Relieve stress
Many people enjoy petting cats. Pet owners note that stroking their pet calms nerves and relieves stress. Scientists have found an explanation for this fact.
Studies have shown that when a person pets a cat, the level of cortisol in his body drops. This is the name of the hormone that is formed during stress. When the production of this substance decreases, we feel calm and serene. If you are prone to stressful situations, then just pet the cat. This will help you relieve anxiety and nervousness.
Reflexologists believe that there are certain areas on the palm of a person's hand that are responsible for relieving stress. These are the areas that are stimulated when we pet cats. Gradually the anxiety goes away and relaxation sets in.
Affect mood
The bad mood disappears when the cat jumps into your arms, lays down in a ball and begins to purr. She feels that the person is experiencing apathy, trying with all her cat charms to help solve this problem and most often she succeeds.
Cats are able to cope with such a serious illness as depression, which has a very negative effect on a person’s condition, his actions and thoughts. Their purring also helps with this; it has strong healing properties, reduces stress and irritability. A person experiences a relaxing effect when petting a cat. Consequently, his mood and well-being noticeably improve and depression gradually recedes.
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Treat depression
Cats help cope with mild to moderate depression. Studies have shown that interaction with furry pets promotes the production of serotonin. This substance is called the “hormone of joy”, it is responsible for improving mood.
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A cat is a companion animal. It can become your true friend. With depression, a person often finds himself socially isolated. You will never feel lonely next to a cat. When you're depressed, you may find it difficult to communicate with other people. But with a cat, you don't have to worry about looking your best. Animals love their owners in both sadness and joy.
People with depression often experience a lack of energy and find it difficult to perform even simple activities. But if you get a cat, you will have to take care of it every day. This will help overcome apathy and keep yourself in good shape.
How do animals purr?
The vocal cords are equipped with a group of muscles located nearby in the larynx. They allow cats to make characteristic sounds when inhaling and exhaling. The work of these muscles is controlled by brain impulses. Cat purring is an ability unique to felines and no one else in the natural world. Close relatives - lions and leopards - express their pleasure more often with other sounds. It's a snort, a low growl.
When do they purr?
There are many situations that cause a cat to reproduce a characteristic purr. These include:
- A newly born blind and deaf kitten finds the nipple by the purring of its mother, the vibrations of which it feels with its body. During feeding, the cat becomes silent.
- During the period of estrus, the animal calls its mating partner with characteristic sounds of a different tonality, but reproduced according to the same principle - with the help of additional muscles in the larynx.
- Comfortable communication between a cat and its owner, friendly individuals, and its own litter is always accompanied by purring.
- Satisfaction with life after a hearty meal is also a reason to purr.
The sounds made by animals, including the purring of cats, are studied by bioacoustics.
There is an opinion that a cat purrs not only when it is happy, but also to relieve its own stress.
Scientists have suggested that cats purring is not always a sign of satisfaction or pleasure. In addition to its utilitarian purpose in matters of feeding offspring and attracting a mate, purring is used by cats to relieve their own stress. There is a known case where a cat was taken from home to another place located 3 km away. The animal did not like the situation and ran away. Having found its home only 10 days later, the cat walked around the house and purred all day. It has also been observed that cats purr when they are sick. Apparently, these sounds also heal the animal itself.
Reduce blood pressure
Scientists from Brooklyn College and New York University conducted a joint study. 48 people suffering from hypertension took part in the experiment. Their health status was studied for six months.
All subjects took medications to lower blood pressure. Half of the experiment participants were asked to have a cat at home. The results of the experiment showed that blood pressure decreased in all subjects. But stress spikes disappeared only in those participants who kept cats at home.
If you are prone to hypertension due to stress, then the cat will become your little healer. Stroking your furry pet can calm you down and your blood pressure will return to normal.
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Why can't you kill?
For most people, killing animals is an unnatural and extremely cruel act.
Why cats should not be killed can be explained from several points of view:
- It has always been common for humans to kill animals: for food, for home improvement, for making clothes and accessories, and simply to demonstrate their superiority. But from a psychological point of view, killing cats is a special kind of cruelty. In our culture, they take the place of a person’s friends, sometimes they are full-fledged family members. There is an opinion that whoever raises his hand against a cat can harm a person. And this is not an unfounded assertion;
- From a scientific point of view, if you destroy cats, the population of mice and rats will certainly increase. And this threatens humanity with serious troubles. History knows many examples when rodents became the cause of famine and terrible epidemics;
- In the religion of Ancient Egypt, cats were deified. Anyone who harmed her would face the death penalty. However, in other religious movements these animals are given a special place. For example, a cat cannot be kicked out of an Orthodox church (unlike a dog), it cannot desecrate the altar with its presence;
- many signs also speak of dire consequences for the one who offended the cat. One of them claims that a person who kills a cat bears the black mark of evil, and for seven years he will be haunted by grief and misfortune.
