it is an ongoing chemical reaction, i can't pet it, i guess i can put it in my lap but most importantly if i forget to feed or water it, it doesn't die. my cat tells me when he is hungry. my plants didn't. they didn't make it. my rust, named Red, won't die, it only goes dormant and waits for conditions to improve to proceed. also, it is not offended when i call it a rust bucket.