When work stress comes home

We often think of work stress as a human burden—emails piling up, deadlines looming, phones ringing.

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But what if the silent sufferers of our work-induced burnout are not our colleagues or family members, but our pets?

Yes, pets. Those wide-eyed dogs who wait by the door for hours. The aloof cats who notice more than they let on. The birds, rabbits, hamsters, even fish—who all share your space and, in subtle ways, your moods.

While we go about carrying the weight of our professional pressures, they absorb what we radiate. And often, they suffer in silence.

Pet ownership is built on a simple contract—companionship in exchange for care. But stress can erode that contract. Consider the overworked employee who returns home mentally drained, with barely enough energy to fix dinner, let alone walk the dog or play with the cat.

Over time, the missed play sessions, delayed meals, raised voices, and neglectful behavior add up. Pets may not understand why their world has changed, but they certainly feel the shift.