Why dogs and cats are good for the soul and make us happy
Dog or cat? The split on this question is deep. Those in the cat camp love their purring companions, as they share their propensity for kicking back and relaxing on the sofa - an activity at which cats truly excel. Dog lovers, on the other hand, cannot live without those spry four-legged friends that will not only retrieve the stick they throw but also come on every vacation with them. They do agree on one thing, though: Animals are man’s perfect companion – and so much more: Even studies have begun to show that pets can make you happy and have beneficial effects on the health of their owners. But, why is that? This blog post is giving some answers.
Pets promote our health
Cats and dogs will notice even the slightest changes in our behavior and give us a tender nudge with their nose when we are down or place their paws in our hands with gratitude or wait anxiously for us to take them out into the woods. To many, they embody more than just a pet. They are friends, mates, companions, and confidants. No wonder then that there is already a good number of existing studies that looked into how humans live with their pets – and produced some surprising and delightful findings. For instance, science has come to prove that the mortality risk linked to cardiovascular diseases can be lowered by 40 percent in people who own a pet. In other words: Cat and dog owners less often develop serious heart conditions. What is more, our furry friends and their peers can also lower the blood pressure of their mistresses and masters. Another benefit can be experienced by those who come into contact with cats and dogs as early as their childhood, as these pets strengthen their immune system and fortify them against allergies and asthma. Lastly, dog owners in particular benefit from their four-legged friends’ need to be taken outside and for movement in general: They will stay as physically active as their pets. As a result: The likelihood for a dog owner to become obese is lower than in people who do not share their lives with a dog.
Dogs, cats & Co. are good for the soul
True health is, however, not limited to physical factors - far from it. As Winston Churchill once put it: “You must offer something good to the body so that the soul wants to live in it.” Conversely, you have to offer something good to the soul so that it stays in harmony with your body. The key is to strike the right balance. And, cats, dogs and Co. can work miracles in this respect as well. As studies have shown: Pets have a positive effect on the mental health of their owners – which means they make us happy. Or, more precisely: They help us keep away from stress, counteract mental conditions, enhance our emotional stability and add meaning to our lives. Especially vulnerable individuals, such as children, the sick or the elderly benefit from their purring or barking companions. Even office dogs have now become a more common sight as the presence of animals and the ability to pet them already have a calming and invigorating effect on us and offer something good to our soul. But that is not all, as researchers have also found out that pets can assist us in staving off memory loss and the decline of our cognitive abilities. The benefits are most pronounced in the area of verbal memory, i.e. in everything that has to do with communication.
Pets turn us into better human beings
There are even more aspects that are beneficial to owners of cats and dogs: Their animal companions can help them improve their feeling of self-worth. The reason for that is: Cats and dogs judge their owners not based on superficial criteria. Whether their master or mistress has a lot of money, has stunningly good looks or success in their careers is of little interest to our four-legged friends – they love their human companion no matter what. They thus give their love unconditionally and in a way that does good to their owners and makes them more open and tolerant. Better yet, dog owners often manage to make the acquaintance of new people more quickly as studies have found dogs to be “social catalysts”. This means: They serve as conversation starters, helping to create a connection. Moreover, pet owners also need to be good at organization and paying attention. After all, dogs, cats and their peers not only require regular feedings and exercise but will also give you various signals intended to alert you if they are not feeling well. The urgent response: Jump to action.
Stay connected with your beloved pet – even after they have died
Even though we wished it were not true: Our beloved four-legged companions, sadly, do not live forever. We will have to bid them farewell one day. Luckily, there are now options for keeping your darling pet close to you even after they have passed away. We at Mevisto craft personalized gemstones from the hairs or ashes of the animal. The final products are twinkling sapphires and rubies that carry uniquely significant meaning.