Cat therapy: what it is

Pet therapy has been talked about for many years now . Numerous documented scientific studies report the benefits of caring for a pet.

Dogs, cats, guinea pigs, hamsters, small birds, up to fish and even reptiles: the physical and emotional benefits of caring for any small form of animal life are varied, both in adults and in children.

Some studies have even found benefits in children suffering from asthma and allergy , in people suffering from stress and post traumatic stress, in case of depression and anxiety, eczema, hypertension.

Those who do not, by choice, have a pet often put forward the lack of time and the uselessness of the thing as a motivation. Those who are lucky enough to have a dog or a cat with them know that time, commitment and responsibility are well balanced, if not outweighed, by a series of positive aspects.

Each animal species considered to be an affection has its own characteristics, beyond the specific personality of each animal.

Cats are used in medical facilities as a support for physical or psychological therapies. Cat therapy exploits the benefits of taking care of a cat, or even just coming into contact with it.

There are many good reasons to have a cat , and take advantage of cat therapy at home , with a minimum commitment of time and expense.

5 good reasons to have a cat

Cats , unlike dogs, appear more aloof and opportunistic. The rumors want the cat to become attached to the house and not to the owner. 

Cats simply express their affection differently from dogs : if the dog is always available, the cat ponders and chooses moments and ways to relate to its owner.

However, he is an affectionate and affectionate companion , able to get in tune with the human being who loves him and treats him with respect and care.

Stress reduction

Petting a cat, or even just having it close , perhaps while purring, improves the state of the heart and circulatory system , regulates breathing, helps release oxytocin, the hormone of happiness, and makes you more attentive to the harmony of your movements .

Cats, in fact, stimulate us to pay attention to how we move in the space, often occupied silently by them, and watching them move pushes us to adapt to their slow and sinuous rhythms.

Responsibility and care

Having a cat at home makes you attentive and responsible : a cat in fact needs to be looked after, but does not need to have you always present.

Cats can spend more hours alone than dogs can, as they can handle food, when left at all times, and their needs in the litter box, without having to go outside.

Even to play, the cat does not need large spaces, just a scratching post and a few balls or puppets.

Relieves loneliness

Having a cat helps in moments of loneliness and isolation , relieves depression : the cat loves curling up on its beloved owner.

The cat’s gaze resembles that of a child : large, clear, confident. Being watched by a cat makes you feel loved, unconditionally.

A cat stays close to its owner without asking for anything in return except some small care, it does not judge and has always been right, it listens patiently to even the most unspeakable secrets, and just as it curls up in its lap, it also warms our heart making us feel accepted and included.

It wins us over with its exclusivity and independence

The cat appears more independent than a dog : the dog is always available, while the cat teaches to enforce even his times.

This resizes the approach to the pet, with which a relationship is established that is unique and which also presents times and spaces of independence and detachment.

Cats synonymous with boundless love

The cat is the ideal pet for those who love the house, even if they have little time to stay there, for those who want an exclusive relationship , for those who feel they want to give and receive love and affection .

An exclusive bond is created with your cat , made up of special and unique codes and behaviors. Cats also know how to respond to the call of the owner, if they feel like it, and they recognize the intonation of the voice and know how to associate certain words with certain stimuli and responses.

There are obedient cats such as dogs and cats who always do what they want . But there are no cats that are unable to break into the heart of anyone who has a heart.

And this, which means giving and receiving love, is the main reason for taking care of a cat, or more than one.