It’s no secret that I am a cat person. I love my furry baby, I wouldn’t be without him. George looks out for me almost as much as I do for him. He often reminds me to take a break in his not so subtle way of bashing his way into my Studio and demanding fuss. He did it again today and I certainly needed a little pause from handmaking my dainty crystal jewellery. His entrance got me thinking and he inspired me to write a little post about why I think animals are good for the soul…
- They understand us - Animals may not speak the same language, but they certainly understand us. Most pet owners know that their animal friends understand the words they say. Whilst it’s impossible to identify exactly how much our pets get us, we know that some dogs, apes and even dolphins can understand spoken language. It’s amazing really.
- They improve your health – I remember reading some research a while ago that stated that owning a cat can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by a significant amount. Having a cat can help to relieve stress and anxiety, which is known to help protect against heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing the heart rate.
- They make you happy – Who doesn’t want to come home after a long, demanding day to a happy, friendly face? It’s clear that a four-legged friend can make a difference to your overall happiness and having a pet is known to help with depression and loneliness.
- They help us become more empathetic - Some research suggests that children who have furry or feathered friends become more nurturing, giving adults. This makes sense to me and I think it’s important for children at an early age to be taught how to care for and consider another living creatures practical and emotional needs.
- They give us a self-esteem boost - Maybe it’s because they make us feel needed or because they love us unconditionally. Whatever the reason, the consistent and unjudgmental company we find in our pets it certainly does our self-esteem good.
Best wishes,
Di x