Cats: The Purrfect Partners
for Human Health
The Power of the Purr
Nothing can compare with the unconditional love and stress-reducing benefits that a gentle family pet cat can provide. Cats touch our hearts in many positive ways, including helping us live longer, healthier, happier lives.
Source: www.care2.com/greenliving/the-
healing-power-of-purring.html
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Research shows that:
1) Cat caretakers are less likely to die of a heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases than people who never had a pet cat
2) Holding a purring cat helps reduce stress by lowering one’s blood pressure, and slowing one’s heart rate and breathing
3) A purring cat can help conquer an older person’s feelings of loneliness and bolster self-confidence
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Pets and Allergies
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Sadly, one of the most common reasons people cite for surrendering pets is allergic reactions to their fur and dander, although there may be other allergens in the home and environment that could be the real cause of human allergy.
Nevertheless, allergy to cats is common, occurring in up to 25 percent of people with allergies. |
- The major cat allergen is found in cat saliva, dander from sebaceous glands in the skin, fur, and anal sebaceous glands.
- Other cat allergens, including albumin, are found in the urine, saliva and blood.
- Cat allergy is more common than allergy to dog dander, which may be related to the potency of cat hair and dander as an allergen as well as the fact that cats are not generally bathed.
Source: www.allergies.about.com/od/al
lergies101/a/catallergy.htm
Keeping a clean cat and a clean home can help alleviate the allergy. However, this may be difficult for many people including those who travel frequently, and elderly or ill persons who are challenged to care for themselves. Therefore, Catnap Kitties offers comfort and joy to those who face similar situations.
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Healing Power of Animals
Pets play a greater role in our emotional and physical health than ever before, says the Purdue University professor who is co-author of his revised edition of Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship. The book by Alan M. Beck of Purdue's School of Veterinary Medicine and Aaron H. Katcher, psychiatrist and professor emeritus at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the emotional and physical benefits of owning a pet and analyzes the complex relationship between people and pets.
- A 1992 study by an Australian cardiologist of 5,000 people found that people with pets had lower blood pressure and lower blood fat levels than those without pets, even though the two groups were alike in diet and exercise.
- The trend in nursing homes is to incorporate animals into the routine and environment for patients. Today, nearly half of the homes have an organized program for animal therapy.
- In "The Healing Power of Pets,” Dr. Marty Becker, the resident vet on ABC TV's "Good Morning America" shows readers how pets can prevent, detect, treat, and in some cases cure a variety of maladies, from arthritis to asthma, and from Alzheimer's to depression.
Source: http://books.google.com/books |
