Domestic animals become jealous, pretend illness, says veterinarian

Animals especially dogs and cats pretend to be ill when their owners neglect them. Some of them become jealous and disappointed because they are ill-treated, according to an Algerian veterinarian.

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• “I treated a dog which pretended to be handicapped when it saw guests at his owners’ home. The treatment was to pretend caring for it and preferring it among guests,” Haifa Rezagui told Echorouk.
• She said she treated desperate cats that went on hunger strike because they were ill-treated.
• “A large number of Algerian families raise their children using animals including cats and little white mice. They put them in a special apparatus which contains toys, a place for sleeping and food. Children who make fewer movements are taught how to give food to those small animals.
• “Those children become more energetic when they play with animals which are considered as faithful creatures to their owners,” the veterinarian said.
• “Some dogs died after the death of their owners because they did not want to eat,” she added.