About the pet kissing thing, I have a funny feeling it stems from people sometimes getting their kids to hug or pat or give air kisses to siblings or stuffed animals because the parents think it is cute and so it ingrains affection habits to people.
this post was submitted on 09 May 2026
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Animals do lots of physical behaviors to each other, like grooming for fleas or ticks, that seem weird to us, but probably signify affection and closeness to them. They probably don't just let any old random monkey start picking through their fur, any more than we'd allow some stranger to hold our hand on the subway.
Animals show lots of affection to each other, and they show affection to us. Of course they recognize when we do stuff that shows affection to them. They'd rather have tummy skritches, but they'll sit still for some kisses.
You can't help it when an animal snuggles you! You just can't deny them the love!! 💖
I will say anecdotally, my wife has aggressively kissed my dog since she was a puppy. The dog aldo knows we don't like face licks and will boop my wife on the cheek with her nose repeatedly.
And to answer your question, people are into what they're into, I just don't get feet.