Scientific research shows that adopting a pet, especially a cat, has positive effects on human health.
Scientific research shows that adopting a pet, especially a cat, has positive effects on human health.
Having a pet not only changes the way we live, but also helps us to be healthier. While most scientific research focuses on the interaction between dogs and humans, many studies show how cats, one of the most popular pets, are also beneficial for our mental and physical health.
In addition, according to research conducted by the pet food industry, cat owners are already aware of their positive impact on health. 52 percent of cat-owning women and 28 percent of cat-owning men 'definitely' think that their cats are also good for their mental health.
But does scientific research back up these answers?
Cat petting reduces stress
According to Melanie Greenberg, a licensed clinical psychologist and author of "The Stress-Proof Brain", petting a cat causes the body to release the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin, known as the bonding hormone or 'cuddle chemical', reduces stress in humans and helps them feel less anxious.
Protective against heart attack
According to a study published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, cat owners have a reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke. The sound of a cat purring not only calms your nerves, but also lowers blood pressure.
The study compared cat owners and non-cat owners over a twenty-year period. Perhaps the most striking scientific finding about the benefits of cats is that they reduce deaths from heart attacks by 33 percent.
In another study, about 6,000 Australians were examined for characteristics such as smoking, weight and exercise. Among these people whose blood pressure and cholesterol levels were checked, it was found that those who kept pets had lower blood pressure and lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in their blood than those who did not.
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Provides relief from the feeling of loneliness
Greenberg says that people today are more individualistic and disconnected, adding: "Research shows that loneliness is a major factor in many diseases." A recent study shows that Alzheimer's disease is associated with loneliness.
Another benefit that cats promise to people is that they reduce loneliness and provide a sense of companionship.
A 2013 survey conducted by the Veterinary Medical Association suggests that lonely people are more likely to adopt a pet.
Dr. Douglas Aspros, former president of the American Veterinary Medical Association, said in a statement: "It's interesting to see more and more lonely people discovering the comfort and fulfillment that pet ownership offers. Pets have a powerful and positive impact on our lives and offer unique emotional, psychological and physical health benefits."
The pet effect against allergies for children
A 2002 study was one of the first to show that cat ownership can be beneficial against allergies. According to the study, babies under the age of one living in homes with more than one cat were 66 percent less likely to develop allergies by the time they were 6 and 7 years old, compared to families without cats. The allergies tested included common allergies such as cat allergies, pet allergies, dust allergies and grass allergies.
Another study published in the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Allergy similarly found that young people who lived with a cat in their early years were less likely to develop pet allergies later in life.
Help to sleep better
A 2015 study by sleep health experts suggests that cats can help relieve sleep problems.
Seventy-four pet owners were asked about their sleeping habits and how the presence of their pets in their bedrooms affected them.
Of these people, 56 percent said they allowed their pets to be in their bedroom. While 20 percent of the people in the study stated that animals interrupted their sleep, 41 percent said that their pets did not disturb them, but on the contrary, if they were in the bedroom while they slept, it improved their sleep quality.