6 reasons cats are good for you

There is hardly a sound more relaxing than the purring of a cat. Their owners will tell you that living with a cat is good for them, and this statement can be scientifically confirmed. Find out in this article why cats are good for your health.

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1. Cat purring is a stress reliever and is good for your health

American researchers have managed to demonstrate in studies that cats lower the stress level of their owners. Stroking a cat increases the production of happiness hormones , while the production of stress hormones decreases. The cat's purring further intensifies the relaxation effect.

The research team studied a group of people exposed to high daily stress, and chose single stockbrokers. They were able to prove that the presence of cats had a positive effect on the subjects. Typical stress symptoms, such as high blood pressure, accelerated heart rate and increased sweating, were observed in the subjects. In a group of people all exposed to the same stressful situations, those who had a cat were clearly more relaxed.

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2. Cats are good for the heart

When we are stressed, our blood pressure increases. Those who suffer from high blood pressure are permanently at increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Since cats have a positive effect on stress levels , the risk of disease is reduced. Specifically, studies have shown that households with cats are 30% less likely to have a heart attack.

3. Cats heal bones

Cat purring has a relaxing effect. But it can do much more than that. Studies show that the regular buzzing of cats has a healing effect on bones . Bone fractures heal much faster in cats than in other mammals. Researchers have found that this is due to the frequency of purring, which is about 25 Hertz. And it turns out that this purring also works in humans. Using a vibrating device, researchers have managed to reproduce the frequency of cat purring and prove its healing power on human bones.

4. Cats reduce the risk of allergies in children

Young parents often worry that their cat will harm their baby's health. But it's actually the opposite. Studies show that children who grow up with a cat are less likely to develop allergies. However, this only applies if these allergies do not already exist in the family.

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Studies prove that there are even more benefits to growing up with a cat. For example, cats have a positive effect on the development of children's personality. They quickly learn to take responsibility and develop a higher level of social competence.

5. Cats are sensitive

Cats seem to have antennas that pick up on our mood. They immediately notice when we are not feeling well or when we are sick. There are stories that give you an idea of ​​how sensitive cats really are. For example, the male Oscar who lives in an American retirement home. He walks the corridors every day and visits the patients. His special feature: he seems to notice when a patient is about to die. His predictions are so accurate that when he starts spending more time with a patient, the caregivers inform the family directly.

6. Cats make great therapists

Because of their positive effect on humans, cats are now also used in animal-assisted therapy. For example, therapy cats can help elderly people with dementia or children with ADD. They help the patient to feel good and counteract the feeling of loneliness. They can also reduce the distance between therapist and patient. The tasks that therapy cats can be assigned are very diverse.

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Therapy cats do not undergo any special training. However, choosing a cat as a therapy cat only makes sense if it is a cat that is close to humans and open to strangers. Any cat is potentially suitable. For example, the Munich animal shelter has launched the project "Children read to cats". In the same way as with "reading dogs", children with difficulties can regularly come and read to cats. Cats are good listeners and do not criticize, which gives the children a sense of security and helps them learn to read. For their part, the shelter cats enjoy being petted by their little visitors. Another sign that cats are good for their health.