Do cats really improve the quality in people lives and relieve people from stress?

Question

I am unsure weather I want to adopt a cat, people keep telling me positives and negative about how cats affect people. Someone told me cats low blood pressure, others say they carry bacteria that people are allergic to. I would love to have a cat in my house but I can't decide weather they will improve my life or they will worsen my life?

Answer 1

If you want to know if you are allergic to cats, just visit a shelter and spend some time in the cat room. If you have cat allergies, you will get the itchy eyes, stuffy nose, etc. It's best to know this before you take a cat home. Do expect cat odor in a shelter. There are so many cats in such a confined space, and most of them are not spayed or neutered. One cat, spayed or neutered, in the care of a responsible owner, will not present an odor problem.

I'm 62 and have been through two bouts of cancer. I've been through a divorce (happily remarried now, thank you), and helped my daughter through one. I suffer chronic pain from a really bad back injury about 30 years ago. Then there were all the usual ups and downs of life that I have had to deal with.

Through it all, there were days that the only thing that kept me going were my cats. I had to get out of bed to feed them, clean the litter boxes, and give them attention. There were times when their furry shoulders soaked up my tears. When I was so tense that I felt like I was going to explode, a soft purr and warm cuddle helped to calm me down. They are highly intuitive and seem to know when and how they can best help you. When I wanted to give up on it all because I couldn't stand the pain anymore, I had to make a decision to not give up, because they needed me to care for them.

Best of all, it's not just a cat. A dog, a rabbit, any animal that can love you back will have the same effect. I have a Giant American Chinchilla rabbit, in addition to my cats, and I must say, just looking at her makes me feel happy. Best of all, they don't care if you are good looking, wealthy, have a nice car or house...the only thing that matters to them is their relationship with you.

Animals are the greatest healers God put on this earth.

Answer 2

First of all, not all cats are the same - if you do get a cat, please adopt one from a center. Then you can make sure you get one that matches what your looking for - both in personality and looks. There is little in this world as individual as a cat.

Research has shown that the simple act of petting an animal - dog, cat, or whatever, calms a person, relieving stress and lowering blood pressure. This is why there are therapy dogs and other animals that visit hospital patients and nursing homes.

However, some people are severely allergic to cats. This can be caused by a protein in their saliva, which of course is spread all over the cat by frequent tongue-bathing. Cat allergies can potentially develop at any time, but most severe cases are pretty obvious from the start, and there is medication and treatments to cure it. As for bacteria - well, I think that's only a concern for pregnant women, and involves handling cat feces. So don't let a pregnant woman clean the litter box. Cat bites are notoriously bacteria-laden, and prone to infection, however a normal pet cat will not bite unless really pushed to do something they don't want to do.

What you really should ask yourself is, do you want a cat? And are you willing to accept the responsibility of a cat? While they do not need to be walked like a dog, cats need more than just food and water, and a clean litterbox. They need attention, and the willingness of an owner who will pay for the occassional vet bill.

Answer 3

I wondered the same thing. I have always been a dog person, and I have every now and then had a cat. But I recentley adopted a Calico Kitten from our animal shelter. And we named her Cali. She is the sweetiest thing. Cats are more independet then dogs and they don't need as much attention as dogs do. I have found that they are very wonderful animals and I love Cali to death.
Positives:
Yes, like dogs do they lower blood pressure
They seem to understand when you've had an AWFUL day and they'll come purring up to you, and rub against you
They are very loving creatuers
They'll get rid of any mice or rats in your house
Negatives:
There is a sickness you can get from a cat, called, if I'm not mistaken Cat Scracth Fever. This can be deadley. I've never had it but I've heard about it. Otherwise, i think it's a wonderful idea to get a cat for you.
Hoped I helped! and Good Luck!

Answer 4

If you was allergic to cats you would know by now.Im sure you been to relatives or friends houses that has cats.Any animal can be good for your health.But keep in mind that a cat nor any other animal will replace the daily medicine you need.Also remember that stress from a nasty cat that wont use the litter box or claws up your furniture or hangs drops from your curtains can cause stress and make your blood pressure go up.So yeah when kitty is being quiet and on your lap purring and being cute then you will be relaxed making blood pressure drop a little but when kitty up being a kitty then your blood pressure might go up a little.Fish are more relaxing.

