How does Félicité feel about Loulou before she begins to go deaf? How do you know?

Even before Félicité's mind begins to be affected by her age, she already loves Loulou as she loves people. She loves him unconditionally and without regard for own well-being. In fact, she seems to treat the bird like a person. For example, she is afraid that he will acquire the bad habit of swearing and so protects him from people who might teach him inappropriate language. When he is sick with an ulcer on his tongue, she takes it off with her fingernails and does not seem to think it is disturbing or gross at all, but acts purely out of a concern for his well-being.