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10 Reasons Why Owning A Cat Is Beneficial To Your Mental And Physical Health

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Cats are the most incredible creatures on Earth. And not to mention the cutest! I know that most of you will probably disagree with me and say that cats are evil, two-timing and cannot be trusted, but before you lash out on me, hear me out.

Yes, it is true that a cat can never be truly tamed. Compared to the devoted and needy dogs, cats are pretty unconcerned with human affairs. And yes, it is also true that owning a cat will probably result in more scratches than owning a dog, but there is something special about these extraordinary creatures that only cat lovers know.

Despite all of your efforts to convince everyone that cats are the devil, many studies and researches have actually proven that cats are indeed extraordinary, but what’s even more important is that they also have a big impact on our overall wellbeing.

So, in honor of yesterday’s international cat day, we decided to make a list of all the pros of owning a cat. Here are 10 reasons why owning a cat is beneficial to both your mental and your physical health:

1. Owning a cat can lower your stress levels. Having these furry friends around you and petting them on a daily basis can have a significant effect on your wellbeing, especially on your stress levels. Being around cats triggers the release of the love (bonding) hormone, called oxytocin. Feeling their soft fur on your skin and listening to them purr can do wonders.

2. Their purring has therapeutic and healing power. This is definitely the most adorable sound in the world. I doubt there’s anything cuter than this. However, despite the fact that it means your cat is happy, this sound also has a therapeutic and healing power, especially when it comes to human bones and muscles. A cat purr creates vibrations at a frequency of 20-140 HZ. And according to studies, frequencies in the 18-53 HZ range has the best effect on people’s wellbeing overall.

I mean who can resist a purring little cat sitting in your lap and making that repetitive movement with their cute little paws?

3. Having a pet cat will help you sleep better and calmer. Several types of research and polls have found that people, particularly women prefer to sleep with their pet than with another person. They’ve also discovered that sleeping next to your pet is more comforting than sleeping next to your partner.

4. Being a cat lover means lowering the possibility of getting allergies. I don’t know if you knew, but according to the National Institutes of Health, high pet exposure early in life can protect children not only from pet allergies but also from other types such as ragweed, dust mites, and grass. It might be too late for you, but if you have a baby on the way, you may rethink this whole idea about adopting a kitty cat.

5. They can pick up on how you are feeling and alleviate your pain. I know, cats’ responses are always subtle, so it may take you too long to discover their EQ’. But you should know that even though cats seem like they don’t care about you, they are truly sensitive to human emotions. In fact, science already proved it. Moriah Galvan and Jennifer Vonk of Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, US studied 12 cats and their owners. And they found that cats behaved quite different when their owners were smiling compared to when they were nervous.  

6. Cats provide great companionship. Cats may be known for their independence but having them as a pet sure does eliminates all feelings of loneliness. Ben there, done that. Trust me. There is nothing more pleasing than having your kitty cat welcome you from work.

7. Owning a cat decrease risk of heart disease and heart attacks. According to researchers, by more than a third! Can you imagine? The study analyzed 4,435 adults aged between 30 and 75. Half of them owned a cat, the other half didn’t. Guess what? The findings showed that approximately 3.4 percent of the cat owners died from a heart attack. In comparison, the heart attack rate among the people who never owned a cat was 5.8 percent.

8. Being surrounded by cats will help you cope with the pain of losing a loved one. Despite the fact that they are just animals, as I previously said, it’s been proved that cats understand and feel our emotions. As a result, they’ve been shown to help people overcome the pain of losing someone. No matter how crazy it sounds, people in mourning have confirmed that talking to their pets help them work out their feelings.

9. Owning a cat is better for the environment. Did you know that having a dog creates the same carbon footprint as that of a Land Cruiser? Yep, it’s true. This, in fact, makes owning a cat much eco-friendlier, since they eat less, and they are more likely to eat fish than corn or beef-flavored foods. Think about it.

10. Owning a cat increases sociability. It’s simple. Positive feelings about dogs and cats trigger positive feelings about engaging in relationships with people. Having a cat as your pet can enhance one’s ability to socialize with other people. Research has found that cat owners are actually much more social and trust people more than the people who have no pets.

So, there you have it.

Have we managed to convince you that cats are not evil and two-timing, or you need more proof?