Cat Facts
One of the Most Important Cat Facts You Should Know
People who lead unfettered lives with few responsibilities and demands on their time but still want a pet generally choose a cat, facts show. However, there may be one additional benefit to choosing a cat; one very important fact that could actually improve your own health.
Probably one of the most interesting and controversial cat facts to be revealed in a long time is the recent result of a 10 year study, involving over 4,000 Americans and conducted by researchers at the Minnesota Stroke Institute. The study concluded that owning a cat could lower an individual’s risk of a heart attack by nearly one third, and is causing quite a stir among both heart experts and veterinarians alike.
In the study, the participants were divided in two separate test groups; cat owners and non-cat owners. The cat owners group may have been current or former owners of a cat, while the non-cat owners had never previously owned a feline. Ages in the test groups ranged from 30 years old up to 75 years old.
The senior author of the study is also the Executive Director of the Stroke Institute in Minneapolis, Dr. Adnan Qureshi. The doctor confirmed that stress and anxiety are well known contributors to cardiovascular occurrences; heart attacks in particular. Owning a pet can help to relieve stress and this is especially true when the pet is a cat, facts show. Cats are, for the most part, lap animals, desiring to be petted and stroked. This action of petting and stroking is what is believed to reduce levels of stress and anxiety along with blood pressure and heart rates as the human body enters into a calm state.
The results of the study were reached by examining the deaths from all causes within the study group. Following this information throughout the ten year period, cat owners showed a 30% decreased risk of death caused by heart attacks than that of individuals who had never owned a cat.
To answer the debate over whether owning a dog provided the same health benefits, veterinarians responded with the argument that dogs demand more attention and care than cats, which may actually raise the stress levels of their owners. Dogs need to adhere to a regular routine, wanting to be fed and walked at regular times, which is different from the lifestyle of a cat; facts that cats lead independent lives and almost take care of themselves support this theory.
Whether or not the results of this study can be verified remains to be seen, however, it is evident that this study provides one of the most important cat facts ever realized. Owning a cat is not only enjoyable company, but can produce life saving health benefits for the owner, as well.