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Better adjusted
nonowners on several dimensions,” said lead researcher Allen R McConnell, PhD, of Miami University in Ohio.
“Specifically, pet owners had greater selfesteem, were more
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physically fit, tended to be less lonely, were more conscientious, were more extroverted, tended to be less fearful and tended to be less preoccupied than nonowners.”
A study involving 217 people (79 per cent women, with a median age of 34) answered surveys aimed at determining whether pet owners differed from people who didn’t have pets in the areas of wellbeing, personality type and attachment style. Several differences between the groups emerged, and in all cases, pet owners were happier, healthier and better adjusted than nonowners.
PLAY is often considered an indicator and promoter of animal welfare. Playing with your cat may also nurture closer cathuman bonds. In a new study, scientists have investigated these links by applying indepth empirical methods to analyse data gathered from around the world.
Researchers at the University of Adelaide created an online survey in consultation with veterinarians, animal behaviourists, and cat guardians, to investigate playrelated factors associated with the welfare of cats.
“Our survey results, based on responses from 591 cat guardians from 55 countries, indicated greater cat playfulness and more types of games played were significantly associated with better cat quality of life,” said the University of Adelaide’s Julia Henning, a PhD Candidate, who led the study.
“Also, longer amounts of daily play, greater number of games, both cat and guardian initiating play, and heightened guardian playfulness were also associated with better quality catguardian relationships.”
GETTING ALONG: Rabbits need time to adjust.
