Pets don't always do what you want, but sometimes they give you what you need. Can pets read our moods, and respond with a human-type compassion?

A couple of days ago I felt flattened. I'd had a series of long working shifts, my partner was out of town for a few days, the dogs had been waking me up at the sparrow's smelly time and leaving me sleep-deprived, Connor's toilet training was going backwards, there were lots of tasks to do...

Not exactly a tragic plight, but the kind of situation that can leave you feeling a little squashed.

I collapsed on the couch to mentally sort out my tasks (and sigh with a little self-pity). Up jumped Phoebe, my long-haired dachshund. I was expecting her to claim my lap for an opportunistic sleep, or hassle me for a walk or a treat.

But she didn't - she just sat and looked at me with her soft, worried/sympathetic eyes, and tucked herself into the crook of my arm, remaining awake.

It was as though she just wanted to be with me, and cheer me up. Or maybe she was the one who wanted company?

This reminded me of something that happened with our family cat when I was about 10 years old. A friend of the family's, a middle-aged woman who'd been widowed a few weeks before, visited us and sat with us in the living room, chatting in a subdued way.

Our family cat Dale (formerly of Chip and Dale) came into the room, bypassed all the familiar laps and empty spots, and climbed straight on to our guest's lap. He didn't sleep - just offered his warm presence and a glossy coat to stroke.

It was uncharacteristic, and we all noticed. We all believed that the cat had sensed our guest's sorrow, and went to her to give some comfort. Or were we just imagining it?

Has anything like this happened to you? Do you think any of your pets have been able to read your moods so well that they know when you need a boost?