Last Updated on February 12, 2023 by Pets Feed
Pets aren’t just friends. For many, they are much more than friends: they also have a beneficial effect on the health of their owners. In principle, this applies to almost all pets – they protect people from respiratory infections, improve mood and relieve stress, increase self-esteem and contribute to the development of discipline and responsibility in children.
But cats have six distinct benefits for humans — and they all have scientific backing.
1. They promote heart health
According to a 2008 study from the Heart Attack Institute at the University of Minnesota, cat owners are less likely to die from a heart attack. The researchers followed nearly 4,500 people (3,000 of whom had cats or cats) over a 10-year period. It turned out that cat owners are 30% less likely to have a heart attack. A year later, another study all but confirmed this finding and extended it to more heart disease.
2. Their purring calms the nerves
Another study shows that a cat’s purr reduces stress levels and blood pressure in those who suffer from it. Additionally, the frequency of the purr ranges from 20 to 10 hertz, falling within a range used in a number of medical practices.
3. They make us laugh and laughter prolongs life
Cats are one of the funniest pets out there, even those who don’t have one know that, but there’s access to Facebook and YouTube. Researchers at Loma Linda University have found that watching just 20 minutes of funny videos significantly lowers cortisol levels and improves working memory in older adults. Other researchers have linked regular laughter to a stronger heart and stronger immune system.
4. They help people with autism
People with autism often experience problems communicating and interacting with the outside world, and chat therapy helps them solve this problem. Many autistic people bond even deeper with cats than with the people around them. In 2012, a study was conducted in France and it turned out that children with autism in families with animals are calmer and interact better with others than those in families without animals. Researchers attribute this to the fact that “communication” with cats increases the release of the hormone oxytocin, which is “responsible” for trust and love.
5. They help fight depression
Cats, especially calm and peaceful cats, are ideal helpers for people suffering from depression. Not only do they keep company and divert attention from dark thoughts, but they are also an object of care – they need to be taken care of, which, whether a person likes it or not, makes him socialize and even leave the house. At least at the cat food and other supply store.
6. They destroy feelings of loneliness and love us unconditionally
So, researchers from two American universities claim that cats are quite capable of replacing another person – as an object of care and a subject of unconditional love. Even if you’ve had an incredibly difficult day and no one is waiting for you at home, but you have a cat, assume that someone is already waiting for you at home. And this social factor is so powerful that even the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officially recognize that cats are good for your health.
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