Is there anything better than coming home from a long day and seeing your cat? Stress can take a huge toll on our mental health and well-being, and having a cat can be a real source of comfort. Their purrs, their chirps, or their little bodies laying on top of yours can help their owners relax.
Cats are increasingly being recognized for their therapeutic benefits, particularly in stress reduction. But what is it about cats that helps us feel more at ease? Let’s discuss how cats can reduce stress and positively impact mental health.
Stress and Anxiety Relief
Cats have a soothing presence that can alleviate feelings of stress and anxiety. Spending time with cats can cause your body to produce stress reducing hormones. This will decrease your heart rate and blood pressure, relaxing the nervous system and normalizing anxiety levels. Aside from feeling better emotionally, a reduction in stress levels also lowers your risk of developing cardiovascular issues like heart disease and strokes.
Cozying up with a cat companion can reduce your anxiety, helping you to calm down and refocus your energy. Being with your cat also triggers the release of happiness chemicals in the brain, including serotonin and oxytocin, which alleviates bad moods. Brain scans have even shown that being with their cats activates the prefrontal cortex of cat owners, which has a calming effect on them.
Companionship and Routine
Having a cat companion can help fight loneliness and depression. Taking care of a pet and developing a relationship with them gives you purpose and helps create a routine for both you and your cat. Cats are very predictable and they love a routine, which means their meal times, play times, and bedtimes should be on a set schedule. This can help provide structure and routine for their owners as well, which is beneficial for people dealing with anxiety or depression.
Knowing that their cat depends on them gives pet owners a sense of purpose or fulfillment, which can help to relieve mild depression symptoms. Having a cat around to keep you company can help you to relax and redirect your attention from anxiety or negative thoughts. When they cuddle with you, meow for attention, and follow you around the house your cat is showing you unconditional love and letting you know that you are not alone.
Purring
Research has shown that the frequency of a cat’s purr (typically ranging from 20 to 140 Hz) and the vibrations created can have therapeutic effects on the human body that promote healing and reduce stress. The sound of a cat’s purr can trigger the release of oxytocin, the hormone that fosters bonding and feelings of happiness, and lower cortisol, the stress hormone.
Playtime
Playing with your cat is great for their mental health and yours too. It can be a great source of stress-relief and help you to unwind. Pouncing on a wand toy, chasing a laser light, or playing a game of fetch are all opportunities to connect with your cat. Seeing them feel joy and live in the moment allows you to do the same.
The spontaneity of play is a good reminder to have fun and not take things so seriously. It lets you take a break from your worries and focus on making someone else happy. Playtime can also trigger the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which are associated with happiness.
A cat can provide a sense of comfort, routine, and emotional support that can have a profound impact on your mental health and well-being. They can help alleviate stress and anxiety, decrease loneliness and depression, and increase self-esteem and sense of purpose. Their therapeutic presence can bring you peace, calm, and a healthy dose of happiness to your life every day.
Love, Nala
