“I can feel my blood pressure going down”
“My mood is calmer and happier”
“I stop worrying about everything”
“I just feel blessed!”
These are common answers from cat owners when asked how they feel when they are cuddling their cat (or cats). And there’s plenty of scientific evidence to support the fact that cats can make us well.
Of course, cats can’t cure cancer or perform other medical miracles, but they do have the ability to improve our health and well-being. For example, a large study published by the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology found that previous or present cat owners had a significantly lower risk for stroke, heart attack or other cardiovascular disease than noncat owners. The most amazing piece of information coming from this study is that doctors included subjects that previously had a cat but did not have one at the start of the study. This means previous cat owners were still continuing to enjoy the health benefits of once being a cat mom or dad!
Here’s more proof that cats are what’s good for your brain and soul. Sleep studies involving women with mild to moderate insomnia discovered these women preferred sleeping with their cat over their partner. In fact, subjects participating in the study told researchers they slept better with their cats than they slept when alone or with their partner.
So How Do They Do It?
Cats have the ability to encourage our brain to release three “feel-good” chemicals: oxytocin, endorphins and serotonin. Oxytocin (AKA the “love” hormone) increases feelings of calmness, security and joy. Endorphins are the body’s natural painkillers that are released when you are under physical stress. Serotonin is responsible for regulating your mood, sleep and appetite. People with depression take antidepressants because they raise the level of serotonin in their brains.
Well, there you have it. Cats actively support our health and emotional wellness every time they gaze at us, rub their faces against our legs and purr when we scratch between their ears. In addition to spoiling them, the most we can do to show how much we love them when we leave home is to rely on professional cat sitters for the best cat care in Evanston.
About Our Cat Sitting Services
Cats are both introverted and extroverted. While they love taking long naps by themselves on their favorite window sill or perch and sometimes ignore our requests for a cuddle session, they thrive on interacting with humans and mentally stimulating activities. Depending on our cat sitting expertise when you leave home means you not only have peace of mind while away, your cherished cat’s safety and well-being is in the best hands possible. Keeping your cat happy and healthy will keep you happy and healthy. And that’s a win-win situation for both of you!
Contact us today to learn more about our cat sitters and the services we provide to cats and their owners in Evanston and surrounding areas.
