Owning a cat does not mean just owning an animal, it means having a best friend. As someone who owns four cats, I feel that cats have impacted my life in a way I never knew was possible. When adopting a cat you gain a best friend, an emotional support animal, and a child.
Cats have always been seen as angry or annoying because they don’t act like dogs, but they are just as affectionate when comfortable. Aside from being a very cute and playful animal, cats have been studied for being supportive of their owners’ well being and health. Awhile ago nourish.com released an article stating that cats had been one of the most beneficial animals in “animal assisted living.” Animal assisting living would include elderly people and others who are suffering from mental issues like PTSD or depression. Cats not only made the people feel less lonely but the cats showed remorse for them and their feelings. It’s important to remember that cats can’t be trained because they usually do what they want, but the cats are helping others because they want too.
Some cats do tend to be more solitary, and both of my female cats are like that, but my male cats are a lot more affectionate and they show that they understand how me or my mom are feeling. My cat Loki has an attachment to me, and he’s my best friend, but he’s also always there for me. If I’m having a really bad day, my cat knows and he tends to bother me. He’ll follow me around, sit on my lap or chest, and if I ignore him he’ll even meow a lot. Not all cats do this, but every cat shows their remorse and affection in some ways. Whether it’s sleeping next to you or following you from afar, the cat is trying to support you.
My cat Loki acts like he’s my emotional support animal, and honestly I see him that way too. For decades cats have been used as emotional support animals but people tend to forget because they would rather adopt a dog, but a cat can be just as beneficial. Cats won’t automatically make you feel better but there are medical studies that tell us how cats can help us. Owning a cat has been said to lower blood pressure, ease loneliness, reduce stress and anxiety, and boost the immune system. I can vouch for all of this information because my cats truly help me. Cats are extremely beneficial to us, whether its gaining a friend or an emotional support animal.
