08/08/2023
Happy International Cat Day!
Cats help us relax and improve our lives in many ways.
Well-being: According to an Australian study (1), owning a cat has been linked to better psychological health compared to people without pets. The study found that cat owners reported feeling happier, more confident, and less nervous.
Furthermore, adopting a cat can have positive effects on children's well-being. A survey (2) in Scotland revealed that the more attached children were to their cats, the more they reported feeling physically fit, energetic, and attentive.
Stress Relief
Cats can also help us relax. In a study (3) involving 120 married couples, researchers examined the impact of cats on stress response.
The study found that cat owners had lower resting heart rates and blood pressure before performing stressful tasks. During the tasks, cat owners exhibited better performance, lower heart rates, and blood pressure particularly when their cat was present.
References
1) Straede, C. M., & Gates, R. G. (1993). Psychological health in a population of Australian cat owners. Anthrozoös, 6(1), 30–42. https://doi.org/10.2752/089279393787002385
2) Marsa-Sambola, F., Williams, J., Muldoon, J., Lawrence, A., Connor, M., & Currie, C. (2017). Quality of life and adolescents’ communication with their significant others (mother, father, and best friend): The mediating effect of attachment to pets. Attachment & Human Development, 19(3), 278–297. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616734.2017.1293702
3) Allen, K. (2002). Cardiovascular reactivity and the presence of pets, friends, and spouses: The truth about cats and dogs. Psychosomatic Medicine, 64(5), 727–739. https://doi.org/10.1097/01.psy.0000024236.11538.41
