Do Fido and Fluffy know your deepest, darkest secrets? If so, you're not the only one to have used your pet's ear as a confessional – about one-third of Canadian pet owners have confided their secrets to their four-legged friends. I recently came across a survey conducted by Purina (the results were first revealed in late 2010) that found 90 per cent of Canadians talk to their pets. (This same survey also revealed that 53 per cent of Canadians found pets more reliable than people. That probably explains all the secret sharing.) I don't remember ever confiding my innermost thoughts to my cat, but I do know she regularly got a running commentary of my day. I'd like to think that she was interested in my activities and that's why she would sometimes follow me around. Probably, though, she just knew I loved tuna as much as she did and didn't want to miss out on lunch. [caption id="attachment_11350" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""I'm all ears." (Photo: Les Chatfield)"] [/caption] We asked Canadian Living Twitter followers and Facebook friends what they talk to their pets about. We got dozens of great responses. Here are just some of our favourites: • Melodie Biro Telfer (via Facebook): "Typically it's either a reprimand ('Get down') or an apology ('Sorry our oldest slammed your tail in the door and now your tail is shorter'). Sometimes I admire him ('Good kitty'), but most often it's the other two." • Katie McInnis (via Facebook): "When I leave the house, I always tell my cat that she has to be good all day while I go to work to make the money to buy her cat food. I chat to her all the time about everything – it sounds better than letting people think I am talking to myself!" • @kathynes: "I talk to her about anything I would talk to a human about, and my husband responds as the cat. The cat has an attitude." • Denise Phelan (via Facebook): "I talk to my boxer Zoey constantly. I always tell her to have a good day when I leave for work, talk to her about my day and tell her how beautiful she is. When I put my son to bed at night and she curls up beside him, I tell her to have sweet dreams, too!" • MJ Westaway (via Facebook): "Our cat Darby learned how to turn on our kitchen tap last year, so I have a conversation with him about how if he can turn it on, he can learn how to turn it off – and while he's at it maybe use the toilet, then flush." [caption id="attachment_11373" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption=""I can't believe you're telling me that!" (Photo: shira gal)"] [/caption] • @christinefeve: "We tell our dog that he's just small, but a good dog. We try to boost his self-esteem." • Diana Comeau-Stone (via Facebook): "I talk to my dog and my daughter's 2 cats all the time. It seems like they are the only ones who are listening to me since they don't watch TV or are always texting or on the computer." • Jen Fletcher (via Facebook): "I have two cats, Hoss and Pepper, and I tell them how beautiful they are, or I gossip with one when the other is acting out. And I tell them how much I love them and hope they have a good day doing cat stuff." • @BrecksBoss: "My cat and I have long conversations about chasing birds in my garden." • Kelly Harton (via Facebook): "As a foster home for cats, I love to remind them how lucky they are and how much they will love their new home after they get adopted. Our rescue gave birth to 4 kittens last Sunday. I talked to her all the time, telling her she was doing an amazing job and how cute her babies are. It seems like it helped her to at least feel more comfortable." How about you – what do you like to talk to you pet about? And does your pet talk back?