Cat Therapy, Discover The Beneficial Effects Of Living With A Cat

Did you think you had seen it all in therapy? Well here comes an increasingly popular one: the cat therapy a tool used to intervene in the well-being of people with the help of cats.

Cat therapy, an anti-stress treatment with your feline

Cat therapy is a traditional treatment against the symptoms of stress, anxiety and low mood with the help of domestic cats. The use of this type of therapy based on the company provided by these small domestic felines can help improve physical and mental health and quality of life in general, through the friendly interaction between the cat and the person.

The positive thing about cat therapy is precisely its simplicity: it is based on the company that the cat and the person offer each other and the way in which they interact.

Cats and humans: a little history

Already in ancient times, human beings have found a good dose of company and affection in certain animal species. In addition to the domestication of animals in order to preserve food sustenance (meat, milk), shelter (skins, wool) and movement (horses), some species have maintained a more intimate relationship with man. In this sense, two of the animals that have traditionally played this role are the dog and the cat although it should be noted that in the case of the dog, its work was also usually linked to hunting, herding and the security of the home.

The cat (Felis silvestris catus) is a small predatory mammal. The origins of the species, or at least its first scientific reports, are located in the southern egypt in the year 3000 BC. In those distant times, cats already enjoyed great consideration, to the point that humans granted them a category of divinity. From Egypt it spread to many other regions, through trade, it was a faithful companion of witches, magicians and healers. Later, he was taken in as a domestic hunter of small rodent animals, which could spread diseases. In this sense, the cat was health insurance for man. Furthermore, his role as a friend and domestic companion gradually grew.

Many people claim that the company of a cat brings them multiple benefits. Currently, there are more than forty different species of felines, each with its own characteristics: coats of all colors and shapes (and even no fur), with long tails, short tails, no tails, with very different cranial structures, etc.

The cat: discovering its personality and its ‘anti-stress properties’

The cat is a very autonomous animal, as is the case with the rest of felines. His bond with the owners of the house is based on a kind of mutual respect pact The company of a cat, unlike what happens with most psychotropic drugs, contributes to achieving good levels of relaxation without the side effect of losing contact with reality or certain levels of consciousness. Petting a cat can reduce stress, as well as lower blood pressure level and heart rate.

For his part, the purr characteristic of the cat (sound that the feline emits when it is comfortable and safe) has a positive effect on people’s mood, promoting good humor and providing confidence and security. The signs of affection that the cat provides us also have a positive effect on our psyche, helping convalescent patients to get ahead of their situation thanks to their simple presence.

Feline company, always welcome

Many specialists recommend that people who live alone company of a cat In addition to the positive mental health aspects that small felines offer, which are fundamental in cat therapy, cats do not require much care, compared to, for example, dogs. Living accompanied by a cat also helps us understand ourselves better and accept ourselves as we are: cats do not judge us, they do not differentiate between handsome and ugly or rich and poor; They only receive affection and return it in their own way, in a completely natural way and without artifice.

Families that live near a cat also achieve some psychological benefits , since they encourage and reinforce communication between parents and children and between siblings. This is one of the positive aspects of cat therapy. Furthermore, family coexistence with animals teaches children to take responsibility for certain tasks, to respect and love other species, and this results in the reinforcement of calm, relaxed attitudes and stress relief.

Mental health, cat therapy and some data

The benefits of cat therapy in people with some type of physical or mental disability or with some type of emotional or psychological disorder have been studied. For example, among disorders associated with dementia (Alzheimer’s), autism, Down Syndrome, ADHD and behavioral disorders in children and mood disorders, the benefits seem clear.

In the United States, several studies revealed that patients with heart disease reported better and faster progression if they lived with a feline, thus increasing the survival rate one year after suffering an acute episode such as a heart attack (Friedmann and Thomas, 1995).

People who live with cats at home have a lower probability of dying from a heart attack This was the conclusion reached by several researchers led by A. Baun of the Nursing Research. In the case of living with dogs, the same protective effect was not reported, possibly due to the daily care that dogs require: dog owners had probabilities close to the average.

Several national associations and foundations dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with serious mental disorders use cats as part of therapy. In autistic children, for example, cats have different positive effects. Obviously the cat cannot cure severe psychopathology, but it has been observed that the contact of patients with felines provides them with good doses of happiness brings a smile back to their faces, especially those who suffer from a rather lonely life.

The case of the elderly living in nursing homes It is also especially positive when it comes to the benefits of living with cats. Different studies indicate that daily contact with an adorable cat, who can be addressed, caressed and cared for, can help the elderly verbalize their emotions and feelings, as well as their childhood memories. Stimulate his memory and express anecdotes and stories from his past life It is something really important in patients with senile dementia or Alzheimer’s because this mental gymnastics It is a basic factor in delaying the degeneration of neuronal quality, which is responsible for progressive memory loss. The tactile sense, being able to caress the cat and notice its purr when it is happy, stimulates some nerve endings that evoke memories.

Cats are not toys

You can adopt a cat by going to the animal shelter closest. Even if you consider it appropriate (although you should avoid it), you can buy a puppy at a store that specializes in pets.

But we must not fail to be aware that a cat is a living being, which has needs and can suffer. This implies that we must take responsibility for these animals and take care of their health and well-being. The cat must be dewormed and vaccinated appropriately, and in most countries it must have an identifying microchip. Therefore, in cat therapy the feline is not a simple tool, but is an active agent that participates in the treatment sessions and has the ability to decide what it wants and what it does not want to do.

If this last paragraph is clear, we can only invite you to enjoy the pleasant company of one of the friendliest, most mysterious and beneficial animals for your health that there may be. Cat therapy has a lot to offer you