Reduce Your Stress by Owning a Cat

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Karabo Meyer

Wildlife conservationist

August the 8th is International Cat Day, and it’s not hard to see why our little friends hold such a special place in our affections.

International Cat Day, also known as World Cat Day, is a holiday which was created in 2002 and is used to not only celebrate the friendship that humans and cats share but also to advocate for the safety and well-being of cats. This holiday is celebrated annually on August 8th.

An estimated 500 million cats are thought to be frolicking in neighbours’ gardens across the world, which means that most every extended family is bound to have an aunt with more kittens than former husbands, whatever the country or climate. So when it’s raining cats and dogs outside and you don’t have someone to cuddle with, any black, ginger, Persian, Siamese, Burmese, Bengal, Shorthair, Munchkin, Balinese, RagaMuffin or any old stray cat will do the trick.

International Cat Day is a full 24 hours of recognition and veneration of one of humanity’s oldest and most beloved pets. The festivities were put together for the first time in 2002 by IFAW, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, among other animal rights groups, to celebrate the most popular pet on the planet.

Interesting facts about cats

Cats sleep 70% of their lives.
On average cats live for around 12 to 15 years.
Cats are one of, if not the most, popular pet in the world.
Cats and humans have been associated for nearly 10000 years.
Domestic cats usually weigh around 4 kilograms (8 lb 13 oz) to 5 kilograms (11 lb 0 oz).
Cats can't taste sweetness.
Cats spend a large amount of time licking their coats to keep them clean.
Cats also have excellent hearing and a powerful sense of smell.

Cats and humans

Cats accompany humans for thousands of years. They are pets, that are not used for any kind of work or economic reasons, which makes the connection between humans and cats so extraordinary. The character of a cat is said to be idiosyncratic, farouche and independent, which makes them hard to train. But nonetheless cats always keep in touch with humans, when they were tamed once und quiet often the connection between the animal owner and the pet is very emotional. Whether this is a one-way love or not caused debates among animal friends.

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Some reasons you should own a cat

Cats are sweet, quiet and independent, and hearing a cat’s purr can melt your heart. Here are five reasons you should own a cat.

1. They reduce your stress

We all get stressed out, and people have many different ways of relieving their stress. Cat owners can reduce tensions by just stroking their furry friend’s head. Petting a cat releases endorphins into the brain, which makes you happier. Also, cats have the softest fur!

2. They keep unwanted rodents away

Sometimes the very presence of a cat is enough to scare away the rodents, but for those who don’t get the hint, your kitty will soon show them who’s boss.

3. Cats bring love into the home

Animals bring with them a myriad of love and happiness into the home, which is a great reason to get a cat of your own. You will find that your cat is going to provide you with love and laughter, and everyone in your home will appreciate that twofold. Cats are wonderful pets and companions, and everyone deserves a pet that will spend a little quality time with them and bring more love into the home.

4. Baths are not needed

Cats clean themselves. Some of them will need some cleaning at times, but they’re mostly very clean animals that won’t get outside and need a bath when they come back in. They’re mostly indoor cats, too, so there’s very little chance that yours will go outside and become filthy jumping in mud puddles or doing the crazy fun stuff that dogs like to do.

5. Better lifestyle

Living a “green” lifestyle can be difficult, but a cat is a great choice for potential pet owners looking to stay eco-friendly. Studies show that the lifetime resources needed to feed and care for a cat have a smaller carbon footprint than for other animals.

Plus, most cats prefer fish to beef or corn, which is better for the environment. You can feel good about owning your kitty.

There are so many more reasons that you should get a cat to fill your home with love. You can learn a lot from your cat about how to approach life, but probably the best thing you can learn is that if all else fails, just find a sunny spot, stretch out, and bask.

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