Benefits of Having a Cat

Cats Are Great for Viral Videos but They Are Even Better for Our Health

While the viral cat videos keep us entertained did you know that a cat’s calm and gentle nature has been shown to be beneficial to humans? These traits are now being put to use with therapy cats who can help adults and children who are mentally, emotionally and physically ailing.

Aside from their irresistible cuteness,  cats are actually good for your health. It has been statistically proven that having a cat can lower your blood pressure, stress levels and lowers heart rate. That is why they have cats in various places such as retirement homes, nursing homes, schools, hospices, and other human service care facilities because just petting a cat can give you a mental break. These cats are called “therapy cats,” “comfort animals” or “emotional support animals.” A therapy cat is defined as a cat trained to help ailing humans in a medically beneficial way to take advantage of the human-animal interaction for purposes of relaxation and healing.

People who suffer from depression often find solace in the companionship that their pets provide.The emotional problems that depression brings about can be tumultuous and trying. A furry friend can be just what the doctor ordered, providing a special kind of support that can be considered a type of medication for the human soul, with positive results and no side effects.

There Is Power in Their Purr

The most important characteristic of a therapy cat is its temperament. A good therapy cat must be

friendly, patient, confident, gentle, and at ease in all situations. Therapy cats must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and handled, sometimes clumsily. Believe it or not, they create vibration within a range of 20-140 Hz known to be medically therapeutic to many illnesses.

Frequencies of 25-50 Hz are the best for healing bones and 100-200 Hz are the second best for promoting bone strength. Cat’s purr can decrease the symptoms of dyspnea both in cats and humans. The vibrations can also help in the healing of soft tissues such a muscles, tendons and ligaments. It lowers the stress levels by calming down the nerves, as well as healing infection and swelling.

Cats Reduce Your Risk

Studies show that having a cat can reduce the risk of having stroke by up to 40%. Therapy cats are also especially valuable to the elderly or when interacting with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia patients, by stimulating both memory and forgotten emotions.

As with any animal we share our lives with we owe it to them to keep them safe. While your cat at home might not fit the role of a public therapy cat, they mean the world to you. Keep them healthy and keep them safe by knowing how to recognize when things aren’t right – most importantly, knowing what to do when an emergency happens. Learn cat first aid and CPR today so that you are prepared for tomorrow.