Do our pets 'replace' our children when they've flown the nest?

Our children left home many years ago and we've always had cats and a few dogs. Over the last few years we've both come to realise that with no family near us we treat our two remaining cats like surrogate kids (we even call them the kids). We are at their beck and call, have to be home to feed at regular intervals, pander to their every whim, do their washing (one in particular who has some behavioural and toiletting issues) and are generally as tied to them as when our actual boys were here. The only difference being we can't ring them up and tell them to get something out of the freezer for their tea or that we'll be home late and make sure they go to bed on time Is it just us or are all pet owners as daft?