5 Surprising Reasons Why Having a Cat is Good For Your Health

3. Your Heart Will Love Them

Did you know that pets can help you to have a healthier heart? We’re not just talking emotionally, but physically as well!

In one study, people who never owned a cat had a 30% higher chance of dying from heart attacks than those who had owned pets at some point in their lives(1).

Pet owners have a much lower rate of death from cardiac attacks than non-pet owners, and they tend to be healthier in regards to the condition of their heart(2).

4. They’re Good for Your Kids

Not only do cats help to encourage your children to be friendlier and more careful in their interactions, but you will find that they will benefit your children’s health in the long run.

In an article published in 2014, the chief of the Division of Allergy and Immunology at the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center stated that having a cat reduces a child’s risk of developing allergies(3).

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The more allergens (such as cat hair) children are exposed to at a young age, the less likely they are to become allergic to them as they grow older. Roughly 41% of the children who were free of allergies grew up in homes with pets, but only 8% of children with allergies had been exposed to pets (and their accompanying allergens) at a young age.

5. They Make You More Optimistic

You should know by now that being isolated or lonely can be just as bad for your health as being overweight or smoking. Thankfully, pets can help to combat that problem!

In at least one study published in 1994, pet ownership was proven to decrease loneliness(4). If you feel like you’re alone in the world, there’s nothing to pull you out of that funk like having a cat in your life!