You didn't see the animals: no bows, no sunglasses, no flip-flops

GironaAccessorizing dogs and cats is a common practice. Nowadays, it's no longer just bows and coats. Especially in the summer, accessories of all kinds proliferate: hats, flip-flops, and even costumes, which are added to aesthetic practices such as painting their nails or dyeing their hair. Behind all this, for the most part, there is a process of humanization—or rather, anthropomorphization—of animals, that is, an attribution of human characteristics to beings that are not. Experts warn that, while some humanization is inevitable and the result of coexistence, the use of certain ornaments and the desire to follow trends funny In the eyes of others, they can put the well-being and health of animals at risk.

Summer accessories

Montse Casaoliva, founder of Mishilovers, a consultancy specializing in ethical feline colony management, slathers her cat with sunscreen when summer arrives. This isn't unusual, considering the Sphynx is a breed characterized by its lack of fur and a tendency toward skin problems. In winter, she also bundles him up. "He asks me for it," Casaoliva says. "He burrows into my sweaters or sheets looking for warmth, and then I cover him with a blanket," she explains.

As for dogs, some walk down the street wearing sunglasses. There could be medical reasons. Therefore, Paula Calvo, a doctor in Anthrozoology—the science that studies the interaction and bonds between humans and animals—admits that it's one thing if they "really need it" and another if it's a dispensable accessory: "If the canine isn't in a space where sunlight could be harmful to its eyesight, there's no need to wear it." She adds: "Nor are flip-flops necessary, because 'the ground burns': morphologically, for the animal, it makes no sense."

Fashionable animals

Ornaments, jewelry... Fashion brands for cats and dogs have proliferated in recent years. Many combine style and design in their clothing without forgetting the valued animal welfare. This is the case of the Italian-Barcelona brand Branni Pets. Its catalog includes collars, harnesses, leashes, bag carriers, and kits for a walk that combines with outfits integrated into the seasonal color palette. "Our priority is for the dog to feel comfortable walking and, at the same time, for these accessories to be an elegant and stylish complement for the owner," explains Nora Branni, director of the brand.

However, at the opposite end of the spectrum are other companies that take advantage of passing fads. Beth Mussull, technical director of Itcan Dog-Assisted Interventions, says: "An orthopedic boot for a dog who likes the water but has a leg injury is one thing, or a functional harness that matches an outfit for a woman who wants to dive in. We're going to unnecessary extremes, fostered by social media, where videos that incite a consumerist society and seek easy laughs reign." An example of this are the videos of dog parades on Carnival catwalks. Most of the dogs featured are wearing hair dye and wigs. They also wear hats or masks. Some have been dressed in tuxedos, while others have been dressed in outlandish clothes.

"On many occasions dogs do not enjoy the moment. They are stressed and overestimated. This, unfortunately, has many likes. But it's normal for the animal to do its thing on the beach, run, get dirty with sand, scratch itself or go to the beach," confirms Mussull, a dog trainer. Calvo points out that "these behaviors are often motivated by human satisfaction, when what should always be prioritized is the well-being of grace." Casaoliva adds that "trying to turn animals into an aesthetic object disconnects them from their animal essence" and "reinforces the idea of having aesthetic value to be admired, ignoring the essential part of a being with its own needs." "Some sectors of the fashion industry petfashion They don't stray too far from traditional circuses with animals as protagonists," he points out.

From stress to cystitis

However, these attitudes, along with others, can cause stress in pets and lead to psychological and psychosomatic disorders. Stress often causes lower urinary tract problems in cats. According to veterinarian Salvador Cervantes, medical director of the Barcelona Felina Clinic, "up to 70% of cystitis cases in cats are caused by stress. Cystitis is a very common disease that can cause serious problems in cats and is often resolved by improving the home environment," he says.

In dogs, constant stress causes the animal to live on constant alert, and problems with "lack of communication" can arise. According to Beth Mussull, technical director of Itcan Assisted Interventions, in the long run it can lead to more serious problems such as kidney disease and allergies, in addition to aggression such as biting. "The dog will bite because it doesn't want to wear a swimsuit, and that's not a bad thing: it's simply communicating." These are high-intensity reactive behaviors that can lead to aggression because "the animal hasn't been respected" and "we have misinterpreted its needs," she explains.

The patience of animals

Not all animals respond equally to handling when given supplements. British or Scottish breed cats are "very" tolerant, explains veterinarian Salvador Cervantes. However, the feline endures "as best it can," not because it "wants to" but because it "has patience." Among the humanizations—anthropomorphizations—he most frequently observes in his clinic is taking cats outside in strollers, many of which have openings so the cats can look outside. "People think that if cats walk and see the birds, they'll like it. Felines, on the other hand, are burrowing animals and very territorial. They like to be indoors. When they go outside, they become anxious. Going unnoticed is, ultimately, what makes them happiest," he emphasizes.

One of Cervantes' recommendations is to "felinize" the home in three dimensions. "Often, we go to the other side: we buy him a hammock to rest in, and we'll like that, not him," he points out. However, humanization has represented a step forward in many ways. Calvo asserts, admitting that if it hadn't occurred, we wouldn't have included these animals within "our multispecies family network." "Part of the domestication process is humanization," he comments. The problem lies in the disproportion. "Everything resulting from the outward exposure of our private lives on social media has been exaggerated. And that affects our pets, who are also part of our private lives."