Have you ever been around a pet ferret? They do bond with you and are truly pets. I had a couple of great pet rats as a kid, even taught them tricks. And my daughter has a pet chicken that actually will sit in her lap and beg for head scritchies and purr! (yes chickens purr)
If an animal is not a pet, has no bonding/trust with people, then yes it can be food.
By the way, a lot of people in other countries eat dogs and horses . . . maybe even cats ...