By Teagan Serink, Mayah Echin, Alexis Balch, & Mikayla Dancy
Are you not feline too good? Researchers have found that being around cats can help with your physical and mental health. This article discusses a few of these benefits, such as stress reduction, bone growth, reduced risk of asthma and cardiovascular disease, and improved social connections.
Feline Good Café Values Your Health
Our core values include relaxation, paw-sitive vibes, and an e-mow-tionally supportive community. Our goal is to create a space where everyone can enjoy being around cats and to provide opportunities for people to find their purr-fect companion. All proceeds from our drink items go towards caring for and rehoming stray cats.
Without further ado, here’s 5 ways that being around your cat can paws-itively benefit your health.
#1. Being Around Cats Reduces Stress
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Many of us can’t deny the calming effects cats give us simply by being around them. Turns out, these effects are fur-real and have been observed in multiple studies! Researchers at Washington State University found that university students had much lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol after petting cats. If you’re having a stressful day, interacting with cats can be an easy way to give you near-instant relief from stress and/or anxiety.
Another study found that cats can help people stay calmer in stressful situations. When tasked with a difficult math problem, cat owners had a more stable heart rate and blood pressure when their pet was with them. In comparison, non-owners who were accompanied by a human friend became more stressed out during the experiment. Sometimes, a cat’s presence may be enough to support you through stressful times.
Whether you’re looking to dispel some anxiety, or find the courage to tackle a challenging assignment or project, taking the time to be with your furry friends can be beneficial to your mental wellbeing (and if you’re looking for a fun, convenient place to study and be with cats, stop by our cat cafe!).
#2. Evidence Suggests Cat Purrs May Help Bone Growth
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While we tend to think a cat’s purr simply expresses contentment, researchers theorize that cats’ purrs could also be a healing mechanism. Cats not only purr when they are happy, but also when they are stressed or scared. This prompted researchers in 2001 to record and analyze purrs from several species of cats, including housecats, cheetahs, ocelots, pumas, and servals, to investigate how purring might contribute to a cat’s healing following injuries or other cat-astrophes.
Afterwards, the researchers found that these cats purr at the exact frequencies that promote bone growth and healing. Purring is their way of both soothing and healing their body! These frequencies are also used by human doctors and therapists to relieve pain, treating physical conditions such as edema and dyspnea. It turns out that cats are not only beneficial for our mental health, but likely our physical health as well.
So, next time your lap cat asks for a cuddle, you should oblige them! Your bones might thank you for it.
#3. Growing Up Around Cats Reduces Asthma & Allergy Risk
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While we typically think of cats as the cause of allergies, research shows that they can also protect you from allergies as well! A 2020 meta-analysis found that childhood exposure to cats (and the allergens they produce) reduces your risk of asthma and allergic rhinitis. If you ever owned a pet cat as a kid, that kitty likely helped prevent you from developing asthma or allergies later on in adulthood.
So, if you have any little ones in your life, it is possible to reduce their risk of developing these irritants by taking them for a visit with a friend’s cat, a local cat café, or by adopting your own cat to take home to them. (Author’s note: as someone with asthma and horrendous cat allergies, I can attest that they will thank you for it!)
#4. Cat Ownership is Correlated with Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk
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Another major health benefit of owning cats is that cat owners are less likely to experience cardiovascular disease. While the exact reasons for this correlation are not yet understood, some theorize that the calming influence of cats may reduce the amount of stress on your cardiovascular system. This is especially true in high-risk individuals that are more susceptible to cardiovascular disease. Despite this being correlated with any pet owner in the study, a cat would be the best option for those wishing for a lower maintenance pet. So, if you knead an excuse to take a break and visit your furry friend, or are just looking for a new companion, remember that these paw-sitive interactions are good for your heart!
#5. Cats Can Enrich Your Social Life
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Cats also improve your mental health by helping with loneliness. A 2015 study found that housecats often act as an extra source of emotional support, particularly for people who live by themselves. During life transitions that distance you from your personal support network, such as moving to a new city for college or work, your cat can help give you the e-meow-tional support you need.
Another study found that cat ownership can help people make friends and expand their support networks. One way this can happen is by increasing the amount of incidental social interactions you make over time. If you bump into the same people at the pet store every week, after a while you may feel more connected to your local community of cat owners. Additionally, owning a cat can reduce social anxiety by giving you a shared interest that you and other cat owners can connect with.
At Feline Good Café, we strive to create a welcoming environment where everyone can enjoy the physical and mental health benefits of being around cats. Whether you’re looking to adopt a cat, connect with fellow cat lovers, or enjoy a relaxing afternoon with some feline company, Feline Good Café welcomes you!