The Science Agrees - Life is Better with Pets!

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!

The First Ever Creature Clinic Quiz!  

Pet Positives

Answer 10 easy true or false questions to test your knowledge of why pets are so darn good for us.

1) Pet ownership may improve patient survival after a heart attack, and helps to relieve stress and decrease blood pressure.

True. So go smooch a pooch or cuddle a kitty.

False. Everyone knows puppy dog eyes and kitten head bumps are the top two causes of heart disease in the world.

2) This is Baxter. And this picture is totally fine.

True. He has his loving family's full consent to be tucked up warmly in the master bed.

False. Mum and Dad are at work. Later they will each have their own suspicions about the ginger hair on the pillow.

3) Pet owners have been shown to have greater self esteem and are able to cope with social rejection better than non-pet owners.

It's true! When I'm feeling uncertain I turn to my pets, and they collectively give me a thumbs up.

False, what poppycock. Especially cats. The way they look at you makes you feel more worthless than the kitty litter they nonchalantly kick over their poop...

4) Dog owners walk 31 minutes more per week than non-dog owners.

False. My dog is always encouraging me to lie on the couch eating triple butter popcorn while binge-watching entire seasons of Game of Thrones

True. Walkies make us happy.

5) This is Stephen. There's something fishy going on here.

False. He's just saying hi. Nothing to see here.

True. He's lulling you into a false sense of security so he can slap that dim sim right outta your hand the second you look away and claim it as his own.

6) Research has shown that offices who welcome four-legged companions see an increase in productivity and heightened company morale.

False. Because people keep breaking wind and blaming the dog.

This is absolutely true. And I love taking my furkids to work.

7) Pet owners are more likely to meet new people and make meaningful friendships.

False. My dog and I like to stand together at the door and bark angrily at the mailman*

True. Totally true. And friends are good.

8) Research has shown that pets can induce a social response from people with advanced Alzheimer’s disease, even those who do not respond to people, and that dogs in particular help keep elderly people active and provide a routine and a reason to get up in the morning.

True. More nursing homes should have a resident pet.

False. Old people have an inherent distrust for those with wagging tails and soulful eyes.

9) This is Yoshi.  His room was exactly like this when he got here.

True. It must have been the cat.

False. He is a small, fluffy destroyer of worlds.

10) Children that are involved in looking after pets gain a sense of responsibility and an understanding of what it takes to care for an animal and this helps them to treat others around them with the same empathy and care.

False. Pets only teach children how to steal tasty treats when no one is looking

True. Children with a well developed sense of empathy and attachment behave better towards other people and animals.

Be sure to click Submit Quiz to see your results!

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?