Do cats and pets help you live longer.

United States
February 12, 2007 4:00pm CST
I was just reading an article in my neighborhood paper about this subject. It says that the Centers for Disease Control reports that pets decrease blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels and alleviate feelings of loneliness and depression. It goes on to quote from a book, "Even if we don't find inspiring relationships among other people, we find real love, affection, friendship, companionship, camraderie and loyalty through the animal companions we adopt." Do you agree with the above and whether you do or not, why? I certainly agree with it, my cats show me unconditional love that is hard to find with people.
5 people like this
16 responses
@ESKARENA1 (18261)
13 Feb 07
i think cats tend to calm the environment, so if you carry on feeding them they do indeed show you love. However, im convinced im not the only owner of my cat, he seems to have a few of them and seems to call in on all of them on a regular basis. By acting to calm the environment, cats act to slow the metabolism and lower blood pressure therefore i think they are more healthy to have around. Although i believe cats do act in this way, im convinced no one truely owns one, dogs have owners, cats have staff. blessed be keep on posting
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Feb 07
I find that last line to be true as far as the cats, mine surely have me trained.
@mergl81 (195)
• United States
13 Feb 07
This is probably true if you have a well behaved pet. My dog drives me nuts. I think she ups my blood pressure. I guess we just have a personality clash. She's more my husbands dog than mine anyway. I guess it is nice though when she's calm and snuggles on the couch with us.
1 person likes this
• United States
14 Feb 07
Hopefully as she gets older she might settle down a little. Thanks for responding
• United States
12 Feb 07
I absolutely, utterly and totally agree! People dont give animals enough credit for what they do to improve our lives. I honestly don't think I would be the same without my pets.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Feb 07
I know I will always have cats and if I ever have a home of my own, a dog too. Even though I hate everytime I have to put one of them down when it's their time and swear I'm never going to get anymore because it's too hard, I always end up with more. I can't imagine living without the little guys running around and the pleasur they give me.
@rosie_123 (6113)
12 Feb 07
Well as an animal lover, I would have to say that - yes - they can have good effects. Here in the UK, we have a charity which specialises in taking dogs into Hospitals, and Old Peoples' Homes to "visit" the sick, and elderly, and wonderful results have been found. The patients enjoyed the dogs' visits, because they could stroke them. talk to them, play with them, and feed them, and it gave them something different to do, and to look forward to. Pets give you love, loyalty, companionship, respect, and fun, and it has also been proved that stroking a cat, and hearing it purr, does lower blood pressure. Obviously, I guess, if the patients did not like pets to start off with, it would not have a good effect, but I think there is a lot of truth in your theory.
• United States
13 Feb 07
We here in the US have similar programs with dogs and I've even seen it with certain breeds of cats going to retirement homes and certain hospitals.
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I absolutely believe this to be true. I've posted before about the therapeutic effect our cats have on my special needs son. I also have always told my troubles to my pet. They love us unconditionally and always listen without disagreeing with us. What better companion can be found than our dog or our cat?
• United States
13 Feb 07
I'm glad your cats have a good effect on your son. Many years ago my mom had passed away very suddenly and at the same time I was going through a divorce and the cat I had help immensely. I believe he kept me sane during that time, he was always there to listen to me and to be hugged and petted and he never argued with me, LOL.
@earth2jacq (1502)
• Philippines
13 Feb 07
I absolutely agree with you. Pets improve the quality of our lives because they provide companionship, stress relief and exercise. Pets give us unconditional love that we don't commonly feel with other human beings (save for your parents). They provide us with the healing power of touch therapy. Read more about the healing power of pets here: www.drmartinwilliams.com/healingpets/healingpets.html
• United States
13 Feb 07
Thanks for the link I will check it out.
@icequeen (2840)
• Canada
13 Feb 07
Yes...I do agree with that. I have a cat myself..and she is great. I have also known people with pets and they become a very important part of thier lives. They are there when you need them..they are great listeners...and all they need in return is love and care...so I think that owning a pet really helps...in some situations.
• United States
14 Feb 07
Thanks for your comment.
• United States
13 Feb 07
I agree with you whole heartedly. I have two cats that give so much unconditional love. When I am stressed, they sense it and are so affectionatel. Just stroking them, sooths me. They are such good companions and very loyal. We adopted both of them from a shelter. One is 9 years old, the other 15 months. People don't realize how they help their health, and also, that they have feelings and need a lot of love and atttention too. Their lives will live longer as well.
• United States
21 Feb 07
Thank you again for best response.
• United States
14 Feb 07
Thanks for your response.
@vmoore709 (1101)
• United States
12 Feb 07
My Dog - This is my dog.
I have heard this as well and I do believe it is true. I've seen an elderly person lose a spouse and have such a broken heart. A family member got the woman a small dog. She then had something else to think about and care for. Of course, it took a while for her to be "back to normal" but I swear it was because of that dog.
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Feb 07
The dog probably did help her a lot, she had a companion who depended on her and probably gives her lots of love. Thanks for sharing.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I do agree that pets show us unconditional love. I have three cats and every one of them show me love in a different way. One of mine is so attached to me she follows me all around the house. And even sleeps with me and will not let the other 2 up on the bed she is jealous.LOL
• India
13 Feb 07
yea sometimes its a write for some extend coz it gives company but in real sense our body needs cant b fullfil by a cat,i dnt agree much,its we, who can b remide ourself@@@@
• United States
14 Feb 07
I was talking about emotional needs, not the needs of one's body.
• Philippines
13 Feb 07
its true pets help our life live longer, pets relaxes us and coz of their loving nature they always try to please us and they are the only one who miss us even if we leave the house for a minute they always welcome us with full gladness so lets cheer to our pet
• United States
14 Feb 07
Thanks for your response.
@prishiin (15)
• India
13 Feb 07
yeah i think so that cats and pets help humans to live a longer life..in my opinion they help us to keep us happy and smiling when we come from our work !!! they make us smile all the day !!so its really good too feel that we are fresh!!!
1 person likes this
@BlackBay (584)
• Canada
13 Feb 07
The one great thing that pets offer you is the uncondition love they give.You have a bad day and come home to someone who is happy to see you and loves your company.
• United States
14 Feb 07
Thanks for responding.
@Sawsen (793)
• United States
13 Feb 07
I really don't know. But I think that's an interesting theory. I agree that animals do give unconditional love, and so maybe that could be the reason. And it's also like having someone there with you when you have no one around. So maybe they're a form of inspiration.
• United States
13 Feb 07
Yea, what you read is probably true. Sometimes when I go to bed with unresolved work-a-day problems that I cannot seem to get my attention off of, all of a sudden my cat Max A Million jumps up on the bed and cuddles right up against me - within moments I fall fast asleep because his presence is such a comfort.
• United States
13 Feb 07
Love your cat's name, it's different.