Have You Met Your Soul Pet? Signs to Look Out For

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Plus, expert advice on how to cope after the loss of your soul pet

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Last Updated: December 11, 2025

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• Soul Pet Definition
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• Signs You’ve Met Your Soul Pet
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• Finding Your Soul Pet
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• Coping with the Loss of Your Soul Pet
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• Final Thoughts

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If you’re an animal lover, you know that a pet can be an amazing companion and a member of the family. But what about the pets that go beyond even this level of closeness? The kind of pets that totally capture your heart and connect with you on a profound level? These furry friends are often called “soul pets,” and if you’re interested in learning more about them, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over what they are, signs you’ve met yours, and tips on finding your soul pet. We’ve also consulted mental health professionals for advice on how to cope with the loss of a soul pet if yours has recently passed.

"Soul Pet" Defined

A soul pet is an animal companion with whom you share a rare, one-of-a-kind bond. Signs you’ve met your soul pet include a deep emotional connection, a sense of mutual understanding, and a feeling that you were destined for each other. Some people grow up with their soul pets, while others meet them later in life.

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Section 1 of 5:

What is a soul pet?

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1. 
   A soul pet is an animal companion you share a profound connection with. This bond runs deeper than a typical connection with a pet, to the point that they feel like a missing piece of your heart, or a companion you’ve known in several lifetimes. Soul pets often come into your life at just the right moment to help you through a major life transition, or they could be the pet who grew up alongside you. Either way, the emotional attachment is completely life-changing, as if they were destined for you (and you for them).

   • You might have come across this term on TikTok, where users often share heartwarming videos showcasing their bonds with their soul pets, or moving tributes to them after they’ve passed. Here are a few examples:
     • This TikTok by @viccttoorriia shows the user belting out a Whitney Houston song in her car, when her dog joins in with a howl from the passenger seat. The text on the screen reads, “This was the moment I knew she was my soul dog.”
     • This TikTok by @mxburney shows the user holding her pet cat and singing to it, with the text on the screen joking about how she’ll never love anyone the way she loves her pet. The caption reads, “my soul cat.”
     • This TikTok by @fathenfarms is a tribute to Finn, an adorable bird whom the user considered to be his soul pet.

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Jacqueline House, LMFT-A is a marriage and family therapist associate specializing in solution-focused brief therapy, collaborative therapy, ACT therapy, and narrative therapy.

   Adam Dorsay, PsyD is a licensed psychologist who specializes in assisting high-achieving adults with relationship issues, stress reduction, and anxiety.
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Section 2 of 5:

Signs You’ve Met Your Soul Pet

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1. 1
   You have a deep emotional connection. When you meet your soul pet, you’ll likely feel like you’ve always known them, or like you’re finding the missing puzzle piece to your heart. As time goes on, the bond will continue to grow stronger. They’ll bring you huge amounts of joy, comfort you in times of sadness, and be an incredibly important part of your life.
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   You understand each other completely. Many people who believe they’ve found their soul pets describe a feeling of deep mutual understanding with their furry friend. For example, your soul pet might naturally be able to tell when you’re feeling sad or stressed, so they go out of their way to snuggle up to you and cheer you up. Or, you could have a special sense for their feelings, to the point that you instantly know what they need or how they’re feeling, just by looking at them. In other words, you just get each other.
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   You’ve shared important experiences together. For some people, a soul pet is the companion they grew up with, sharing formative experiences through childhood and adolescence. For others, a soul pet comes into the picture later, helping them through an important transition or change. Either way, a soul pet is often linked to major life events, as if they were meant to be there with you through it all.
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   Your bond feels one-of-a-kind and irreplaceable. The connection one shares with a soul pet is different from the normal bond between a pet and its owner, and many people believe it comes around only once or twice in a lifetime. This doesn’t necessarily mean you love or value your soul pet more than the other pets you’ve had in your life—it just means that the bond you share with them is profound and unique. There’s something inexplicable about it, but you’ll know it when you feel it!
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   They have a lasting impact on your life. The experience of having a soul pet is completely life-changing, and it leaves a permanent imprint on you even after they pass. You’ll cherish the memories you shared with them, find yourself thinking of them very often, and feel like knowing them has changed you for the better.
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Section 3 of 5:

How do you find your soul pet?

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1. 
   Keep your heart and your mind open, and your soul pet will find you. The good news about soul pets is that they’re meant to come to you, appearing in your life at the exact moment when you need them most. This means all you need to do is keep your heart and mind open as you search for them. Maybe you’ll be actively visiting shelters looking for a pet to adopt, or a pet that needs a home will unexpectedly appear in your life through friends or acquaintances. Either way, if your soul pet is meant for you, they’ll find you!

   • Looking for more advice on how to get the right pet for you? Check out our guides on how to adopt a dog or cat!

Section 4 of 5:

Coping with the Loss of Your Soul Pet

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1. 1
   Allow yourself to be sad, and give yourself time to grieve. Because you shared such a deep connection with your soul pet, coping with their loss can be incredibly difficult. “A lot of times, people who have lost a pet feel embarrassed that they’re so sad,” says licensed psychologist Adam Dorsay, PsyD. But, in his experience, many people who have lost pets are profoundly affected by the experience, and they often say things like, “I’ve never cried this hard in my entire life.” If you’re in this situation, be kind to yourself, and know that it’s completely normal to feel as strongly as you do.
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   Think about all the good that your soul pet has brought into your life. “Honor your pet by talking about the good that they’ve done for you, the strength that they’ve given you,” recommends therapist Jacqueline House, LMFT-A. Write these thoughts down in a journal, or share them with friends and family members who also knew and loved your pet. This is a great way to bring some joy and light into this difficult experience, while also remembering the things that made your soul pet so special.

   • Dr. Dorsay also recommends reflecting on the positive changes your soul pet brought into your life. He suggests asking yourself questions like, “How is your life better for having known this animal? What did this animal do for you?"
   • “Sometimes, [people] will say something like, ‘They helped me with the loss of my parents,’ ‘They helped me deal with a breakup,’ or ‘The animal taught me that I could take care of someone,’” Dr. Dorsay explains.
   • If you’d like, you can even write a message to your pet sharing all the things you wish you could say to them. This is often very emotional, but it can also be incredibly cathartic.
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   Honor your soul pet in a lasting way. Your bond with your soul pet will endure throughout your life, even long after they’ve passed away. To honor this bond, consider looking for ways to remember them in your daily life. You could get a tattoo in memory of them, keep a framed photo or photo album of them in your home, or wear a piece of jewelry with their name or birthdate on it as a keepsake. Anything that brings a smile to your face and reminds you of how special they were!
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Section 5 of 5:

Final Thoughts

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1. 
   A soul pet is an extra special animal companion who changes your life for the better. “These animals are often not just little furry soulmates, but they are often teachers. They teach you lessons about life. Everything from being more present, because the animals are so good at being present, to self-soothing [...] whether we're aware of it or not, these animals are teaching us all the time,” says Dr. Dorsay.

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