pet therapy
THE POWER OF
PURR
C
By Michelle Fouchi Esneault ats are not just cute and furry companions, they can also be good for your health. According to the Humane Society of the United States, 62 percent of American households own at least one pet, and a little less than half of those households own at least one cat. In appreciation, your feline friend offers these benefits: ies have found that playing and A study by the Univercuddling with your cat and sity of Minnesota found that the unconditional love they cat owners are 30 percent provide improve mood and less likely to die from a heart can help relieve depression. attack, and their chances of dying of cardiovascular disease A State University of New York at Buffalo study go down as well. Scientists have found that found that cat lovers are more likely to have lower blood prescat ownership can cut stroke sure, reduced heart rate and risk by one third. less anxiety. It is thought that Scientific American states stroking a cat cuts stress-relatthat a cat’s purr reduces stress ed hormones in the blood. levels and lowers blood pres A Canadian study sure. It also says that the frequency of a cat’s purr, between reported in Psychology Today 25 and 150 Hertz, can facilitate states that owning a cat can lower your cholesterol just as bone density and healing. effectively as medication. A growing number of A three-year study at the studies show that the love Baker Medical Research Instiand positive feelings you have tute in Melbourne, Australia, for your cat can give your has shown that owning a cat immune system a boost. can lower triglycerides. Further, numerous stud-
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INSPIRE HEALTH
Time reported on a French study that stated that autistic children benefit emotionally and socially when they have a family cat. Cats can help children with other developmental disorders as well, especially with communication. The journal Pediatrics reports that researchers have found that if you have a cat, your newborn is less likely to develop asthma and will have a greater immunity to allergies. Studies have shown that nursing homes that allow therapy cats have lower medication costs than facilities without cats. A German study found that if you own a cat, you don’t go to the doctor as often or have as many hospital visits, perhaps for all the reasons stated above. One last benefit: Adopt a homeless animal from your local shelter, and not only will you save their life, but you’ll feel pretty good, too.
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