Sorry but your cat, plants and roommates are NOT your family. ππ€‘π

For real!
π
"This is my son Ralph" Um, no. Ralf is a cat. π
I'm surprised my wife isn't here going all Karen about her plants.
Completely disagree. Dogs are a part of family. This is why itβs so tragic when they pass, get lost, or sick. Thereβs levels to it though. A dog is not your son, agreed. I just think that is said as more of a joke.
That is friendship and love.
People confusing family with kinship.
I was actually going to mention kinship but when I looked it up it seems to be closer to family so im still not sure. Wiki describes kinship as something humans do. π€
I think of the term "next of kin". That surely can't be your pet. π
It's fairly similar to family but allows additional inclusion by nature, character, adoption and affinity.