Lower cholesterol
High cholesterol levels are the main cause of atherosclerosis. This disease subsequently leads to heart attacks and strokes. The presence of a cat in the house will help you reduce the concentration of this harmful substance in the blood. How does this happen?
Canadian scientists have found that constant communication with cats reduces triglyceride levels. These substances are responsible for the production of cholesterol. Therefore, cat owners are less likely to suffer from atherosclerosis.
Scientists: A cat's purring is a superpower with a healing effect
Purring is a superpower that cats use to heal themselves. But part of this healing energy also goes to their owners.
Photo: Roman IGNATIEV
Cats are walking physiotherapy machines! This conclusion was reached by Elisabeth von Muggenthaler, a specialist in the field of bioacoustics from the Institute for the Study of Fauna Communication in North Carolina. She noticed that cats purr not only in moments of pleasure. This rumbling is also heard when a cat is preparing to give birth to kittens, is sick or is afraid. Elizabeth recorded and studied the purring of 44 representatives of the cat family, including cheetahs, pumas, servals, ocelots... It turned out that these animals purr in the range from 20 to 140 Hertz. However, domestic cats "operate" in the range from 25 to 50 Hz.
Studies have shown that vibration in this range increases bone density and relieves pain from tendon and muscle injuries. A number of medical devices that are used in sports medicine operate on this operating principle. According to Elisabeth von Muggenthaler, purring is a superpower with which cats heal themselves. But part of this healing energy also goes to their owners.
But that is not all! A study conducted by scientists from the University of Minnesota proved that having a cat in the house is an excellent prevention of heart attacks! A team of doctors led by Adnan Qureshi studied the health data of 4,435 Americans aged 30 to 75 years. Of these, 2,435 were cat owners, and 2,000 did not keep animals at home. Over a 10-year observation period, “cat breeders” had a 30% lower risk of dying from a heart attack!
“We knew about the positive effects that pets have,” says Qureshi. — Communication with them helps relieve psychological tension and stress, which are closely related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. But we never expected to encounter an effect of this magnitude in the case of cats.
Increases immunity in children
Many parents mistakenly believe that a small child and a cat in the house are incompatible. However, scientific research proves that children living next to furry pets have stronger immunity. They get sick much less often than their peers who do not have animals.
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Such children are less likely to suffer from allergies and asthma. After all, from an early age they come into contact with cat fur. Children's bodies produce antibodies against this allergen and form a strong immune system.
Affect the heart
Strokes and heart attacks happen due to constant stress. This is where cat purring comes to the rescue again and is the best therapy. It treats like ultrasound - its frequency is 20 hertz, so fatigue goes away, pulse normalizes and blood pressure decreases. Cats sense the appearance of heart-related problems in advance, and they try to settle on the left shoulder or on the very chest of their owner, sometimes lying on his back.
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Scientists say that such diseases are most effectively cured by: Bengal, Scottish fold, British and Russian blue cats. It is believed that people who have this animal live longer.
Relieve pain
Many “cat people” know that if you put your pet on a sore spot, the discomfort gradually goes away. Cats can act as a living pain reliever. What is the reason for this effect?
Cats have a higher body temperature than humans. Pets act like a living heating pad. Exposure to heat stimulates blood circulation and reduces pain.
If the cat purrs while leaning against the sore spot, the therapeutic effect is enhanced. Warming is complemented by healing vibrations. This is especially useful for musculoskeletal pain.
Benefit #1: Reduces Stress Levels
The feeling of satisfaction and relaxation when your beloved furry is nestled on your chest or lap is by no means a placebo effect. The frequency of a cat's purr falls into a very "therapeutic" sound range that relaxes the nerves and makes you feel more comfortable.
So the next time you're feeling stressed, try sitting down with your cat on the couch and see if its vibrations are working for you.
Slow down aging
When a person pets a cat, the production of oxytocin increases in his body. This substance is otherwise called the “love hormone”. It is thanks to oxytocin that affection and trust are established between a person and his pet.
