Moggies Marvellous for Mental Health

This week is Mental Health Awareness Week, we thought we'd share this article written a few years back by Cats Protection to promote the benefits cats can have on our Mental Health....

Our cats have a special knack for bringing a smile to our faces, whether it's through furry kisses and cuddles or entertaining antics. It's no surprise that a survey conducted by Cats Protection and the Mental Health Foundation found that 87% of people who owned a cat felt it had a positive impact on their wellbeing, while 76% said they could cope with everyday life much better thanks to the company of their feline friends. Half of the cat owners felt that their cat’s presence and companionship was most helpful, followed by a third of respondents describing stroking a cat as a calming and helpful activity.

The study was carried out in July and August 2011 and involved over 600 cat and non-cat-owning respondents, with half of them describing themselves as currently having a mental health problem. Cats Protection is keen to highlight how looking after a pet can bring structure to people’s day, reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness and even lower blood pressure.

In addition to this, a cat’s purr is widely recognised as having therapeutic benefits for humans. “Sitting with a relaxed purring cat at the end of a hectic day is a soothing massage for the soul,” said Cat Jarvis from Cats Protection. “Perhaps this is because the reassuring hum is generally associated with calmness and gentle communication, or perhaps it is because the frequency of the vibration is in the range that can stimulate healing.”
“The research findings tell us what cat lovers have known for years – cats are not just great company but they can also be very good for you.”

Cats Protection has thousands of cats ready for adoption across the UK and works hard to match the right cat to the right home. For more information about our cats and kittens ready for adoption here at Exeter Axhayes Adoption Centre, please visit our website... http://www.axhayes.cats.org.uk/axhayes/adopt-a-cat


If you are currently unable to adopt a cat, why not became a volunteer cat socialiser, to get your weekly cuddles with our adorable cats and kittens. http://www.axhayes.cats.org.uk/axhayes/volunteering

(Source: Cats Protection)

(The study is based on a sample size of 621. Data was collected between July and August 2011 via Mental Health Foundation’s website/social networking sites. The majority of respondents were women (83 per cent) aged between 26 and 55 (78 per cent).)