I have discovered online that many schizoids have pets and may actually prefer them to human beings. To be honest, I was a bit surprised to discover this because one of the main characteristics of schizoids is our lack of desire or the need for close or intimate relationships. However I do understand that not all schizoids are alike....so to each their own!

However, as a Schizoid I prefer complete solitude! I love my hard-won solitude.....and this solitude is my personal choice! My solitude is not an "escape" into some airless, joyless space, time, or place! I like living alone doing what I want..... when I want or not doing anything at all. Nor do I feel the desire or the need to share my existence with someone or something other than myself in order to feel satisfied, content....and indeed ...blessed!

Therefore, a "pet" ...would be another living entity that would require that I develop a "relationship" with it.....to be responsible for its well-being.....to take care of it......to in some way "love" it. These are all very suffocating concepts to me. I cannot imagine a more uncomfortable....actually hellish.... situation...than me in my apartment with a cat or a dog or any other creature. Me looking at it......and it looking back at me. What to say or do? I would rather not think about it. I am so appreciative of my solitude that I do not allow even plants in my apartment....... what to speak of "pets". Personally, I feel that taking care of pets is just another form of ...slavery! May I ask: "Who ...owns... who?"

In addition, as a proud and non-suffering schizoid I have learned to avoid situations where I know that I will not respond in the "normal way" ...because I truly do not feel the so-called joy of "being close" to a person or an animal. Consequently..... anyone or anything that expects me to "respond" favorably and continuously.....will be disappointed. I know this ...so I have banned certain books, films, authors, TV series, and of course people from my existence because they all try to play on people's "heart strings" or so-called positive and "sensitive" emotions, to manipulate others into feeling "bad" if they do not or cannot buy into the old "be kind and nice....show that you are a caring human being" trip!

In conclusion, I would just like to say that a pet would indeed ruin my solitude! Furthermore, in my humble opinion the pet industry very knowledgeably plays and counts on all these feelings of "caring" .....both conscious and subconscious..... to get its hands on pet owners' hearts ...and dollars!