Cats and your mental health

Did you know that cats are great for positive mental health? They can improve our mental health by just being themselves, and by enjoying each other's company! By just petting, stroking, or cuddling them, a cat can instantly change your mood.  They also offer companionship and heal with purrs! If you want to get really technical then listen to this... "just a touch helps increase oxytocin levels and reduces cortisol, the infamous stress-related hormone" says an experienced life coach. 

Petting or playing with your cat can release all the right chemicals in the brain.  There is also evidence to show that a cat's purr can help lower blood pressure and relax the nervous system! 

Does my cat know what I'm feeling?

Have you ever wondered why, when you are feeling particularly blue or unwell, your cat seems to always be by your side or on your lap? Interestingly, cats DO pick up on how we are feeling and are very intuitive (it is also the reason why they always know when you are about to give them medication, no matter how hard you try to pretend nothing is going on they always manage to run for their lives!)

Cats read humans like a book - they can read our emotional state just as well as our physical, so when we're feeling low you can be sure your cat understands and wants to comfort you.

What effect does stroking have on my cat?

Studies have shown that stroking a cat has a similarly positive effect on your fur-baby too! A recent study by neuroscientist Paul Zak showed that cats’ oxytocin levels increase by 12% after 10 minutes of play with their owners. That's got to be worth a few strokes right? 

To sum up, everybody struggles from time to time but our cats are here to support us just as much as we are to support them - so we should give them all the love we have, especially when we're feeling blue. 

- Emma