Right now as I type, my cat Loki is perched on my lap. Standing tall on his haunches, he looks like a strange, golden-eyed meerkat, and he’s licking my face with his sandpaper tongue.
Honest.
It’s kind of scratchy and has a faint aroma of cat food, but I don’t mind so much. He basically does whatever he wants whenever he wants, probably because he’s a cat. The thing is, when he snuggles up next to me in the evening with his little kitty motor going full throttle, that right there is a sense of peace and contentment that’s hard to match. I’d actually be willing to stick my neck out and say it’s better than chocolate. Or icecream. Or even chocolate icecream… Sometimes, I squish his little squishy cat face right up beside my ear, as if listening for the sound of the ocean in a seashell. It’s calming. And science agrees with me.
For those of us that like animals, pets have incredible benefits.
Loki loves to smooch. And sometimes bite…
This point was really driven home for me last week when I thought maybe I was going to lose my best friend of 13 years (a story for another day). She’s really clever and fun, always up for a crazy adventure. And she’s always there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on. When I’m feeling lazy and thinking about crashing on the couch with a pack of chocolate biscuits, a coffee, and some trashy tv, she’s the one who talks me into getting outdoors and doing some exercise instead. And of course, she’s a dog.
Anika in the vet clinic last week, complete with IV fluids, a cushion from my couch and her fave toys.
When I was asked if I’d like to write a post celebrating the positives of pet ownership, I jumped at the chance. It’s something I’m super passionate about, because as a vet I see day in and day out just how much pets enrich and improve our lives. The relationship between a pet and their human is something so special, and for so many reasons. Like me though, you might find some of the health benefits surprising.
Mars Petcare have created their Pet Positives website with the aim of sharing decades of research into the benefits of pet ownership and human-animal interaction in a gorgeous format that is really enjoyable to read. If you or someone you know needs a little push to make the plunge into pet ownership, the stats are very convincing. And if you think you already know it all, try my little quiz!
Celebration of and protection of the human-animal bond is the reason small animal veterinarians exist. We wouldn’t have a job if people didn’t have profound emotional attachments to their pets, and we wouldn’t be vets if we didn’t also feel the same way.
This post was sponsored by Mars Petcare
All opinions and crappy jokes are my own, and I will only ever share information that I think is relevant and valuable to you guys. I really like the Pet Positives website because it:
- Aims to raise awareness of the positive experience of pet ownership supported by peer-reviewed academic research.
- Shares scientific research that backs up what we instinctively know - pets are good for us.
- Is loaded with the latest pet-related news, insights and trends, as well as valuable tips and tools, all celebrating the benefits of owning a pet.
You can also follow Pet Positives on Twitter and Instagram.
So tell me, what’s the number one thing you love most about your pet?
What a fun quiz!! Rooney definitely makes me feel better every day!
Rooney is completely and totally adorable 🙂
Thanks for playing and I’m so glad you had fun!
We had much fun with the quiz!
And life is so much more pawesome when it’s filled with creatures all great and small!
Purrs
Basil & Co xox
Thanks for playing!
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Life is terrible without pets… I don’t know how people do it!
I’m with you, Ashleigh! How do they do it??? I hope there is never a day in my life that I don’t have someone with 4 legs lounging around my house expecting to be waited on hand and foot 🙂
Of course pets make your life better! As long as I can remember I had a pet. I love the quiz and that you are sharing what positivity pets can bring into your life. I have 4 high energy dogs and I love that they keep me from being lazy. Because of them I have experienced things in my life that I would have never thought of doing before.
I have two working breed dogs and they are enough dog for me. Hats off to you for keeping FOUR happy - I can’t imagine they would let you be lazy at all. I mean, ever 🙂
That was a fun quiz! We totally agree - pets are AMAZING!
So glad you enjoyed the quiz!
Thanks for visiting 🙂
how pawesome! I lub’d dos posting! I got 8 outta 10 right…mostly cuz I error on innocence of da critters!
