Pets are wonderful beings who will never judge us, who will always love us for being ourselves and not for how we look. They can totally become an unconditional friend, a cloth of tears, a reason for smiles, but above all they can become one more member of the family. Do you know the impact your pet has on you?

The best company

Many people recommend having a pet to avoid feeling lonely. But it is more than that, a pet can create such a strong bond with you that your baby notices when you are sad, angry or worried and guess what!? They certainly seem to do everything possible to see you happy.

You may be wondering, do cats do this too? These pets have always been judged for being detached from their owners, but the truth is that they never stop evaluating people’s behavior, therefore, your cat does detect your emotions!

Decrease Stress

How many of us come straight from work or school to greet our pets? There can be many things that stress or worry us during the day, but all that disappears when we play with our pets. According to a study carried out by the University of the State of Washington, with just 10 minutes stroking your pet, the levels of cortisol (a hormone related to stress) are reduced.

They promote a family bond

All of us, dog owners, have interrupted someone in the family to witness how cute our pet looks sleeping, chewing, running, etc. The perfect family doesn’t exist, but when it comes to ‘’spoiling’’ someone at home, everyone agrees the spoiled baby get´s the best! The coolest toys are selected, a few outdoors activities are set, special snacks are given and worries arise when our love is sick.  

They help you socialize

It is said that having a pet helps you connect with other people because it gives you a perfect conversation starter where you can exchange advice, anecdotes and even recommendations.

Pets make you more responsible

Having a dog, a cat, a fish, a bird, a hamster or any other animal requires commitment and that is why it is common for parents to give their children a pet so that they learn about responsibility.

Just as pets have a huge impact on our well-being, we impact them too. Integrating a pet into your life is not something easy and requires a lot of commitment. Please do not mistreat, neglect or abandon your pets.

Blog Editor: Valerie Llamosa

Author: Nerissa Álvarez

Review by: Betzabe Guido

Referencias

Friedmann, E., & Thomas, S. (1985). Health Benefits of Pets for Families. Marriage & Family Review, 8(3-4), 191–203. doi:10.1300/j002v08n03_14 

Jennings, L. B. (1997). Potential Benefits of Pet Ownership in Health Promotion. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 15(4), 358–372. https://doi.org/10.1177/089801019701500404

Albuquerque, N., Guo, K., Wilkinson, A., Savalli, C., Otta, E., & Mills, D. (2016). Dogs recognize dog and human emotions. Biology letters, 12(1), 20150883.

Pendry, P., & Vandagriff, J. L. (2019). Animal Visitation Program (AVP) Reduces Cortisol Levels of University Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial. AERA Open. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858419852592

Losada, M. (2016). 7 Mental Health Benefit of having a Pet. (Orig: 7beneficios de tener mascota para tu salud mental). Retrieved 4 August 2020, from https://www.muyinteresante.es/salud/articulo/7-beneficios-de-tener-mascota-para-tu-salud-mental-961460364104

What do cats do when their master is sad ? Orig: (¿Qué hacen los gatos cuando su amo está triste? ¿Quitan la tristeza?). (2020). Retrieved 4 August 2020, from https://www.barkibu.com/blog/que-hacen-los-gatos-cuando-su-amo-esta-triste-quitan-la-tristeza