IT'S OFFICIAL: OWNING A CAT REALLY DOES BOOST YOUR HAPPINESS
Cat parents have known for some time that their feline friends have superpowers, but now the results are in—owning a cat is positive for your overall happiness and mental health.
A national survey of cat parents revealed that cats not only provided stress relief (64%) but also improved the overall happiness and well-being (53%) of cat parents.
The survey also found::
69% of Australian cat owners became cat parents for companionship
36% of Australian cat parents rescued or adopted a cat in need
35% of Australian cat parents chose a cat for their suitability to an indoor lifestyle
28% of Australian cat parents said their cat provides valuable mental health support
The survey, held by Whiskas, also provided insights into a range of human-like behaviours that cat parents are seeing in their cats, including watching TV (31%) and opening doors (27%). Interestingly, the survey revealed over half of cat parents let their cats sleep on their beds (54%) or on the lounge (37%).
Dr Fiona Patterson, Veterinary Advisor at Mars Petcare, said the findings reinforce the important role cats play in the everyday lives of their human parents.
“Cats are loved and cherished family members for Australian pet parents for many reasons. As outlined in the survey, we see a big shift in cats living indoors and the bounty of benefits cats bring to pet parents through companionship, stress relief and valuable mental health support," she said.
“Another important note on cat wellbeing is that it is so important to listen out for what your cat is communicating with you. I found it particularly interesting to see that 28% of cat parents observe their cats conversing with them, and this is totally something they do!
“While kittens will meow to their mothers, letting them know they’re cold or hungry, as they grow older, cats no longer meow to other cats. A grown cat’s meow really is their way of communicating, and this could range from requiring help to reminding pet parents it’s meal time.
“Cat parents also need to be intentional in how they care for their cats. Only 11% of cat owners reported playing as a favourite activity with their cats, so my advice to cat parents is to engage with their cats more through play.
"I guarantee spending this time with your cat will be just as beneficial for your mood and well-being as it is for your cat’s.”
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