If you have ever had a pet dog or cat, you will already be familiar with how much love and energy these bundles of joy in furry, scaled, or feathered form can give. Sure, being a pet parent takes work and dedication but even watching fish in an aquarium can make you happy. Read on for some of the best health benefits, both physical and mental, of sharing your home with a pet of any kind.
1. More Physical Activity
Adopting an animal requires you to be more physically active. For example, dogs need regular walks and lots of outdoor time, so you can expect to increase the number of steps you get in every day. Even senior dogs need to burn off excess energy with romps in the park, games of catch and the like.
All this adds up to improving your fitness level and helping you to stave off illnesses brought on by leading a lifestyle that is too sedentary. Even if you get a cat, you can use up more calories each day playing with them indoors.
2. Reduced Stress
Exercise has been shown to have mental health benefits. These benefits may increase when you participate in physical activity with a canine companion. Time spent cuddling with a furry friend or engaging in some one-on-one play releases feel-good hormone oxytocin.
You may find that watching your Betta fish swimming or your favorite feline sleeping the afternoon away also reduces stress. Think about the entertainment a budgie provides as it bops and weaves and talks to the other budgie in its cage mirror. Imagine a hamster when it wriggles through its play structures and runs on its wheel. Watching a pet live worry free can help you do the same, at least for a few minutes out of your day.
3. Decreased Symptoms of Loneliness and Depression
Another reason to have a pet in your life is to mitigate symptoms of depression and alleviate feelings of loneliness. This is particularly true if you live alone. There’s nothing like a welcome from a four-legged friend greeting you with a furiously wagging tail or loud purring as they rub against your legs when you come home.
The unconditional love that animals have for their human family members can really help to dispel negative thoughts. Plus, your pets depend on you to care for and feed them. Knowing that you have the responsibility to look after them and provide them with the best life possible can provide a sense of purpose. The meaning that an animal can bring to your life cannot be understated.
4. Lower Blood Pressure
Having high blood pressure and cholesterol are health issues that too many Americans deal with. Uncontrolled, this can lead to stroke and other physical risks. Would you believe that research suggests there is a correlation between pet ownership and reduced blood pressure and cholesterol?
In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control, if you have a feline friend at home, your risk of having a stroke decreases by 40 percent and your chance of a heart attack decreases by 30 percent compared to those who don’t have cats. In addition, heart-related studies undertaken by the National Institutes of Health have found that pet ownership can lower blood pressure, cholesterol, and triglycerides, high levels of which are often precursors to a heart attack.
5. More Socialization
Imagine how walking your doggo several times a day can mean getting to know your neighborhood better. You will find paths and parks and lovely spots that you would not have known existed had you not been walking your canine companion. Moreover, this regular routine will bring you into contact with more people—probably some of the same ones on a frequent basis.
You may make some new friends who are also animal lovers. But even if you don’t, the very act of exchanging pleasantries with other people and pets you encounter will give you a greater feeling of community and belonging. More socialization is great for your mental health as well as your pet’s.
6. Improved Self-Discipline
When you have another being depending on you, acting responsibly is a must. No matter what type of pet you have, they require proper nutrition, veterinary care when necessary, and to have their other needs addressed. Of course, some animals are lower maintenance than others. However, there are certain daily tasks that are necessary.
This can easily translate into having more self-discipline in other areas of your life. The biggest one is how you care for yourself.
In Summary
These six benefits of pet ownership—greater physical activity, socialization, and self-discipline and reduced stress, depression, and high blood pressure—are just the beginning. Once you adopt an animal, chances are you will find many more reasons that it was an excellent decision.