The Therapeutic Benefits of Cats

It's been six years since I got my first pets, and they were cats. My roommate and I fell in love with them instantly in the pet shop. They were older than the other kittens, off in a corner playing by themselves in exactly the same way that two of our role-playing characters tended to do. It was perfect, we had to have them.

And despite some hardships that have come along the way (usually things that were out of our control), I don't regret them for a moment. In fact, they've quite possibly been one of the best things to happen in my life. If I didn't have them, I can't imagine how much worse off I'd be, emotionally.

That isn't to say that cats are the cure to all life's problems. But they have been proven to be beneficial in many circumstances, especially to improve emotions. Studies have been done involving stressed and upset people, whereby they are given a cat to pet. The rhythmic motion of petting and the constant low sound of a pleased cat purring from the attention being paid to it has shown to have a calming effect, to reduce stress, and even to lower blood pressure.

My cats have done wonders for helping me cope with my depression. One of them, Nick, has a knack for knowing when I'm upset, and for knowing just what to do to help me. The first time he saw me really break down and start to cry, while my other cat stood nearby and looked confused over why the human was acting so strange, Nick crawled into my lap and snuzzled me and purred, and stayed there until I had stopped crying and felt better. Nick was always the less sociable of our two cats, so this came as something as a surprise to me. At least, I was surprised once I'd calmed down enough to think clearly about it.

He's done this on other occasions. So has Jakob. Cats, and other pets, can become remarkably well-attuned to their humans' moods and can, in times of stress, know to at least attempt to comfort them. Sometimes it can help immensely just to know that another loving creature that cares about you is around, even if all they're doing is sitting quietly and letting you stroke them. The smooth repetitive motions of petting, the warmth of a living creatures who's got some friendship and association with you, these things can do wonders in times of stress.

Even aside from those particular benefits of owning cats, they can provide hours of amusement for you with the addition of even a simple piece of string. Drag the string across the floor and watch kitty chase it and pounce and wiggle. Pets, like humans, can often have favourite toys, or types of toys. Jakob's favourite toy is a cheap plastic sword that I found outside one day. I brought it inside, and he attached himself to it and has loved it ever since. (This has caused a minor problem with the real swords we have in the apartment, but we keep them sheathed and out of the way so that they don't cause any damage to delicate kitty paws.) He whines at us to play with him with it. His favourite game is for us to drag the point of the sword along the floor in circles while he chases it until he's too dizzy to move. Watching cats play, and joining in their fun, can provide countless hours of amusement.

Or simply give a cat a loth mouse stuffed with cotton and catnip, and watch them spaz out. Trust me when I say that this will put a smile on your face. Nobody can resist a cat playing with catnip.

(Interesting side note, did you know that catnip actually has an opposite effect on humans that it has on cats. While for cats it stimulates them and makes them hyper, it can be calming for humans, and is often put in soothing teas. Doesn't taste too bad, either, with a bit of sugar or honey. So both you and your cat can benefit from the stash.)

Watching cat antics has given me a million laughs and will give me countless more before the time comes when my kitties can't be with me anymore. They say laughter is the best medicine, and there's some truth to that. Finding something to smile about when you feel bad has also been shown to lift moods, even if you don't actually feel any amusement along with the facial expression. But when my cats get up to their insane tricks, playing with each other or with me or just rolling on their backs and looking cute, I feel every smile.

Even if your cats aren't particularly as sociable as mine (from what I've heard, our cats are a lot more social and friendly than a lot of other cats) and they tend to be more aloof and distant, there are still benefits. Yet more studies have shown that people suffering from depression do better when having to take care of a living creature. While some people opt for plants because they're low maintenance, a cat, even a more emotionally distant one, can still be a good idea. Having something around that needs you and relies on you for certain things, and that can remind you in a very obvious way that you're not alone, can be a real emotional boost and can make recovering from depression and other forms for emotional trauma much easier.

If they are as friendly as the cats I'm fortunate enough to live with, then that's just a wonderful bonus. But part of the trick to get along with your cat, as it is with any other animal (human or otherwise), is to know what they like. Some cats will let you pet them only when they come to you for affection, while others adore random pets and snuggles. Some enjoy being held, others won't tolerate it. Some will sleep on your pillow or by your bed (mine do, just about every night), while others want their own bed or will sleep on the couch or other room by themselves. It all depends on the cat in question. Spend a little time getting to know your cat at first, experiment a little to get to know what they like and what they don't, and the relationship can progress quite smoothly and the bonding can last a lifetime.

And with that kind of bond, you'll never find yourself lacking for a companion, someone to help you out in times of need, even if it's just by sitting near you and letting you know that you're not alone.