I don't react to pets... what's wrong with me?

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Is this an ASD thing? It's not that I don't like cats and dogs, but that I don't have any reaction to them at all. It makes me feel like an alien. With pretty much everyone I know having pets now, I no longer want to go over to my friends houses, because I feel forced to interact with their pets. It's extremely awkward. Anyone know what could be going on? I feel completely alienated.

Just be you. Don't listen to all that garble people want you to do with their live toy. The animal will probably end up liking you more for it.

I do like animals, so don't have your issue as if there is an animal in the room I will spend more time interacting with it rather than the people involved.
But some people don't want to accept that others don't like, and don't want to interact, with their pets and that's on them rather than you, I believe. I don't think it makes you alien - lost of people don't want to interact with animals because of fur getting on their clothes when they're going out, and dogs especially smell and tend to lick you, so if you don't want to smell like a dog and be covered in dog saliva, it's understandable you wouldn't want to interact.
Even less acceptably, I get that way with being expected to interact with people' children, or expected to be interested in what their children are doing, and I don't want to.
I don't think it's an autism thing per se, maybe just personal preference? Nothing wrong with that.

Just seems you not into animals like some others are. nothing wrong with that at all and certainly isnt an Autie spectrum thing, also many NT's dont have emotional attachments to animals.. You have your own personality and preferences like anyone else, that doesnt make you subhuman only makes you individual... Dont let it worry you too much its no big deal

No, this is not an AS thing, I'm the complete opposite.

Hi NewRose. Welcome to WP. I've never been attached to animals either, although I don't like some of what they do. My dislikes of animal behavior get in the way of course. Still, I've never really been attached to stuffed toys or dolls or whatever, the exception being some of those truly interactive toys. But let's say one of those toys broke. Even as a little kid, I was totally cool with replacing it with a new one and discarding the broken one. I've only been attached to people, because I feel more at home with the way people love and show emotion than the way animals do it. Licking, jumping on me, making noises, no thanks. I prefer hugs, holding someone's hand, kind words, ETC.

I should say that I don't have an ASD diagnosis, so don't take what I say as representing what's typical for autistic people. I'm curious though if you feel similarly about animal behavior v. people.

I thought I read here thousands of times that Aspies prefer animals like cats and dogs to people? Is it really another 'aspie thing', or is it just you?

There's nothing wrong with you. A lot of people don't like animals, including pets like cats and dogs. Some people make a deep, emotional connection with animals and that's normal for them. But it's still normal not to feel that bond.

A dog is a pretty large animal. They are not just hard to avoid because of their size, they are also a very big presence in a room. Many dogs get very interested in visitors and may not want to leave them alone. Animals just force themselves on people, so I can understand you being annoyed if a dog came up to you and wouldn't leave you alone. At that point, the owners may feel like you should interact with their dog, but I would think that most people would be understanding.

A cat may be small, but they jump up onto your lap and don't ask before rubbing against your legs. If people already make you nervous, then a cat is likely to make you very nervous. Whereas people tend to teach their dogs not to jump on people, nobody can teach a cat not to be affectionate with you. So you get this unique problem with cats being very hard to keep off of you. That can be frustrating.

If your friend has a ferret, you're doomed. There is no advice that I can give you for coping with a ferret.

It's immaterial whether or not this is an AS thing, all it means is this is your personal preference. I personally adore all animals and I'm more drawn to interacting with them than with humans! Except for when dogs jump up on me with muddy paws or drool on me -- I still love the dog I just don't want that.

But some people don't have anything but neutral or even negative feelings about animals, and if that's how they feel, nobody should knock that or try to change them. It's as annoying as if someone tries to make you eat a food item you just don't like. Why should you be made to like and eat the cauliflower if you just don't?

There's nothing wrong with you, it's just how you are.

I was very afraid of animals when I was a little kid.

As I got older, I was able to bond with cats; dogs took a while, though.

I tend to like larger dogs; because I find their behavior to be more predictable than smaller dogs.

Still, I'm still rather wary of dogs.

As Bird-in-Flight stated, this is just your personal preference. Don't worry about it.

I don't generally react much to animals either. If I do then its negatively.

I like animals but I don't want a pet. And I don't interact with people's pets. I really don't want much if any physical contact with them.

Nothing. Not all people want to have a cat or dog plop down on their lap. Maybe you like animals from a distance. It's stupid when pet people say you're terrible for not wanting one or not playing kissy face to their Rottweiler.

I am not a fan of animals. I just do not like them at all. I have no idea why. I think I have offended more people by not totally melting into the "oh how cute" mode that any other "rude" or "insensitive" "Autistic" reactions I have had. On the other hand more people seem to believe it is ok to be invasive of other peoples spaces with thier pets then with any other situation. We New Yorkers are known to be avoident of each other. The exception is people who think nothing of walking up to you and letting thier dogs sniff or lick you. And if you act annoyed, oh boy, they give the SJW's a run for their money as far as bieng offended. This is one thing that has remained constant in this ever changing world.

You can all undiagnose me now

I'm like that with people and people's kids. Pets, no. I much prefer animals to all but family, and I would rather interact with people's pets than interact with their owner.

It's not an ASD thing, people of all neurologies love, like, hate or are indifferent to animals.

No offense, but to be honest I think it's natural for someone to not take to someone who doesn't like/appears to not like their pet. I know I am like that.
There's a reason why (some) people fake liking pets and kids. That's why I attempt to fake liking kids of people I want to get along with.

No it's not an ASD thing and there is nothing wrong with you. Some people just don't like pets.