Want to Feel Better? Go Stroke Your Cat!

Stroking your cat can be good for your health! It has long been known that pet ownership is good for you, we all need someone or something to love. It is also believed that stroking a pet, such as a cat, reduces stress levels and helps you to have a more positive perspective on life.

Stroking a cat, and listening to the sound of its contented purring, reduces tension and lowers your blood pressure it is believed.

A study was made of a group of people before and after they acquired a pet, the majority reported that their health had improved in as little as three to nine months. The people who owned dogs reported the greatest health benefits, because of the exercise involved in walking the dog, but cat owners too said that they felt a lot better even though they were not so active.

Many senior citizens homes have "residential" cats, and staff report these pets as being of great benefit to the residents, helping them feel more comfortable and to remind them of normal home life. The physical contact with the pet can be therapeutic, and the activity needed to care for the cat gives the residences a sense of purpose. The need for medications falls quite substantially in nursing homes where there is a cat available for stroking, and the act of stroking can help recovery after an illness.

Of course, it is not only seniors that benefit from the company of a cat. Whatever your age sharing your home with a cat means that you will need the services of your doctor less often and be less likely to feel isolated or lonely. Children also benefit from having pets in the home. Studies have shown that many children believe that their cat helps them with their relationships with other family members and friends.

The American Journal of Cardiology published an article in 1995 attesting that those of us that own pets are more likely to make a recovery from a heart attack than non pet owners. One of the explanations for this was that stroking a pet releases endorphins into the brain calming the nervous system, and therefore lowering your heart rate.

So, if you want to feel better, forget about your favorite tipple, forget about chocolate, simply go stroke your cat.

About The Author

If you have a pet related web site and you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and live link to http://www.best-cat-art.com. Cat art posters, art prints, cat calendars and cat collectibles. Great cat gifts for yourself or your cat loving friends.

In The News:

Should Your Family Get a Purebreed Dog?

Many people ask the question: "Should we get a purebreed... Read More

The Fun of Do It Yourself Snake and other Reptile Cages

Are you nuts? You think banging your finger with a... Read More

Training Your Dog To Lay Down On Command

Training your dog to obey commands is an important part... Read More

Thinking of Getting a Lhasa Apso Dog?

One of the cutest looking dogs around is the Lhasa... Read More

How to Make Your Cats Life, and YOUR Life, Happier - Training Your Cat

Imagine that you are scolding your cat for scratching at... Read More

Crate Training Tips: How to Crate Train Your Dog

A crate is a valuable and useful training tool. Its... Read More

The Demand for Luxury Dog Beds

A pet can be as important a member of the... Read More

Chinese Shar Pei Character

If you have never seen a Shar Pei before, the... Read More

Chinchillas As Pets

You may wish to consider a chinchilla as a possible... Read More

Materials for Snake and other Reptile Cages

What kind of materials should you use when constructing a... Read More

Things You Should Never Feed Your Dog

Sadly, there are several household items which we tend to... Read More

Pros and Cons of Buying Pet Medicine Online

Pets are many things in many ways but they are... Read More

How To Stop Your Horse From Rearing And What To Do If He Does It Unexpectedly

There is a dangerous problem that horse owners should be... Read More

Antibiotics? I Think Not

Have you noticed that doctors are now being much more... Read More

Which Of These Horse Catching Mistakes Do You Make?

The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More

Dog Anxiety - Fear of Thunderstorms, and Other Dog Fears

How to Deal With Anxiety in Your DogAnxiety in dogs... Read More

Tips on Sexing Discus Fish

Do you have some adult discus fish and want to... Read More

Bird Cage Stands

Like us, birds need variety in life. To be happy... Read More

The Cure To Stop A Horse From Kicking

I get a lot of horse training questions about stopping... Read More

Online Guide For Training A Dog

Guide for training a dogSo you can use a guide... Read More

An Introduction to Dog Beds

Some people are so attached to their pets that they... Read More

How to Care for Your Kitten

Caring for a kitten is a lot of work. With... Read More

Crate Training Dogs: The Right Way and the Wrong Way - Part Two

Part2: Does your puppy want to be crate trained?Yes! in... Read More

What Type Of Food Should You Really Feed Your Cat?

What should you feed your cat to make sure he... Read More

Separation Anxiety in Dogs

What is Separation Anxiety?When you leave the house, it is... Read More