Hello Fiber Friends!
Today I want to explore what are the benefits of having a pet? Two weeks ago I lost my best furry buddy. While she was 16 years old it was an unexpected passing. I feel a HUGE loss. I have had a kitty, or more…LOL, for 41 years. We still have our dog but there is just something missing about not having my Jessie around.
What does Science say?
Results of studies on benefits of having a pet are mixed. Some studies say what I know…it is a good thing. Other studies say there are no benefits and there may even be harmful effects to being a pet owner. Today I want to just focus on the benefits of having pets in your life.
Pets can help us stay fit
Let’s face it, if you have a dog they are going to have to go outside to do their business. If you work or live in the city, dogs are cooped up all day and they need to stretch their legs. That extra up and down, in and out are burning calories you more then likely need to get rid of! Our Ebony loves to be be outside and walk…sometimes it seems she is walking us rather then we are walking her…HAHAHA!
Pets make sure you are never lonely
If you live alone, it is great to have a pet to talk to and love. I am alone all day and it was great to have Jessie here. She would follow me around to see what I was doing. We would have coffee outside in the mornings and sometimes lunch outside too. She was happy to lend an ear should I want to moan about the awful day I had. At night she was right beside me in bed; my husband curled up on one side of me and kitty on the other. Could life get any better?
Pets help lower your stress levels
Let’s face it life is stressful and we know high levels of anxiety can lead to numerous health problems. Another benefits of having a pet is they can help us relax – stroking your cat or simply watching fish swim around in a tank can make your worries melt away. Previous studies have shown pet owners tend to have lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels than people who don’t own a pet. That means having a furry pal can decrease the chances of suffering a heart attack later in life.
There was nothing more comforting then sitting with Jessie in my lap and petting her. Sometimes I would close my eyes and just breathe to her breath. Falling asleep in my chair with her on my lap would always make me feel better.
Pet owners are less likely to suffer depression
Pets help humans fulfill the need to touch. Physical contact distinguishes humans from other animals. From a warm handshake or sympathetic hug to a pat on the back, we have developed complex languages, cultures, and emotional expression through physical contact. But in a tech-saturated world, non-sexual human touch is in danger of becoming rare, if not obsolete. Despite the benefits of digital advancement, it is vital to preserve human touch in order for us truly to thrive. With our present world situation of covid-19 it is vital we preserve human touch and having pets can help us do that while we are waiting to get back so some sense of normal.
What I learned from having a pet
Taking care of a pet is no different then taking care of yourself or a child. They need to have regular veterinary visits and checkups just like we do! I was lucky with her, she was not a sickly cat. However, I did know she had bad teeth and did not follow up on getting them taken care of. As a result she developed a badly abscessed tooth that I was not aware of. She had decreased the amount she was eating and I did not put the two together. As a result she was in pain more then she needed to be. I don’t know if this led to her passing but it sure doesn’t make me feel any better.
Our pets do not live as long as we do so taking care of them and keeping them healthy is so important. Cherish each day and love, love, love them!
Happy Creating!
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