Pets are wonderful beings who will never judge us, who will always love us for being ourselves and not for how we look. They can even become an unconditional friend, a cloth of tears, a reason for smiles, but above all they can become one more member of the family. But, do you know the impact your pet has on you?

The best companion

Many people recommend having a pet to avoid feeling lonely. But it is more than that, a pet can create such a strong bond with you that it notices when you are sad, angry or worried and they do everything possible to see you happy. You may be wondering, do cats do this too? These pets have always been judged for being detached from their owners, but the truth is that they never stop evaluating people’s behavior, therefore, your cat does detect your emotions!

Decrease stress

How many of us come straight from work or school to greet our pets? During the day there can be many things that stress or worry us, but all of that disappears when we play with our pets. According to a study conducted by Washington State University, with just 10 minutes stroking your pet, cortisol (stress-related hormone) levels are reduced.

Family junction

We have all interrupted someone in the family to tell them to accompany you to witness how cute the pet looks while sleeping, eating, running, etc. There are no perfect families, but when it comes to the “spoiled” at home, everyone agrees to give him the best, they go to the park together to walk him, they choose his toys, they buy him special snacks and everyone worries when he gets sick.

They help you socialize

It is said that having a pet helps you connect with other people because it gives you a perfect conversation piece in which you can exchange advice, anecdotes and even recommendations.

Make you more responsible

Having a dog, a cat, a fish, a bird, a hamster or any other animal requires commitment and that is why it is common for parents to give their children a pet so they can learn about responsibility.

Just as pets have a huge impact on our well-being, we impact them too. Integrating a pet into your life is not easy and requires a lot of commitment. Please do not mistreat, neglect or abandon your pets.

Author: Nerissa Álvarez

Review by: Betzabe Guido

References

Friedmann, E., & Thomas, S. (1985). Health Benefits of Pets for Families. Marriage & Family Review, 8 (3-4), 191–203. doi: 10.1300 / j002v08n03_14

Jennings, L. B. (1997). Potential Benefits of Pet Ownership in Health Promotion. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 15 (4), 358–372. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801019701500404

Albuquerque, N., Guo, K., Wilkinson, A., Savalli, C., Otta, E., & Mills, D. (2016). Dogs recognize dog and human emotions. Biology letters, 12 (1), 20150883.

Pendry, P., & Vandagriff, J. L. (2019). Animal Visitation Program (AVP) Reduces Cortisol Levels of University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AERA Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858419852592

Losada, M. (2016). 7 benefits of having a pet for your mental health. Retrieved 4 August 2020, from https://www.muyinteresante.es/salud/articulo/7-beneficios-de-tener-mascota-para-tu-salud-mental-961460364104

What do cats do when their master is sad? Do they remove sadness? (2020). Retrieved 4 August 2020, from https://www.barkibu.com/blog/que-hacen-los-gatos-cuando-su-amo-esta-triste-quitan-la-tristeza