TO OUR VALUED PET OWNERS: We apologise for any difficulty you may have been experiencing getting your hands on your pet’s favourite foods in the past couple of weeks. Unfortunately, like many companies, we are experiencing significant delays due to global supply challenges, leading to temporary out of stocks. We are working as best we can to limit this impact on you, our valued consumers. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team of Vet Nurses for FREE advice on 0800 738 847 or AskPurina@nz.nestle.com who can help recommend some alternatives.
Do you know just 15 to 30 minutes of quality time with a cat can calm your nerves and boost your mood? There’s even chemical evidence. When you spend time with a cat, your production of serotonin, a chemical that boosts feelings of well-being, goes up, and your cortisol levels go down. Cortisol, along with high blood pressure, is a result of stress, and can lead to high cholesterol and hypertension. This means that spending time with a cat can keep you healthier in the long run.
A 20-year study found that people who owned a cat were 40% less likely to die from a heart attack.
J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2009 January; 2(1): 132-135. PMCID: PMC3317329
More and more stories are cropping up about cats that can tell when their owners are about to have seizures and will do their best to warn them. While scientists suspect this ability has something to do with detecting biochemical scents, how it works remains a mystery.
BBC News, “Pet cat ‘senses’ Bournemouth owner’s epilepsy.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12740040.
The New York Times, “HEALTH; Children and Their Pets: Unexpected Psychological Benefits.” http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/11/us/health-children-and-their-pets-unexpected-psychological-benefits.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.<
Another Breed of “Service” Animals: STARS Study Findings About Pet Ownership and Recovery from Serious Mental Illness. Wisdom, J.P.; Saedi, G. A.; Green, Carla A. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 2009 Jul; 79(3): 430-436
A study found that dog owners visit the doctor 8% less frequently than non-owners.
Cat owners visited even less – 12% less frequently.
G.L. Jennings, Director, The Alfred & Baker Medical Unit, The Alfred Healthcare Group and The Baker Medical Research Institute. Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, Animals, Health and Quality of Life, September 6-9, 1995, Geneva, Switzerland.
When pets were present during therapy sessions:
Of course, having a pet isn’t right for everyone. But if you’re in the right place in life and have love to give, you might be surprised by the ways your life improves.
Odendaal, J. S. (2000). Animal assisted therapy: Magic or medicine? Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49(4), 275-280.
1 | Cats Help Improve Our Moods and Help Us Deal with Stress |
Do you know just 15 to 30 minutes of quality time with a cat can calm your nerves and boost your mood? There’s even chemical evidence. When you spend time with a cat, your production of serotonin, a chemical that boosts feelings of well-being, goes up, and your cortisol levels go down. Cortisol, along with high blood pressure, is a result of stress, and can lead to high cholesterol and hypertension. This means that spending time with a cat can keep you healthier in the long run.
A 20-year study found that people who owned a cat were 40% less likely to die from a heart attack.
J Vasc Interv Neurol. 2009 January; 2(1): 132-135. PMCID: PMC3317329
2 | Detecting Seizures |
More and more stories are cropping up about cats that can tell when their owners are about to have seizures and will do their best to warn them. While scientists suspect this ability has something to do with detecting biochemical scents, how it works remains a mystery.
BBC News, “Pet cat ‘senses’ Bournemouth owner’s epilepsy.” http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-12740040.
3 | Pets Can Be Good for Our Children |
The New York Times, “HEALTH; Children and Their Pets: Unexpected Psychological Benefits.” http://www.nytimes.com/1990/01/11/us/health-children-and-their-pets-unexpected-psychological-benefits.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm.<
4 | Pets Can Help Us Recover from Trauma |
Another Breed of “Service” Animals: STARS Study Findings About Pet Ownership and Recovery from Serious Mental Illness. Wisdom, J.P.; Saedi, G. A.; Green, Carla A. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry. 2009 Jul; 79(3): 430-436
5 | Pets Can Keep the Doctor Away |
A study found that dog owners visit the doctor 8% less frequently than non-owners.
Cat owners visited even less – 12% less frequently.
G.L. Jennings, Director, The Alfred & Baker Medical Unit, The Alfred Healthcare Group and The Baker Medical Research Institute. Paper presented at the 7th International Conference on Human-Animal Interactions, Animals, Health and Quality of Life, September 6-9, 1995, Geneva, Switzerland.
6 | Need More Proof? Look to the Wonder Pets in Animal-Assisted Therapy |
When pets were present during therapy sessions:
Of course, having a pet isn’t right for everyone. But if you’re in the right place in life and have love to give, you might be surprised by the ways your life improves.
Odendaal, J. S. (2000). Animal assisted therapy: Magic or medicine? Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 49(4), 275-280.
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