My therapists have whiskers...

I have owned cats now for 24 years. My family never introduced me to them during my childhood years - we had dogs, Golden Retrievers to be more precise and I loved Josie & Ellie with all my heart. But when I met & moved in with Kev, my pet persuasions suddenly changed. An 11-month old black cat called Frodo crashed into our lives early in 1989 followed by an adorable ginger 10-week old kitten that we named Basil and we were smitten!

Lets get close & clinical about this now - OK, OK, just indulge my longing to get medical about the subject.

• Did you know that Cortisol levels (associated with stress) go down & Serotonin (the "feel good" hormone) levels go up when you cuddle a cat.
• One study over 20 years has shown that non-cat owners are 40% more likely to die from heart-related conditions than cat owners are.
• Researchers aren't sure why but cat owners have fewer strokes than people who don't own cats. It's partly due to the effects owning a pet can have on a person's circulation. But researchers speculate that cats may have a more calming effect on their owners than other animals do. It may also have something to do with the personality of a cat owner. Cats often become the focus of their owner's interest, which diverts them from other stressful worries.
• Cats are a conversation piece & fellow-moggy owners are more likely to stop & talk to others about their furry charges.
• Researchers have found that when children grow up in a home with cats they are less likely to develop allergies. The same is true for kids who live on a farm with large animals. In addition, higher levels of certain immune system chemicals show a stronger immune system, which will help keep them healthy as they get older.

I would hate to poo-poo all the research that has been done & the money that has probably been spent on said research but I think that it is much simpler than that. When I come home from a bad day at work, there are 8 eager (and usually hungry) little faces that are there waiting for me. Pushing my fingers through their plush coats is comforting, hearing each individual meow & purr is scintillating and watching them fall asleep around me during the evening, in their favourites places and on any available warm lap, is ultimately rewarding. You can keep your doctors, psychiatrists and valium, my therapists have whiskers.....