Answer 5

I think having a cat around helps me. She is 15 pounds of unconditional love. When nothing else goes right, Cat is there. People can be allergic to the cat dander. If that's the case for you you should know it by now. Cats are very clean animals and don't really carry diseases people can get. If you keep your cat indoors all the time, she/he won't get fleas and will live longer.
You may be thinking of Toxoplasmosis. This is a parasite that is very common. You may already have it. It's not a real problem unless you are pregnant or immunocompromised Cats pick it up and they can pass it to people who are careless about litter box hygiene. The trick for this is to use rubber gloves when changing litter and wash hands afterward.
If you don't know whether you'd like a cat, ask the local animal shelter if you can "foster" a cat.

Answer 6

If you get a cat from a reliable shelter/rescue that insure the health of the cat, and will help you find the cat that fits your lifestyle best, then yes, cats do relieve stress n' such. There's just something calming about a cat looking at you with eyes full of love & trust, or having a cat purring in your lap while you watch TV.

Answer 7

Cats or dogs can probably equally affect your blood pressure. Any animal that unconditionally loves you and shows you affection will help lower your blood pressure.

I've always been a cat owner. I have found that the best way to choose a cat is to let one choose you. If you go to a local animal shelter, find a cat that seems to want to interact you. If you see a beautiful cat but the cat is very standoff-ish, it's better to go with the ugly cat that instantly loves you than to try to go for the beautiful cat that is stuck up.

As far as cats with bacteria, cats are normally only harmful to people when a woman is pregnant. A pregnant woman should never be in a home with a litter box. There is a potential bacteria that is in litter boxes that can cause birth defects. The pregnant woman would be fine, but her baby wouldn't. Other than pregnant women, I don't think cats carry bad bacteria.

Some people are allergic to cats. If you've ever been around cats very much, you'll know if you are allergic.

Cats need a consistant and stable diet. Once you adopt a kitty, take him/her to the vet and get necessary shots and find out what food the vet recommends for your cat. If you cat is going to be indoors, you may want to get a hairball control food otherwise your cat will be hacking up hairballs. You can also brush your cat frequently to reduce hairballs.

You also will need to buy clippers to trim the cats claws. Get the vet to show you how to clip. If you clip them too short, it will hurt the cat. You will need to clip, though, so that the cat doesn't hurt your furniture as it is a cat's instinct to claw things. Frequent clipping of the claws will keep the claws dull instead of sharp.

I don't recommend having a cat de-clawed. Some vets will even refuse to do it because it is inhumane. Cats need sharp claws to defend themselves if they are going to be outside and need the claws to climb a tree to escape if something is chasing them. Even though your cat may be an indoor one, you can never be certain he might never get out, and declawing a cat would be like leaving him/her a sitting duck. Please don't declaw.....ever.

Good luck with your cat! I've had my cat since 1995 when he just showed up at my door a stray cat. They become just like a member of the family and spoiled rotten......LOL

Sincerely,
Robin_in_Tennessee

Answer 8

Yes, most pets do.

I is always nice to hold something that doesn't talk back or argue. I think it's part of the primal urge.

First spend some time with a cat to make sure you are not allergic.

If that goes OK consider a cat. Cats are clean. Yes you can bathe them if you get them young enough.

Cats require little care. With lots of food and water and a litter pan you can leave them for a couple of days and they will be OK>

I have always had cats and my kitten is laying right next to me and sometimes on the keyboard (grin)

Answer 9

I'd spend some time around friends' cats before I made a decision, as you need to be sure before you volunteer to be owned by a cat! If you do decide to go that route, you will find that a cat's soothing purring and unconditional love for you will definitely lower your blood pressure - it's also beneficial for your pet. Sharing your life with a pet of any type lengthens your own life and adds a dimension to it you would never have expected. But, do make sure you want to add this very real responsibility to your life before you sign up for it.

Answer 10

I come here to pass the time at work and yeah to relieve the stress of every day life, I get some good laughs on here!