☆ 14 Ways Your Cat Improves Your Health (infographic) ☆

I love my cats. They are absolutely my babies. The joy that I receive from these adorable little fur-balls cannot be put into words. If I am in a bad mood, they always cheer me up and make me feel loved. 

Now there's even more reasons to love your cat: by revving up your cat’s purr motor!

Our feline friends provide us with more than just emotional support. House cats may actually be contributing to our physical well-being. When a cat purrs within a range of 20-140 Hertz, nearby humans may be therapeutically benefiting from these vibrations. Purring has been linked to lowering stress, decreasing symptoms of Dyspnoea, lessening the chances of having a heart attack, and even strengthening bones.

Pet-therapy has been gaining momentum and it is already a well-established fact that having cats or dogs (or bunnies, etc.) in the family is good for your health. Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) acknowledges it. Many studies have found a variety of health benefits we derive from petting and interacting with companion animals. And there is scientific research that suggests pet owners live longer than those without pets.

Daily Infographic illustrates:

Infographic courtesy of Daily Infographic

(“dysponea,” usually spelled “dyspnea,” means difficulty or pain with breathing.)

Cuddling up with your cat is good for you and for her. Scratch her favorite spot (try her cheeks!) and get a good purr going. She’ll be ecstatic, and you will get healthier. (Good news for those who cannot take advantage of this feline-based health regimen because of cat allergies: an effective treatment may be only five years away.)

Even if she doesn’t get her purr on, time with your cat (or other animal) is still good for you. Here are just a few of the many ways they take care of you.

Pets Help Sick People Feel Better

WebMD describes a number of benefits ill people derive from living with companion animals.

1. “Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts” if they live with a companion animal.

2. “Pet owners with AIDS are far less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets.”

3. People who suffer from high blood pressure, then adopt a cat or dog, navigate stressful situations with lower blood pressure than people who don’t have pets.

4. “Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without.”

Pets Also Help Prevent Health Problems

5. Taking care of a pet provides elderly people with “exercise and companionship,” with such a positive effect that one company gives bonus points to elderly life insurance applicants for having a pet.

6. “Male pet owners have less sign of heart disease — lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels — than non-owners.”

7. Want your kids to breathe easy? Make sure they have furry family members. That lowers the risk that they will have allergies, asthma and even eczema, plus it strengthens their immune systems.

If you have quadripeds in the house, go play or snuggle with them at once. If you don’t, get thee to the local animal shelter and save the life of a homeless animal who will pay you back with years of good health.

Thanks to Care2: http://www.care2.com/causes/14-ways-your-cat-improves-your-health.html#ixzz2aGjzojbG

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☆ Ways to Help your Local Animal Shelter! ☆

I know, we all live busy busy lives. We want to help and volunteer but sometimes we just don't the time for helping out at our local animal shelters. However, because Animal Shelters depend on donations to save lives, there are always things you can do to help, things that require very little time and effort on your part. 

If you haven't started your spring cleaning, or if you haven't gotten around to the disposal part of your spring cleaning, then you use it to get rid of old things you’re not using any more and donate these items to animal shelters to help them not only save lives, but make the lives of those animals a little softer, warmer and more comfortable.

Things you can Donate:

Used pet toys or new eco ones

Used dog and cat sweaters and clothes or new eco ones

Used bedding or new eco bedding

Used towels or new, eco towels

Recycled paper and plastic bags

Dog food and cat food

Newspaper

Office supplies

Dog & cat beds (used or new and eco)

Kennels & crates (used or new and eco)

And then of course there's your time if you have it. These animals need love and attention and don't always get enough, so be sure to get in there and play and help out volunteering when you can. 

Other ways you can help Shelter Animals: 

Spay/Neuter!

A big thing you can do to help out animal shelters is by making sure more aren't going to end up there. How do you do this? By spaying or neutering your companions animals. This is honestly my biggest pet peeve, because people too often Don't do it when it is so so so important. I see people posting cute new photos all the time on Facebook of their cat or dog's new litter. Yes they're cute but do you have any idea how many animals are in shelters that will never ever have a family thanks to you introducing more and more puppies and kittens into the world when others are on death row waiting for their families. Seriously maddening. Please spread the word and get your friends and family to spay and neuter their pets. Please! 

Adopt don't Shop!

Exactly as I said above, there are so many animals in shelters that need homes that get neglected so please do not support breeders or buy from that fresh new litter your friend has. Please support your local animal shelters and give those animals a chance, you won't be sorry! 

Support Programs That Spay/Neuter at Low or No Cost

Some families don’t spay or neuter their cats because they can’t afford to. If you adopt from a shelter, they may spay or neuter the cat before you take her or him home. If your cat comes from some other source, look for programs that offer spay/neuter operations at low or no cost. You can find these services at the Humane Society’s handy webpage.

Cat lovers who can afford it can donate to these programs to help reduce the homeless cat population.

Support Programs that Trap-Neuter-Return Feral Cats

Many homeless cats are feral, meaning they are not tame and cannot be adopted. Feral cats can produce a whole lot of kittens who, if caught early enough and depending on their luck, will go either to a shelter or a foster or forever home.

There is another solution: Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Cat rescuers trap feral cats, neuter them, clip off a corner of one ear to let others know that this cat has already been spayed or neutered, and then release them back into the colony of feral cats they live in. Colony caretakers bring the cats food and water and make sure they have adequate shelter from the weather. TNR has been proven to be the best method of reducing the feral cat population because it prevents colonies from reproducing.

So do what you can and, one last time, please spay and neuter and tell others to do the same. Adopt don't shop. Spread the love! :) 

If you found this article to be helpful, please consider a small donation or visit the shop. Thank you for your love and support.