LONDON, United Kingdom: Dog owners are healthier than cat owners – but owning a cat is better for your wellbeing than nothing at all, according to a new study.
Owning any sort of pet helps in lowering disease, stress, boosts overall health, and can even help you bounce back from ailments as severe as heart attacks, according to the report published recently by the British Journal of Health Psychology.
According to Dr Deborah Wells, senior lecturer in the School of Psychology at Belfast's Queen’s University, dog owners have it best in the health stakes. As reported on the British Psychological Society's website, Dr Wells said owning any type or breed of dog can improve both your physical health and psychological well-being.
Dr Wells said owning and caring for a dog can prevent owners from falling sick, assist them in recovering from illness and can even alert owners that they are suffering from certain types of afflictions before they can really take hold. She said that it wasn't clear why owning dogs and cats seemed to help keep owners healthier than non-pet owners, but there are several possible reasons.
"It is possible that dogs can directly promote our well-being by buffering us from stress, one of the major risk factors associated with ill-health,” Dr Wells said.
“The ownership of a dog can also lead to increases in physical activity and facilitate the development of social contacts, which may enhance both physiological and psychological human health in a more indirect manner."
Owning a dog appears to have a wide range of beneficial effects, according to the study. Figures showed that dog owners had lower levels of blood pressure and cholesterol, fewer physical ailments, and were less likely to have more serious medical problems.
According to the Society's report, owning a dog could also aid owners to recover quicker and more completely from illness - even from serious physical problems such as heart attack. There is also evidence that dogs might act as "early-warning systems" for certain types of ailments such as cancer and epileptic seizures.
I don't doubt that dog owners are more physically fit than us cat owners, but to me that isn't important. My darling little Tigger gives me comfort from all the stresses of the every-day rat race. You can keep your walks, I just love sitting in front of the tv with Tigger sitting in my lap purring.
I go jogging with my dog every day, and I'm pretty sure I'm fitter than him now! when we get home after a run he can't wait to flop down on the porch but I am ready to do it all again!!
Nice article. Hey, has anyone seen that episode of Scrubs where JD Dorian pours this box of kittens on this dying heart patient and she suddenly springs back to life? Hahaha- that was funny. But kittens do have this sort of effect on you, don't they? Makes you want to just pet 'em and stroke 'em and bring 'em home =)
Having cats are such a delight! Its truly rewarding to have earned the love and respect of a kitty cat. My little Chloe (well, not that little, i suppose) and Joloonie give me so much love. They love hanging around me when i get back home from work. And yes, they have this way of taking away all the stress when we play for several minutes at night. Cat people unite! :)
Funny how more cat people commented on this article more than dog people :)
Now, all cat lovers here are just getting too defensive, eh? This article is true. My Buddy just has so much energy. You really can't get big dogs trapped inside your house. They want to run around and they don't stop bothering you til you take them out. That's how I got into exercising. Walking was just too slow for Buddy so now we jog. Now I am in the best shape ever. Thanks Bud!
I totally agree with Debbie! The most important thing is that you do have a pet you love very much! They will definitely love you back many times over- whether a cat or dog- and that's truly guaranteed to bring your stress levels down!
maybe someone should also make a study on cat owners and other pets as well so there won't be any hurt feelings.
I don't think there should be any debate here. It doesn't matter if you have a cat, dog even a fish for that matter! As long as they give you joy and you love and take care of them that's the most important thing.
i'd have to go with the cat people. notice how many old women own cats. they probably help the old ladies age more gracefully.
My dog would never stop til I take him out for a walk. He knows when it is the late afternoon, time for his walk. Whimpers like hell that i have no choice but to have a walk. good thing tho - i'm having the exercise i need coz of him.
i've always known that having dogs makes you feel better. at the end of each work day, i always look forward to going home coz i can spend time my my two dogs. it really takes all my stresses away..
damn straight we're healthy! keep on runnin'!
Pets bring anxiety levels down. Doesn't matter if they are cats or dogs or horses, even. As long as they de-stress you, it's all good.
that's actually what i look forward to after a hard days work. i enjoy going home to see my golden retriever after which we run and really de-stress ourselves.
This is so true. Without my doggy, I'm sure I'm a perfect contender for high blood pressure and other stress-related illnesses. It's amazing. Going home to a greeting dog instantly vanishes all stresses that I had during a day's work.