predictability.

Routines help them:

feel secure
understand their environment
strengthen bonds with their humans
and reduce stress or uncertainty

Over time, repeated behaviors become shared rituals. Essentially, they become rules.

And eventually, those rules start feeling less like chores and more like points of connection.

That’s why even the most ridiculous pet rules somehow become meaningful.

Because they aren’t really about control.

They’re about familiarity, trust, and companionship.

The Funny Thing About It All

Most of us start out believing we’re training our pets. Neyland was my first pet as an adult. I had had many as a kid, but when I got her--I foolishly thought that I had to train her.

Nope.

Because one day, we humans realize: