The joys and mysteries of owning pets.

To own a pet is to voluntarily enter into a mystical bonding, one that can lead to a life of constant bafflement and toil that ultimately rewards the owner with love and affection from the pet. Of course, owning a pet has its tough side.

Cat owners will complain how the animal, out of sheer natural instinct, will sharpen claws on their precious objects or snatch birds from the bird table. But then owners get used to these antics.

Pets over a period of time become an inseparable part of your daily routine. Owners get accustomed to their animals waking them up for an untimely midnight feast. They enjoy their every small act, such as the sound of their slurping from the bowl of water. Pets fascinate those who don’t mind some unruly behaviour. In fact, this is often what we like most about our pets. A cat suddenly leaping into the air - as if electrified – or a dog wagging its tail delights us precisely because it's so inexplicable.

Pets bring us closer to the natural world with which we have almost lost our touch. They inadvertently remind us of the fact that we happen to be part of something bigger, more unknown than our own society. To lengthen this bonding and avoid the worry that can come with our pet''s ill health, one must consider pet insurance.