Oxytocin rejuvenates muscles and slows down cell aging. This hormone promotes active longevity. Scientists have found that the constant presence of a cat in the house prolongs a person’s life by about 10 years. But this rule only works if you devote enough time to your pet and communicate with him often.
Sanitary control
Having a cat at home (as well as a small child) often forces home owners to maintain cleanliness and order. Restless animals do not know the “place” command, love to run around the apartment and often misbehave, dropping dishes or other objects on the floor - or spoiling papers left on the table. This quickly teaches owners to put fragile things back in their places, remove excess from horizontal surfaces, keep balls and threads only in the needlework box, and so on.
And finally, the benefit of a cat is that it is the one that can put an end to the protracted conflict between men and women regarding the initial position of the toilet seat. Many cats show great interest in the water running in the toilet... and then it immediately becomes obvious that the toilet seat should be down and the lid closed. For purely sanitary reasons. This means that there are fewer quarrels in the family.
Occurrence of other problems
Other problems that may be associated with cats in the form of worms, fleas or parasites can be easily and simply solved with modern medications offered by any veterinary pharmacy or specialized pet store. In addition, timely vaccinations will reduce the risk of problems with your pet to a minimum.
And a cat in a private home has always been considered an obligatory guest, since it is better than any mousetrap in helping to get rid of annoying rodents that are carriers of terrible diseases.
Benefit #6: Relaxes and heals sore muscles
The same level of vibration that has a healing effect on the bones is very beneficial for the soft tissues of our body.
Therefore, after a busy day at work or in cases of inflammation and muscle strain, try treating yourself with the help of your beloved pet. Just lie down next to him and scratch him behind the ear. In response, you will hear a purr that will relax and heal your tissues.
Interesting! It is believed that this benefit helps cats remain strong and resilient, even if they are lying on the sofa or windowsill 90% of the time.
A reason to purr
Cats do not always purr, but only in special cases:
— after games and communication with the owner, when the animal is about to rest; — the mother cat demonstrates to the kittens that they are safe and need not be afraid; - when the owner strokes his pet, this indicates great love and devotion; - when he hears the aroma of his favorite food; - the male cat purrs in the company of a weaker opponent, showing him that there will be no fight; - during illness, when the animal wants to bring its circulatory process back to normal; - when you’re scared, to calm yourself down and set yourself at peace; - sometimes cats purr before they die, perhaps this is how they say goodbye to their owner.
Therapeutic properties
When you pet your pet, your body releases oxytocin, a hormone that stimulates love and trust. If you are sad and everything in life is not going as you would like, ask your little healer for help. You will feel much better if you give your pet some attention.
Friendship
It is impossible to feel lonely if a cat lives in the same house with you. After all, these are loving creatures and their affection helps us a lot. For those without a significant other or those who suffer from depression, you should consider getting a cat. Scientists have proven that friendly relationships have a positive effect on our health and this cute creature can become a true friend!
Benefit #4: Heals... fractures
Research has shown that cats' purring can also improve bone strength. And this facilitates their healing after a fracture or crack.
The best frequencies for increasing bone strength are 25-50 Hz. And since most domestic cats purr in the range of around 20 Hz, it definitely promotes healing and strong bones.
Cat harm in the house
An animal with rabies is a threat to the health of the people around it.
These animals are carriers of dangerous diseases, some of which can infect humans. Among them:
- rabies;
- lichen;
- toxoplasmosis and other infections.
These fluffies can bring benefits and a lot of positive emotions. You just need to take some precautions.
The most terrible disease is rabies. For animals it is incurable. Therefore, it is necessary to get regular rabies vaccinations. The disease is contagious to humans. Ringworm is not a fatal disease, but it is unpleasant. People with weakened immune systems, as well as children, are mainly infected. A cat can get toxoplasmosis from eating poorly processed meat that contains parasites. After passing through the acute stage of the disease, the cat becomes a carrier of Toxoplasma for life. The main danger is for pregnant women. When this parasite enters the body of such girls, there is a risk of developing fetal pathologies. A miscarriage may occur.
It must be remembered that cats can be infected with helminths. People can also become infected. It is necessary to deworm cats according to a schedule. Some pets cause allergies. These animals may scratch during play or during aggression. Their claws contain many microbes that enter the bloodstream through a scratch. They cause the wound to fester or infection to spread.
