A list of benefits to having a dog and/or cat!

By Nao Mitsutomi

If you’re reading this, chances are you’re a huge animal lover! We all know that pets are wonderful, sweet, amazing companions that enhance our lives in all aspects--including our own health! Here are some fun science-based facts about the benefits of having a cat and/or dog! 

Cats:

• They can lower risk of heart disease.
  • Studies have found that owning a cat can lower your stress levels, which in turn affects your risk of cardiovascular disease--they can lower your risk by around 30 percent!
• Their purring helps to heal bones, muscles, and tendons.
  • Cat purrs create vibrations at a frequency of 20-140 Hz. Studies have shown that frequencies in the 18-35 Hz range have a positive effect on joint mobility after injury, and there have been talks by scientists about how cat purring could help humans!
• They reduce stress and anxiety.
  • Having cats around can trigger the release of calming chemicals in your body, lowering stress and anxiety levels!

Dogs:

• They relieve stress and are good for your heart. Literally.
  • One study has found that playing with a dog or even just petting one almost immediately lowers blood pressure and heart rate, slows breathing, and relaxes muscle tension!
  • The “American Journal of Cardiology” published research about a study of 369 heart attack patients one year after they were released from the hospital, comparing survival rates between pet owners and non-pet owners. The research concluded that the connection between humans and dogs reduces stress--a major cause of cardiovascular problems.
• Improved mental health.
  • Dog owners are less likely to experience depression compared to non-pet owners. The interaction and love received from a dog can help uplift moods, and even just looking at your pet increases the amount of oxytocin, the “feel good” chemical, in the brain.
• You’re more resistant to allergies.
  • While dog dander can be a trigger for people with allergies, children who grow up in a house with a dog are less likely to develop allergies throughout the course of their lives!