The taking things literally isn't wrong, but it's so frequently misinterpreted. I understand figurative language fine, but I'll answer the question neurotypicals asked, not the question they think they asked
My 6th grade class: *learning about diabetes*
Me: *mentions my nana's dog has diabetes*
Five. Different. People, AFTER I said that: So CaN aNiMaLs HaVe DiAbEtEs?