For me, it's hit and miss.
In theory, I would love to use minions more ICly but I run into the problem of forgetting they exist 90% of the time. So I'll go the span of a hot minute with a character having a pet and loving on it, to two months down the line going 'oh right, I hope that kitten's okay'.
That said, I'll happily continue to gather up minions until I/my character snaps and just opens a menagerie.
In theory, I would love to use minions more ICly but I run into the problem of forgetting they exist 90% of the time. So I'll go the span of a hot minute with a character having a pet and loving on it, to two months down the line going 'oh right, I hope that kitten's okay'.
That said, I'll happily continue to gather up minions until I/my character snaps and just opens a menagerie.