Living with a pet reduces the likelihood of suffering from health problems, which is evident in the fact that pet owners require fewer visits to the hospital on average. Studies conducted in Germany and Australia found that those with companion animals visited the hospital 15% less often than people without pets. In China, pet owners saw even greater benefits, with 20% fewer hospital visits (Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 2006).
Research has identified a number of specific health benefits associated with cat ownership, including reduced risk of developing asthma, enhanced immune function, improved mental health, and reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
Reduced Risk of Developing Asthma
Researchers at the Columbia Center for Children's Environmental Health have discovered that children are less likely to develop asthma if there is a cat in the home. This fringe benefit occurs because children who grow up with cats are more likely to develop allergy-related antibodies (Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health, 20 May 2008).
Enhanced Immune Function
Dr. June McNicholas, University of Warwick (UK), found that children living with pets were 13% to 18% less likely to miss school due to illness than children without pets. Also, the salivary immunologobulin levels of young pet owners indicated that their immune function was less likely to be weak (Anthrozoology.org, 2006).
Improved Mental Health
Pet ownership has been shown to boost levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. This means that pets can reduce feelings of anxiety, depression, and other negative states not only by offering companionship, but also by triggering actual physiological effects in the brain (Johns Hopkins Medicine, 25 July 2007).
Reduced Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke
Stroking a cat lowers blood pressure, and cat owners tend to have lower triglycerides, which reduces their risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease (Sydney Morning Herald, 16 February 2006). A University of Minnesota study of 4,435 people found that cat owners were 30% less likely to die of heart attack or stroke (Paddock, 25 February 2008).
Therapy Animals
The health benefits that cats and dogs can offer have become widely recognized in recent years. As a result, many pets are being put into service as therapy animals, helping to improve the psychological and physical health of children, the elderly, and those who suffer from medical problems. This growing field is proving to have many potential applications, and cats have even been used to aid in the rehabilitation of prisoners.
Readers who enjoyed this article may wish to read Cat Heroes.
References:
- Anthrozoology.org. (2006). "Pet Ownership and Children’s Immune Function."
- CBC News. (22 February 2008). "Something to Purr About: Cats Reduce Heart Attack Risk." CBC.ca.
- Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health (2008, May 20). "Early Life Exposure To Cats May Reduce Risk Of Childhood Allergies And Asthma Symptoms." ScienceDaily.com.
- Johns Hopkins Medicine. (25 July 2007). “The Many Benefits of Pets.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, JohnHopkinsHealthAlerts.com.
- Paddock, C. (25 February 2008). "Cat Owners Have Lower Heart Attack Risk, Study." Medical News Today.
- Sydney Morning Herald. (16 February 2006). “Doctors See Fewer Pet Owners.” SMH.com.au.
Jennifer Copley - Jennifer Copley, BFA, BEd, has a diverse base of expertise that includes research, writing, education, pet care, and various other ...
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