Thanks Mattie!
I think it’s really nice of you to give them the benefit of the doubt 😉
What a super fun quiz, I scored 8 out of 10. I especially loved question #8; my Mom has Alzheimer’s and I’ve seen first hand the amazing reaction she has to my dogs! One of my dogs is a Therapy Dog, we’ve visited seniors w/ Alzheimer’s as well and I’m amazed at how a seemingly unresponsive senior can suddenly perk up with interest when a dog is brought in! What I love most about my dogs is how they love not just me but absolutely everyone!
Love & Biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Thanks Cathy,
That’s so wonderful that your Mom connects with your dogs. How very special that you have a therapy dog and help seniors as well. I really don’t understand why there aren’t resident animals in more nursing homes and similar. I imagine something like a sweet, quiet greyhound could be such beautiful companionship in such places.
LOL Love quizzes and pets. I got them all right except the one in the bed. I suspected Mum and Dad were at work but we have a Pug so no point denying couches and beds. #lostcause
Haha. I think Baxter’s family have quickly come to the conclusion that he sleeps where ever he pleases 🙂 and I think they secretly love that about him.
This was a fun quiz! I had to give the Lab the benefit of the doubt when I saw the other choice was to blame the cat. (I may be biased, and I totally knew that Stephen was up to no good.)
hahaha!
Let this be a lesson to you, NEVER give a Lab the benefit of the doubt 🙂 Although you are totally correct about Stephen, he’s always looking for mischief.
Pets most definitely do make the world better! I wouldn’t trade them for anything. It is so hard to choose 1 thing that I love most about them. Just to name one thing at random, I love the companionship they provide. Being home alone isn’t so lonely with a kitty on your lap!
It isn’t, is it. Even if they’re away in another room somewhere, just knowing their furry little presences are about is so nice!
We KNOW we make our moms happier, and comfort them when we’re sad. Even the kitties at Liv’s house are surprisingly adept at hugs and kisses. How anybody could think otherwise is pure crazy talk. 😉
Excellent to hear! Loki is really good at hugs and kisses too. I always thought they were more dog talents but he’s sure shown me!
OMG… I totally relate to this post! Life is SO better with pets! What do I love most? Their crazy antics. They make me laugh out loud, even when I don’t feel like laughing.
Yes! I totally agree.
It’s their special quirks that make them furry little individuals. And some of the things they do are SO funny. They’re free spirits 🙂
Live is definitely better with pets. My dogs keep my life full and interesting.
My life is full to overflowing thanks to my pets, and I wouldn’t have it any other way 🙂
The number one thing I love most about my pets is that they bless my life a thousand times over simply by allowing me to be a part of theirs. And they make me a better person! 🙂
They do make us better, don’t they Camille! They don’t say a word, but they teach us so much about living a good life, caring for others, and, well, so many other things! And if all else fails they teach us to kick some dirt over it and move on 🙂
I know my life is so much better after becoming a dog owner. I always had pets growing up but there was a lull between my early teens and college graduation. I never realized how much I missed having a dog until I had one again!
Your dogs are so adorable Jessica! I just love seeing Gretel and Chester and their adventures. Those little legs of theirs have done a lot of miles, and it really shows people that being small doesn’t mean you can’t achieve great things 🙂
You tricked us on a couple of the questions.
Well we couldn’t make it too easy, or it wouldn’t be any fun 😉
It was Baxter’s fault that i got one wrong. He told me he was allowed on the master bed…
I need to have a word to that Baxter about his tall tales… 🙂
Ummm….. a couple of wrong answers! Seems I like to give pets the benefit of the doubt….. especially when they are as cute as Stephen & Yoshi 🙂
Haha 🙂 Stephen is indeed a naughty little food thief, and, well, never give a labrador puppy the benefit of the doubt 😉
I love that my pets love unconditionally! 🙂 Great quiz, I got 8/10!
Kevin
Nice work Kevin!
I think you might have nailed the most special thing about pets right there 🙂