Your Pet Doesn’t Know What Time It Is. They Only Know You Left.

You’re late coming home. You tell yourself — “It’s just an hour, they’ll be fine.” And sure, they will be. But that’s not how time works for them.

Your pet doesn’t check the clock. They don’t know if you’ve been gone for 30 minutes or three hours. All they know is — you were here, and now you’re not.

For many pets, especially those with abandonment trauma or separation anxiety, this matters more than we realise. Your leaving isn't just a gap. It’s a question. Are you coming back? How long do I wait?

That’s why routines are so important. Why your dog recognises the sound of your key. Why your cat waits near the door. They’re not tracking minutes — they’re holding on to patterns.

It doesn’t mean you can’t have a life or go out. It means when you return, take a moment. Greet them. Reassure them. Let them know the story ended the same way: You came back.

Because in their world, that’s what builds trust — not how long you’re gone, but how consistently you return.