am I subhuman if I think pets are a waste of time?
it's cuckoldry... you can pour so much time and love into them but they're just animals
they are biologically limited in their ability...
I can't imagine cleaning their environment, changing water, and being cautious of literally every action to avoid killing it accidentally for the rest of their lives which is at minimum 5 years

the "company" and "companionship" pets give is so underwhelming... birds especially seem to be food to poop converters. You can't play, communicate, travel with them, or share experiences. It's like their entire lives is confined to a cage and room.

most experiences with pets can be summarized by: "omg look it did a cute thing!" 1% of the time.
I don't know how people can find enjoyment in this...