It doesn’t necessarily matter what pet you’re partial to either (one 2016 study suggested sika deer and wallabies were actually the most suitable animal companions), and even watching fish in an aquarium can reduce muscle tension and lower heart rate.
Here’s a few more science-sponsored reasons that pets really can be good for you…
1. They improve your mood in just a few minutes
Emotional support animals are all the rage for a reason, and there’s a myriad of studies suggesting that pet-owning provides a mental boost. People with pets are much less likely to feel lonely in later life, while playing with a dog or cat even for a few minutes can cause a spike in feelgood hormones like oxytocin.
Even Florence Nightingale once observed that having a pet could help reduce anxiety, and science has since backed her up. There’s any number of possible reasons for this, but it’s the results that will count.
2. People with pets have healthier hearts
(iStock/PA)
Want to protect your heart? Our furry friends could help… Several studies have shown that having a pet dog can help lower blood pressure and that pets may be associated with lower cholesterol.
And it’s never too late to benefit from a little animal magic, as heart attack and stroke survivors with pet pooches were found to live longer, according to one recent study.
3. Pets are really good for children
(iStock/PA)
Pets are good for children in much the same ways they’re good for everybody else, but they come with a range of added bonuses for kids with different needs. Research suggests children with ADHD benefit from the responsibility of feeding, walking, and looking after a fellow living thing like a dog, and that a pet pooch can be a positive companion for children with autism.
Elsewhere, studies have found that exposure to pets during early childhood can lower the risk of allergies. Though a bittersweet benefit, pets also give children an early education in mortality and grief.
4. Pets will make you fitter
This one’s a no-brainer, and dog owners in particular are often much more physically active than their pet-less peers. A study from Michigan State University found that dog owners are 34% more likely to fit in 150 minutes of physical activity per week, while researchers from the University of Missouri found people with dogs have higher walking speeds.
5. Pets may make you more attractive
As anyone with an optimised Tinder profile can tell you, pets can make you popular on the dating scene. In a 2015 survey, around a third of women and a quarter of men said they had been more attracted to someone because of their pet – with dogs apparently the most popular pet for boosting appeal.
Unfortunately, once in a relationship, the benefits might melt away. In a recent survey, 40% of relevant respondents said they felt in competition with their partner’s pets, while 70% would ditch their partners over their cat or dog.
