What do you do when you are busy and your pet wants attention?

I use to brush them away. Not any more if they mean enough to me I take the time because nothing is more important. I lost my cat. a year to the day I lost my dog. A few years later I lost my horse. This year I lost my son. If you care enough to get them and feed them then care enough to spend time with them. My aunte use to say if it wont matter in 10 years forget about it. I bet those dishes will get done or homework or lawn mowed or what ever and I bet if it waits awhile it will be ok and you wont even remember in 10 yrs but I bet you'll remember the pet you dont have or the person you can tell you love them.

I'll often reach down for a quick pet and a kind word.

After that, if the animal gets pushy, I will ignore it or tell it to go lay down.

I don't feel guilty. If you do, there's more going on at your place and you may have reason to worry if you're not giving your animal enough of your time and attention as a general rule.

If you really believed they get enough attention from you throughout the day, you wouldn't feel guilty to not give them attention when you are busy. Nor would you get frustrated by their desire for more attention.

"THEY don't think what I am doing is all that important--makes me rearrange my priorities on a regular basis." !!!

You're putting human thoughts onto your cats.

Cat's don't think about what you are doing and decide that they are more important and that what you're doing is NOT important. That's just not the kind of thing that animals think about.

Since you feel that they think your work is not important, and that they make you rearrange your priorities, you really should consider getting rid of one or two of your three cats. You are resentful of the time they want. They are obviously more of a drain on you than you can cope with at this time.

You should take the time out to be with your pet if not just for a short time. They'll relax you before you get back to work. Beside the pets will just pester you any way for doing something other than paying attention to them.

I usually give in. I have had two pets go missing and I wouldn't want the last time I saw my pet to have ignored her. If i am busy i may just take 5 minutes to play with her and then get back to what i am doing.

I make sure to spend time with them when I can and when I cant i do exactly as you do - or i throw some of their toys on the floor for them to play with. I have a cat that will lay right across my laptop when i am working...its a tough thing but there is work to do :)

I usually give some love and attention for a short bit but then shoo them away. But after I'm finished with my homework or whatever, I go and smother them with attention! =)

I set a time out of my busy life and I pay attention to all of my pets , they are just like if you have children you do ignor you kids , so play with them love on them , talk to them I have 1 cat 3 birds , 4dogs and fishtank . and I love everyone of them . I hope this anwers your qustion . -B-

Give your pet the attention, he or she needs. It will not take much time out of your day and your pet will appreciate you taking time to play with him or her.

when I first got my puppy she bugged me constantly to play and I was trying to study! I took her on walks but she wanted my attn 24/7. after a while, I realized I had to get her a friend, so I adopted a 2nd rescue dog and now they occupy each other and i can study without feeling guilty. I suggest you get another pet. I will never go back to just having one. good luck.

i always take the time to pay attention to them. i would go into a little more depth but my cat wants to cuddle