The benefits of having cats at home are numerous. Cats have been shown to reduce stress and anxiety in their owner, which is a great thing for someone who has a lot going on in their life. So, what is the psychological benefits of having cats that all people should know?
- Increase happiness
- More Positive Environment
- Reduce Stress and Anxiety
- Improve empathy
- Improve well-being
- Companionship and reduce loneliness
- Providing better mood
- Reduce risk of heart disease
- Improve your self-esteem
- Mental Stimulation
- Help people with sleep problem
Read the below article for more details about cat and human psychology.
Table of Contents
What are the psychological benefits of having cats at home?
More and more people are finding that cat ownership can be the answer to many of their problems. It’s no secret that human psychology can be greatly affected by having a cat. The effect is really remarkable and everyone should have a cat because there are so many benefits.
1. Increase happiness
Cats can be a source of amusement and laughter for people, but they can also increase your happiness. Cats are very intelligent and can provide us with unconditional love and affection.
Cats also cause a release of oxytocin, which is the “feel-good” hormone in the brain, to an even higher degree than their canine counterparts.
2. More positive environment
Do you have a lack of positivity in your life? If so, a little feline friend may help. Positivity has been linked to the release of dopamine, endorphins, and serotonin, which are all associated with happiness and joy.
Cats can make a positive impact on a person’s mood and people who have a cat in their lives are more likely to be positive. Cats have been shown to be just as effective as therapy.
3. Reduce stress and anxiety
If you’re feeling stressed, anxious or a little depressed, a cat can help with that! Cats are a popular choice of a pet because there is a lower risk of allergic reactions and cats are good at regulating their body temperature. Cats purr when they are content and this sound has been proven to lower stress levels.
There are many studies that have shown this, including a recent study that found that people have lower levels of cortisol, which is a hormone linked to stress after they spend time with their cats.
Cats don’t require a lot of attention, but they do need a lot of love, which can help you feel more relaxed and at ease. They’re great at relaxing people because they are calm and quiet.
4. Improve empathy
Emotions such as empathy and compassion are natural responses to the experience of others, but often we lack the proper stimulus to invoke these feelings. Everyday activity such as petting a cat has the ability to increase the capacity for empathy in humans.
The simple act of stroking a cat can trigger a response in humans that allows them to understand and feel empathy for others.
Some cats may be used as a way to teach children about responsibility and care for another living animal. Empathy is taught through the act of taking care of another living animal just like cats and dogs.
5. Improve well-being
If you’re a cat owner, you know that they’re pretty much the best thing ever. They’re cute, cuddly, and can be great company. But did you know that cats also have some great psychological benefits that can help in improving their owner’s well-being?
Cats have become so much more than just pets – they can improve emotional well-being for humans. For example, while some people might feel better if they were to hug or hold another human, others may feel comforted by something like petting a cat.
6. Companionship and reduce loneliness
Cats are the perfect companion for people who live alone and want someone to hang out with. It can be hard to fill your time with meaningful activities.
If you don’t have any friends or family nearby, you might feel trapped in a sense of loneliness. Loneliness is a general feeling that can apply to anyone, but it feels even worse when there is no one around to comfort you or keep you company.
A cat, unlike a dog, is an independent creature that does not need constant attention and care. Cats offer a sense of companionship without the responsibility of having to share your time with them all day long. Cat companionship is nice because it doesn’t require much effort from you, it’s easy and convenient.
7. Providing better mood
Recent research has shown that cat owners often have a more pleasant mood than those without cats. One likely cause is the cat’s calming effect on the owner.
Many people pet their cats for this purpose, and it can be seen as an additional therapeutic benefit of owning a cat. The cats purring and meowing also provide a sense of companionship and security to the owner.
Additionally, cats often act as barometers of the emotions of their owners, reacting to moods or changes in behavior with their own corresponding mood or behavior.
8. Reduce risk of heart disease
Being a cat owner may help you live longer, healthier lives! That’s because cats are good for your heart health.
Living with a cat can reduce our risk of heart disease by lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels, while also improving respiratory health.
Scientists have found that owning a cat or more as a child significantly reduces your risk of heart disease as an adult. In fact, those with five feline friends had a 54% lower risk of heart disease as adults than those who grew up without pets!
9. Mental Stimulation is one of the psychological benefits of having cats at home
Many of us know that pets can be helpful for mental stimulation, but did you know that having a cat at home can be one of the most effective forms of mental stimulation for an individual?
This may sound like a stretch but it turns out that cats help to stimulate our brains and we benefit from this by stimulating our neurons and increasing our serotonin levels.
Cats also provide many opportunities for physical stimulation in the form of playing and grooming. A pet cat can provide mental stimulation for people who live alone and are able to stay home during the day.
They can be beneficial for some patients who suffer from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease because they require their owners to interact with them on a regular basis.
10. Improve your self-esteem
Owning a pet can influence your self-esteem, especially if you are living alone. They provide you with the company of another creature, which can provide you with an emotional bond. Furthermore, they give you the responsibility that will improve your self-esteem as well.
While some people may think that benefit of having a cat at home doesn’t have much impact on their self-esteem, it is shown in studies that this is not always the case.
11. Help people with sleep problem
Cats are great for people who have a hard time sleeping. When it is time to sleep, they may like to have a cat that will rub against your legs or purr in your ear.
They provide an instant comfort and bond to their owner.
If you are having trouble sleeping, consider adopting a feline friend who will both snuggle with you and help take care of the house for you while you sleep!
What if I don’t have a cat?
Cats add a variety of value to our lives such as companionship, entertainment, and unconditional love. However, sometimes life does not allow for having a pet. Maybe it is time that you considered why you want or need one.
Cats are scientifically proven to have the ability to relieve stress, increase workplace productivity, and lower blood pressure. They also can provide companionship for those who are lonely.
Cats are known to have a calming effect on infants which often leads to uninterrupted sleep. As opposed to other pets cats usually do not shed much. Cats have been known to be an effective way of combating depression and anxiety due to their therapeutic qualities.
If you do not have a cat, you need to adopt one. There are many benefits of adopting a cat. One such benefit is that cats provide companionship and entertainment for children and adults alike. Cats provide the same amount of amusement and playfulness as a dog but without all the messy cleanup that comes with it.
Conclusion: Psychological Benefits of Having Cats at Home
In conclusion, not only does a cat provide you with psychological benefits, but it helps you physically as well. Cats are enjoyable and the best pet for when you need to relax.
They cause little to no harm to most people and they provide emotional support over dogs in the majority of cases. They give you a sense of personal space and they can be a great companion when you’re trying to study or do work.
It’s nice that you mentioned how cats could be a source of amusement and laughter for people, but they could also increase your happiness. My daughter’s birthday is coming up and I am thinking of gifting her a pet. So, I should probably buy Maine Coon kittens, since they look really cute.