Everyone knows that cats are soft, fluffy, purring creatures. However, not many people know that a common house cat can be more beneficial than any licensed doctor. You might be shocked, but cat therapy (treating various ailments with the help of cats) is officially recognized as a form of medicine in some countries.
Of course, you can’t force a cat to heal someone. Cats can sense a person’s attitude toward them, so it’s essential to have love and trust between you. When that bond is there, your kitty can easily help with your migraines, insomnia, and even rheumatism. AdmiGram.com tells all cat lovers how these whiskered friends positively impact our health.
Cat Therapy: 10 Ways Cats Boost Our Health
Cats Fight Off the Blues
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No matter how dark and gray your days may seem, interacting with a cat causes your body to produce oxytocin. This hormone relaxes you better than any antidepressant and counteracts the production of cortisol (the stress hormone).
Cats Help Prevent Heart Attacks and Strokes
Chronic stress and high blood pressure are hallmarks of these severe conditions. Studies have shown that a cat’s purring lowers blood pressure in people with hypertension, and the bond between you and your fluffy friend makes you more resilient to stress overall.
Cats Help You Avoid Extra Weight
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Maybe it’s because you keep giving your leftovers to the cat, but it’s a funny truth that cat owners rarely struggle with weight problems. Want a flat stomach? Get a cat.
With a Cat, You’ll Sleep Like a Baby
As practice shows, just 5-10 minutes of petting your fluffy doctor before bed works better than any sleeping pill. Plus, regular cat cuddles don’t come with the side effects of medication. So you’ll sleep soundly every time you pet your cat before bed.
Cats Relieve Pain
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In France, there’s a special clinic where migraines, arthritis, and sciatica are treated with cats. When the animal sits on the painful spot, it warms the area and gives you a gentle vibrating massage through its purring.
Cats Help Bones Heal
A cat’s purr occurs at a frequency of up to 44 hertz. These sound vibrations are believed to aid cell regeneration and even speed up the healing of bone tissue.
Cats Boost Your Immunity
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Having a cat in the house is linked to higher production of protective antibodies, which strengthens your immune system. Cat owners also tend to have lower rates of respiratory illness.
Cats Are Good for Your Cardiovascular System
Researchers at the Texas Medical Center found that people with a cat at home seek medical help for cardiovascular issues half as often. Their risk of a heart attack is 42% lower.
Cats Can Help with Allergies
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In practice, people who grow up with a furry pet at home are almost twice as likely to develop natural tolerance to allergens, making them less prone to allergic diseases later in life. Allergic to pollen? Consider getting a cat.
Cats Help You Cope with Emotional Pain
Experts believe that hardships like unrequited love and loneliness are much easier to get through if you’re a happy cat owner. And interestingly, the more cats you have, the stronger the therapeutic effect seems to be.
image on top: Humberto Arellano / Unsplash
