When I left my 22 year marriage ... I got 2 kittens ( I felt they needed each other when I couldn't be there - and there's no guilt when I go away). I needed to nurture...its a human thing

And about that wet nose I talked about above... my cats never pester me for food because I have a dispenser - - there is always food in their dish - they monitor themselves - and as a result they have never gotten fat. I keep their bowl of water in the bathroom on the tub edge so I never forget to fill the water - I see it all the time.