Our cats are very special. They shape our lives and make us whole, and once we share our home with a cat, our lives are never the same again. Cats have the ability to understand us without the use of words, and they make us feel special when they show us just how deeply they care for us.
Many cat lovers believe that cats have healing powers, and if you take a look at the science behind it, the facts all point to this being true. Let’s take a closer look at the research that shows cats possess healing powers.
Science Has Shown Us That Owning a Cat Is Healthy for Your Heart
We know that cats make us happy, but research tells us that they even make our hearts happier and healthier, too.
We know that cats make us happy, but research tells us that they even make our hearts happier and healthier, too. A study out of the University of Minnesota shows us that owning a cat can even reduce your risk of a heart attack. Psychology Today shares that,
The findings are based on a 10-year study, carried out by researchers at the Stroke Research Center at the University of Minnesota. The study, which looked at 4,435 Americans aged 30 to 75, showed that those who did not have a cat had a 40% higher risk of having a heart attack and a 30% greater risk of dying from other heart diseases than those who have or have had a cat.
Petting Your Cat Can Reduce Your Stress
It’s hard to feel stressed when your cat is sitting happily purring away on your lap
It’s hard to feel stressed when your cat is sitting happily purring away on your lap. A cat’s purr is quite powerful, and cats can even use their powerful purrs to heal their bones if they’ve become injured.
When it comes to us, your cat’s purr can create a euphoric, stress-relieving effect, especially if you stroke your cat’s fur gently. Petting your cat is a great way to strengthen the bond that the two of you share.
Cats Can Help To Improve Your Mental Health
Cats make wonderful companions, and they can help to ease the damaging effects of depression, anxiety, and general loneliness.
While Covid was extremely difficult on all of us, one of the very few benefits was that so many dogs and cats were adopted from animal shelters to keep people company while passing the time at home. And that’s a very good thing because cats—as well as dogs—possess the power to greatly improve our mental health.
And, it goes without saying, that all of us have felt the weight of our mental health like never before in these past few unprecedented years.
As we mentioned above, petting a cat is a big stress reliever, and when doing so, it allows your body to relax and produce less cortisol. Additionally, cats make wonderful companions, and they can help to ease the damaging effects of depression, anxiety, and general loneliness. And this is especially true if your cat lays on your lap, or chest, or shares the bed with you at night.
Keeping a Cat Can Benefit Your Overall Psychological Health
One study out of Australia has proven to us that those who share their lives with cats are known to have better psychological health and well-being.
One study out of Australia has proven to us that those who share their lives with cats are known to have better psychological health and well-being. This study measured: “…the survey employed measures of general psychological health, depression, state and trait anxiety, sleep disturbance, nurturance, attitudes toward pets, social desirability, and a life events inventory.”
And, the findings of the study indicated that: “…cat owners had significantly lower scores for general psychological health, indicating a lower level of psychiatric disturbance, and could be considered to have better psychological health than the non-pet subjects.”
Cats Can Comfort Us in Times of Need
Our feline friends possess the ability to comfort us in times when we need them most.
Our feline friends possess the ability to comfort us in times when we need them most. This can be when we are grieving or in mourning, anxious, nervous, or even scared. Cats have the ability to sense when we need them the most, and they will come looking for us during these moments and show us their support.
Just sitting with your cat when you’re feeling down can help to ease your mind and make you feel loved and appreciated. It’s these little ways our cats show us affection that makes us feel like our lives wouldn’t be the same without them in them.
Cats Can Sometimes Sense Things That Humans Cannot
There have been actual stories of cats predicting illness, such as cancer, in their human companions.
There have been countless stories of dogs saving the day or sensing things when humans can’t, but there have also been many cats who have saved the day or been there in moments that seemed almost as if they possessed a sixth sense of knowing. There have been actual stories of cats predicting illness, such as cancer, in their human companions.
And, for one recently deceased feline named Oscar, he possessed a most extraordinary gift that touched the lives of the humans he helped in their final moments. Oscar was a truly remarkable feline, and there’s even a book about the amazing things that he sensed.
For Oscar, he was the resident kitty at the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rhode Island for many years. And, during his time there, he predicted the deaths of dozens of residents in the nursing home. It was said by Dr. David Dosa:
“…as if this were his job, Oscar strides purposely into a patient’s room, curls up on the bed, and begins his vigil. Oscar provides comfort and companionship when people need him most. And his presence lets caregivers and loved ones know that it’s time to say goodbye. Oscar’s gift is a tender mercy.”
The late and legendary, Oscar the cat
One thing is certain, cats utilize their healing powers to make the world a better place. Check out this next article on Cats.com to read about how cats make their owners healthier—and science even proves it!
So interesting! I totally agree!
My cat use to lay on my lower side of body. A lobectomy operation to remove a lobe of your lung. It was in cancer.
Now after removable of the lung cat doesn’t lay there any more
I have a history of osteoarthritis in my knees & lower back. I had 2 cats that a friend called “healer cats”. When my rt knee hurt, they’d lay on both sides of that knee. Same with my lt knee. When both knees hurt, 1 cat would lay against the outside edge of each knee. Same with my back. I don’t know if this was actually therapeutic for the joints involved, but they were immensely comforting. Being in a positive mental state has a profound effect on a person’s pain tolerance. Just knowing that when I was in pain, they would rather comfort me than lounge in a sunny spot. When they were ill, I 100% returned the favor. When they eventually passed, I needed a lot of time to grieve.
That was years ago but even now, when I’m almost asleep, I think that I hear the female jumping from 1 piece of furniture to another. Then I smile myself to sleep.
I will always choose to share my life with a cat.
One of our cats can tell when another cat in the household is sick. Unfortunately we twice didn’t realize what was going on in time to do anything. Recently we took our youngest to the vet after we saw the same concern from him. She needed a dental cleaning and they removed a tooth the had resorption. She’s doing good but the vet said it was likely painful.
We have all had very special moments with our beautiful feline companions.
Our two beautiful deeply loved rescue cats have been with us for 4 years and are very much adored.
We are in our early 80’s and have told our cats that we all need to “depart” together! They are14 years old and we adopted at nine months.!
They are much adored and we cannot imagine life without them.
Kim, your comment made me smile! For years, I have only partially joked that I need to outlive my two beloved feline companions (19 and 17). Now I will consider that we all must die at the same time, peacefully, in our sleep.
My newly adopted 10 month old cat, Theo, who i have had for only 3 months, came into my home after my father and my senior kitty both became suddenly ill and died within a month of one another. Now, he is affectionate and interactive, yet only typically lies at the foot of my bed or near me, not on top of me or my lap – he’s a tough, independent little stray Tomcat, after all! Yet Theo immediately understood my grief and would come running into my arms and lie down on top my chest/lap whenever I started crying. After that, i had a shoulder injury, and struggled to sleep. this time he would come and sleep next to the sore shoulder, even once slept across it and my pillow, until it healed, and purred me to sleep. Just today, I had a stomach ache and was also very sad. He came to lie over my belly, for an hour, purring and occasionally licking my stomach. Hopefully this story and others told here will convince any skeptics that cats are indeed medical intuitives, natural healers, and empaths. They are a beautiful mystery and a gift from God to mankind. Thank you for the article and the chance to tell my story.