Petting your cat has a number of benefits: significantly reduces stress

The beneficial effects of animals on our physical and mental health are now widely accepted. This is reflected in the growing popularity of animal-assisted therapy, as animals clearly have an extraordinary effect on human mental well-being, unparalleled even in the field of psychiatry. The mere act of stroking them is equivalent to any kind of sedative, and dispels a feeling of stress that is almost unmanageable for many.

Cornell University’s Center for Feline Health has conducted research to see if cats can reduce the occurrence of mental health problems such as stress and anxiety in the long term. This is very important because it has been shown that stress can have a very negative impact on our physical and mental well-being, and it is in everyone’s interest to find ways to minimise it.

Petting a cat can in itself reduce feelings of stress

Research from Cornell University has shown that simply petting a pet can radically reduce stress and anxiety. The main reason for this is that touching animals, or purring cats, has a fantastic effect on the human body. In fact, it is much more effective than some drug treatments. These interactions can have beneficial physiological and psychological effects. Of course, there are several aspects to this. One of which is that cats can reduce feelings of loneliness and depression. These are actually a breeding ground for serious stress.

There is scientific evidence that cats reduce stress

A recent study has concluded that it would be worthwhile to test students to see if the presence of an animal actually reduces the effects of stress. So they specifically tested students prone to anxiety. The results showed that petting cats and dogs for 10 minutes significantly reduced the amount of the cortisol in their saliva. The study clearly showed that just petting an animal can calm you down enough to be biologically measurable.

Therapy cats in the future

It is no coincidence that more and more animal-assisted therapy training is starting in our country. The effects of both cats and dogs on children’s development, adult anxiety management and student stress relief are proving to be absolutely unique. Nothing reflects this better than the fact that today more and more schools, kindergartens and universities are offering animal-assisted therapy. In many cases, these animals are also used in psychological therapies. Their role in helping the patient to open up and feel safe is outstanding.

Although dog therapies are the most popular in Hungary, there is an increasing demand for a cat version too. So hopefully in the near future we will hear more and more stories of cat-assisted therapy being used in various institutions.