This is complex, and well worth thinking about. Thank you. Non-human animals are a source of connection to nature, however tenuous due to how we keep them. We learn from them how to be more simple and direct (eat with your face, do not produce garbage, no need for electronics, etc.) They are also a psychological and emotional comfort, as you say. In HI, we worked to limit and spay the feral cats, as they suffer so. The feral, also, once upon a time impacted birds (those are gone now to mtns, and only invasive birds abound where people live)

Because we control them cats are "consumers" , of course. However, our cat is a senior, quite old and he is our last kitty, we believe.

Finally, we are an infertile couple. We tried and failed having only surgeries and miscarriages. Choices about family units do matter, as do choices about limiting guilt, hurt, stress, etc.

I appreciate the question, and may even do an article on this. Our habits matter!