You’re welcome.
If that made you feel better, you’re not alone.
There are many beneficial effects of stroking a cat. It lowers blood pressure. Cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. Cat owners also have fewer strokes.
Cats can help people suffering from depression. Cats are good for children, too. It makes them less allergy prone. Perhaps most amazing of all, a cat’s purr heals broken bones.
Some of these effects are benefits from any connection with the natural world. Fish in a tank, flowers in a vase, or a stone fireplace are all positive influences in a room. Some people give dogs the extra health points, because a dog demands exercise and getting out and about. These are a good points, and may work wonderfully for those who need that nudge to get out and be active.
But I don’t know any other pet who gives so much, and asks so little. A pet who is incredibly happy just to be there with us, on our lap or on our our chair or in our room. As I often say, cats are easy. It’s easy to make them happy.
Maybe that’s why they have such a good effect on us.
For more about cats who help people, see my post Cats for People’s Problems.
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There’s more to choosing a cat with The Way of Cats than the article you are reading now. See my CHOOSING A CAT.
*Sniffle* That kitten looks like the late great Boris when he was a kitten — even G saw the resemblance and he didn’t meet Mr. Bo until he was all grown up.
He was an awesome cat.