4 Science-Backed Benefits of Having a Cat at Home
Pets are the ultimate source of love and comradeship. Having a pet at your home also improves your mental and psychological health.
“Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions; they pass no criticisms.”-George Eliot
Well in the case of pets, cats may not be famous as compared to dogs but one can’t simply deny the perks of having a cat at home. Cats are the 2nd most common pet in the world. According to a recent study, positive energy boosts just by watching cat videos on the internet. Hence, having a cat at your home comes with a number of advantages. Some of them are listed below:
1. Petting a Cat may Lower Your Stress Levels:
It’s no wonder that the present life is full of stress and anxiety. But having a cat at your home can reduce this anxiety effortlessly. According to Melanie Greenberg, a clinical psychologist and author of The Stress-Proof Brain, petting a cat can lower cortisol levels as well as it also ramps up the levels of good emotions.
A study, conducted to check the well-being of cat owners showed that the cat owners had a better heart rate and blood pressure as compared to others. Moreover, cat owners remained calm throughout the experiment.
2. Owning a Cat is Better for the Environment:
If you’re worried about your carbon footprint, it’s better to own a cat than a dog. A 2009 study found that the resources needed to feed a dog over the course of its life create the same eco-footprint as that of a Land Cruiser.
Meanwhile, cats — which eat less in general and are more likely to eat fish than corn- or beef-flavored products — only have the approximate carbon footprint of a small hatchback.
3. Cat Ownership Means Fewer Allergies:
Unfortunately, this is the most ignored benefit of having cats as pets. Yes, you have heard it right, cats are helpful in the prevention of allergies. In 2002, a study by the National Institute of Health showed that children having a cat around are less likely to be a victim of allergies.
According to Marshall Plaut, M.D., chief of the allergic mechanisms section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases,
“High pet exposure early in life appears to protect against not only pet allergy but also other types of common allergies, such as allergy to dust mites, ragweed, and grass.”
4. You’ll have a Healthier Heart:
Cat owners have been reported to carry a lower risk for heart disease and stroke. A 2009 study published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology found a link between cat ownership and a reduction in death from heart attacks, as well as other cardiovascular diseases (including strokes). And if you’re curious, no, the same could not be said for dog owners.
Bottom Line: Are You Ready to Enjoy the Perks of Being a Cat Owner?
Being a cat owner comes with a lot of above-mentioned benefits of course. Furthermore, there are several other reasons to own a cat as they are low-Maintainance pets. Cats are adorable and fun.
“Time spent with cats is never wasted.”- Sigmund Freud, Austrian Psychoanalyst
I’m quite sure that you will be ready to own a cat as soon as possible after finishing this article..!