1. They are excellent
companions.
Cats are often thought to be
distant and aloof, but they are actually quite social and thrive in a family environment.
Cats love to sit on laps, cuddle, play
and greet you at the door when you come home. They will wait patiently for you to want to spend time with
them, and be very affectionate when you are available to them. Cats seem to be able to sense when
you are sad and need comfort and affection. They don’t talk back or give you sass like some of your
human companions.
2. Cats contribute positively to your mental and physical health.
Cats have a calming effect
and have been shown to lower the blood pressure of their owners. Studies have shown that petting and
interacting with a cat may have similar effects on the brain to meditation and
yoga. They also serve as social support for their owners during difficult
times. Cats have been shown to
help their humans get over a significant loss faster than those people without
a pet cat. Cats also boost children’s immunity to allergens and reduce the
incidence of asthma. A National
Institutes of Health study showed that Children that were exposed to high
levels of pet allergens during infancy had a lower risk of developing asthma by
7 years of age.
3. Cats are easy and efficient to keep
Cats are very low
maintenance and flexible when it comes to their home environment. They are just as happy to live in a
mansion as to live in a small, one bedroom apartment. Most cats are easily
litter-box trained, so you do not have to walk them in the rain and snow. They prefer using a clean litter box,
so you must work to keep their area clean and free of smelly waste buildup. As long as they have human interaction, clean litter box access, healthy nutritious food, regular veterinary care and a soft
place to sleep, they are happy and will often live well into their teens.
4. Cats are economical and environmentally sound
Cats are inexpensive to keep.
Other than food and cat litter on a weekly basis, the only other regular
expenses will be, parasite treatments as recommended by your veterinarian,
annual vaccinations against the diseases cats are susceptible to, and a veterinary
health check every 6-12 months.
They also have a smaller carbon footprint than their canine
counterparts; so if you want to save the earth, keep more cats.
5. Cats are entertaining
Cats are playful, funny, and
curious and have a great deal of energy as proven by all those funny and
interesting Internet cat videos that we can sit and watch all day. They are
eager to get attention from their family members and can even be taught tricks
and learn to fetch through clicker training and food rewards. They are very acrobatic too
and will run, leap, pounce and even fetch for a treat or favorite toy. The entertainment value that comes from
watching a cat play is beyond belief and cheaper than Netflix.
So if you are in need of a
pet and you have been debating which type to adopt, consider a cat. There are millions of perfectly
adoptable cats and kittens in need of homes each year and we always have a few
to offer here at Warren Woods Veterinary Hospital. Our
cats and kittens always make wonderful companions. 