Pets need conversations

My cat, Phoebe, and I are very chatty together. Phoebe was a rescue kitten and was only 5 weeks old when I got her. I became "mummy" and had to get a bottle-feeding kit from the vet.

I talk to her all day long and she has various different meows to answer. Friends smile at how chatty she is. She will always say hello, even in the middle of the night, and if I don't answer, she'll turn up the volume until I do.

She has different meows for different requests - to open the door, for food, etc. She is very bossy when she wants me to play, or to close up downstairs and go up to bed with her. We have our routines I love her to bits and couldn't have got through the pandemic and lockdowns without her.

Mine stopped purring when I came back from holiday a few weeks ago.
Took lots of stroking and talking to by me, for 3 days, before it purred again.

I had started to wonder if it was actually ill.

I always talk to my cat Thomas. Tell him see you soon when I go out. Always fuss and kiss him goodnight and tell him I love him when I go to bed and see you in the morning. He purrs.
Our dear Daisy-May used to talk back to us. Say something to her she used to say Mwa back to us. We miss her, she was so amusing.

I always talk to my cat. We have very long conversations if he starts answering me The charity Dogs On The Streets has a volunteer who reads to the dogs they are looking after. The dogs love it.

My cat always says"hello" when she comes near me and of course I answer her.She must think that I am deliberately ignoring her now .
She is also vocal when she requests (demands!) treats,getting a door opened for her etc She is a rescue cat and certainly knows her place ie top boss.

Best companion animal I ever had was a stone-deaf cat. You could “vent” at him to your hearts content! and he just starred at you, adoringly.
He loved any kind of conversation.
Get better soon.

We usually say "hello" to our cats when they come in. If they arrive without us noticing they announce their arrival by miaowing in a distinctly "hello" tone, right down to the 2 syllables.

My cat Harley Catfish loves conversation. He's accustomed to this from kittenhood. He also answers with a trill every time I call his name. It sounds like 'Yes?' or a 'Hmmm?' When displeased he turns his back to me, a clear sign that I have not pleased him! Oh, I could go on all day!

I hope you soon recover. I talk to my dog all the time. She probably thinks I’m batty and wouldn’t be wrong there, but definitely enjoys all aspects of human company.