How Cats Make Great Companions

Cats make such good pets is that they make great companions. They seem to be able to sense when you need some comfort. (Yes, dogs do too.) Having a cat around is good for children, especially if they take part in caring for the animal. Most cats don’t need constant attention.

Some Personal Benefits Cat Owners Experience:

Cats do well living in small homes and apartments or small houses. They don’t need a great deal of space to run around as they are comfort creatures that like to curl up and most times be left alone.

Cats are easy to care for. Unlike dogs, cats don’t require walks (although some cat owners do walk their cats on a leash by choice, not necessity.)

Health benefits. Pet owners have reduced levels of stress, depression and lower blood pressure. Cat owners have been proven actually to have lower risk of various heart diseases, including stroke, by around 30 percent.

They feel nice. Cats will at time let you cuddle, stroke them, to have on your lap, enabling you to experience love and they keep you warm.

Cat Ownership Can Lead to Less Allergies

In a study by the WebMD, it was found that children under the age of one who were exposed to a cat were less likely to develop allergies as an adult.

The interesting part was that this wasn’t just limited to pet allergies, but all types of allergies.

“There is evidence that if you have animals, cats and dogs, in childhood, also during pregnancy, this will have an influence on the immune system, the developing immune system of the infant,” Hans-Peter Roost, PhD, the study’s lead author, tells WebMD.

It appears that exposure to pets as a young child will protect you against not only pet allergies, but other common allergies such as dust mites, ragweed, and grass.

Cats Act as Natural Insect/Rodent Repellent

Cats are hardwired to stalk, hunt, and pounce on their prey, which makes them perfect for keeping your home free of unwanted pests – be it mice, bugs, or something else. Even their presence can be enough of a deterrent for rodents as their scent can act as a repellent.

Easy to House Train

One of the biggest challenges dog owners need to overcome is the process of house-training a new puppy. Kittens, on the other hand, usually know how to use the litter box as soon as you bring them home. All you need to do is show them where it is, and they’ll instinctively use it.

Cats are Quiet

If noise levels are a concern in your living situation, cats are a great choice of pet. Even the quietest bark will likely be much louder than the most insistent meowing. Depending on the cat, you may need to worry about other sounds such as them knocking things off of surfaces or running around at top speed, but they are still likely to be more quiet overall.

How can I get my Cat to Play with Me?

You can get cats to play with you, if you want, but they’re just as happy to play on their own. There are plenty of toys that appeal to a cat’s hunting instinct. Mind you, that could be an expensive toy that you bought at a store, or it can be paper crumpled up into a ball. They’re not that fussy.

How Can I Know if my Cat is Happy?

Happy cats often enjoy social sleeping, which means that they will sleep with those with which they feel safe and comfortable. If your cat chooses to sleep with you or other pets in the house, this is a great indication of happiness. The healthy average of sleep for any cat is between 12 – 16 hours daily; if you find your cat sleeping more, seek help as this may be a sign of depression.

If your cat tends to sit like a perfect loaf, with their paws tucked under their body, their tail wrapped around them, and their eyes closed or softly open, these are all signs that they are feeling happy and comfortable in their environment.

A happy cat is a well-groomed cat! If you notice that your cat has been grooming less and their coat is looking dull and dirty, this is a sign of unhappiness, illness, or even injury. Cats who feel good will spend a lot of time grooming themselves and even other cats that they trust.

As you can see, cats make great pets, but they do require responsibility on the part of their owners to ensure they are appropriately cared for. Feed a good-quality cat food twice a day, spaying or neutering, microchip is allowing outdoors, grooming and maintaining awareness of behavior changes.

Download – Health Benefits of Being a Cat Owner

Resource: CatsAway.org