“What Is Personal Space?”: 50 Funny Pets Who Know No Boundaries (New Pics)

"It’s not uncommon for pets to want to be close to their owners and spend time with them—some pets are social animals and being with their owners brings them joy. Often owners are their pet’s whole world and spending time with their owners is one of the key points of their life! Owners can bring pets a sense of happiness, making them feel secure and safe," Walsh, from the PDSA, said.

“Pets are often inquisitive creatures, wanting to know what you’re doing and be involved in anything exciting happening around them. Whilst we know we’re just popping into the bathroom—our pets don’t know that and don’t want to miss out on whatever exciting thing you are up to!" the vet nurse told Bored Panda.

"Some pets do take real comfort in being physically close to their owners, snuggling up to them or sitting on their laps," she said. "It can be equally comforting to owners to have the constant companionship of a pet, but sometimes pets can’t understand the ‘personal space’ that us humans might need!"

“It’s vital for owners to adequately meet their pets’ Five Welfare Needs, in order for them to be happy and healthy. Whilst some pets do simply just want to be near their owners, sometimes a pet may be ‘invading’ their owner’s personal space because they are actually trying to tell them something," PDSA Vet Nurse Walsh explained to Bored Panda.

"A pet might want attention, may be hungry or thirsty, may be bored and want to play or need reassurance from you if something has worried them. Or perhaps they need to go to the bathroom—the possibilities are endless but always remember your pet can’t speak, and is communicating using their body language. If your pet is crowding your personal space, especially if it’s a change in their behavior, have a think about what they might be trying to tell you."

According to Walsh, cats are quite independent when compared to other animals. "Spending time close to you is definitely on their terms, not something you can force! However, regardless of how much they like to be close to their owner, all pets need their own personal space that they can retreat to whenever they want," she said.

"It’s important owners provide their pets with their own area and activities to keep them entertained. Cats will need plenty of toys (bring different ones out every couple of days for variety), scratching posts, lots of different height levels for them to explore, and also quiet areas so they have somewhere to escape to if they do need a bit of alone time."

It’s absolutely fantastic when your pet acts affectionately toward you instead of ignoring your need for cuddles, playtime, and warm naps together. Depending on your pet’s character, it might spend far more time in your company than some other members of its species. But no matter how aloof a floof might be, they still enjoy the occasional snuggle (though perhaps on their own terms).

By being physically next to you, your pets show you that they appreciate and—dare we say it?—love you. Either that or they enjoy how warm you are. Being in contact with another living being is pleasant, calms us down, and can boost our mood. No animal and no human being can thrive for long without constant physical contact.