can animals have morals?

So, from what we've learned, morality and those influenced by it are divided into two categories. There are moral agents, and then there are moral patients. Moral agents are also moral patients but not all moral patients are moral agents... am i getting this straight?


From what i heard i believe i am. So the real thought that's been hovering in the back of my mind for the last few days is why this idea in't more widespread. Most humans beieve that their mental capacity is beyond that of animals and so the morals that stem from conscious decision-making should also be taken into account. All of our decisions affect the world around us. Perhaps animals are moral creatures, because pets in particular seem to be attentive and caring. Yet, even if they don't have morals, we are aware of our own ability to make conscious moral choices, and so whether they can or not as well doesn't matter because they would still be moral patients. This is a theory that i see as acceptable and whether or not it is completely correct, it is still something that all people should take into consideration because it could be an idea to better our world and our relationship with that world.