Owning a cat or dog is like buying chocolate in the recession. Racism and sexism are unfashionable and unacceptable. If you can mistreat an animal you can mistreat a child. The attitudes of people are changing about showing emotions. Once, if you went overboard with a cat you were seen as over the top.
Animals make life richer.
It's nice to come home and find some other creature there. Living in the city, no-one talks to you.