The Impact of Cats on Mental Health: How Owning a Cat Can Improve Your Well-Being

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How Presence of a Cat in Our Life Affects Our Mental Health

Apart from being cuddly bundles of joy, cats also share a special bond with humans and impact our lives on many levels. These fluffy companions can significantly improve the overall quality of our lives. Besides having a play buddy who loves to purr, owning a cat has a number of benefits on our mental as well as physical health. Here’s how owning a cat can have a positive influence on our mental state.

They give us a sense of purpose

Owning a pet means catering to their needs and making sure that they are satisfied and happy. Taking care of another living creature gives us a sense of purpose. This can be extremely helpful if we’re troubled with negative thoughts. By directing your attention to another being’s needs, we forget about your troubles and misfortunes and we stop focusing only on ourselves. Being fully dedicated to your pet takes your mind off things and prevents worrying about the past or the future. There’s only the present moment and that’s all that matters. Also, we take great pleasure and comfort in doing something good for another being, and their positive reaction in turn perpetuates the circle of joy and makes us feel better about ourselves and our life.

They help us cope

The loss of loved one causes great pain which is hard to deal with. Cats provide an immense source of love and support. Cats can facilitate the mourning process and help people recover quicker. They are also great listeners to whom we can open your heart and soul without worrying that they will judge us as they can’t respond. This makes it easier for us to talk about our feelings and enables us to get over the pain faster.

They reduce loneliness

Cats can usually sense when we’re feeling blue and at that moment they will refuse to leave us alone. They are great companions who can help in combating loneliness. The presence of a cat makes us feel connected with another being. Having someone to spend time with and who waits for us at home every day provides a sense of comfort and relief. Owning a cat has a number of benefits on our mental and physical health. They take such good care of us and we need to return the favor by taking care of their needs, providing them with all sorts of cat supplies and ensuring them a safe and comfortable home.

They help battle depression

Having a cat can help forget about your problems and keep the negative emotions at bay. The companionship of a cat can help us overcome depression by focusing on something else rather on the hardships we’re going through. Cats are efficient mood-boosters that can lighten up our spirits and get us on the move. The unconditional love they give us has a soothing effect on the mind and it prevents us from feeling down.

They reduce stress and anxiety levels

Petting of a cat has a calming effect on our mind and it removes any kind of tension. It triggers the production of oxytocin, a hormone that lowers the levels of stress and anxiety in our body. Also, the sound of cat purring adds up to the peaceful atmosphere. Cuddling and snuggling with your cat minimizes anxiety and it makes you feel relaxed and stress-free.

They improve our physical health

A mental imbalance also affects our physical condition, therefore owning a cat has a positive influence on physical health. They help us improve our immune systems and lessen the need to go to a doctor. Studies show that cat owners are less likely to develop common allergies than people without cats. Apart from this, the presence of our furry friends minimizes the chances of children getting asthma and other respiratory infections. Having a cat also leads to lower blood pressure and reduced risks of stroke and heart attack.

All images from https://pixabay.com

About the author:

Olivia Williams Jones is psychologist from Brisbane, dedicated to making some changes in the world, starting from her own environment. Together with her husband, she is a proud mum of two silly boxers, Teo and Mia. She is also a passionate writer about pets, parenting and healthy living. Her motto is “Be the change you want to see in the world”.

https://www.facebook.com/olivia.williamsjones

https://twitter.com/OliviaWJones1

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