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Ways in Which Befriending a Pet Can Better Your Life

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When faced with the pure joy of a kitten's sleepy eyes, we cannot help but ask is it possible that something so adorable even exists. Those furry little companions of ours have been following each of our steps since the very beginning; they continue to bring us comfort of silent, unconditional friendship and offer their love selflessly, with no questions asked. For some time now, scientists have been researching the interconnection between little woofs and mews and our health, and the results have been surprisingly encouraging - our pets can make our lives better, and now it's a scientific fact. If still in doubt, read on.

Someone to Take Care Of

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Whether we're faced with busy schedules or the torments of professional failure, having a pet can bring a sense of structure to our lives. By their nature, dogs disallow negativity; their basic need, apart from playing, eating and sleeping, is spending time with their human friends. Such nature encourages even the most indisposed of us to leave the bed and go out for a playing session.

To those dealing with personal loss or intimate maladies of various kinds, both dogs and cats can be something to commit to and distract their thoughts, thus spurring routine, structure and an important sense of being needed. Cats, on the other hand, are far better pals to people preoccupied with work. Being less demanding than dogs, their unique character will keep them satisfied with only an hour or two of playtime on a daily basis.

That way, they will not distract you from your daily tasks, but they will still obligate you to remember the importance of taking a moment to unwind or engage in a pleasing nap.

Keeping Active with a Sidekick

We do move on with relentless velocity, yet somehow, we never have enough time for an actual run through the park. Physical wellness is, consequently, one of the most neglected aspects of modern life. Well, befriending a dog means constant exercise - having a canine friend gives an opportunity to breathe fresh air, jog in the early morning and take a long, lazy walk before bed. It's highly unlikely, however, that your cat will allow you to follow it around during its outdoor adventures.

Still, even the laziest of house cats relish in being chased arounds the furniture, and be sure that it won't leave you alone until you join the game. These balls of fur never tend to fully grow up, and they will take any chance they have to reconnect you with your inner child - whether you end up playing a silly, but surprisingly amusing game of hide and seek or taking a mile long marathon around the block, they will warm up your muscles and raise your spirit. With them, there's no refusing those childish, physically demanding escapades, for their vitality is unquestionably contagious.

Little Furry Helpers

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Gentle and intelligent, both cats and dogs have their ways of becoming a legitimate part of the family. They warm us up when we are cold, comfort us when we are sad, and still they know exactly when to retreat when we need to be alone.

For the elderly, taking care of a pet is like taking care of a child - they are, after all, complex beings with souls of their own, and they need us to live a full, happy life. A dying cat can teach our younglings how to appreciate life and deal with tragic losses, and a sick dog can give a sense of purpose to our elderly family members.

A pet's love is selfless and undemanding; it doesn't need much to let us know how important and valuable we are, and its presence is sometimes everything we need to feel needed and less lonely. Growing up with busy parents and hyped minds, our children have far less opportunities to wear off their playing energy, but with a furry sidekick, even being condemned to four walls is a chance for an adventure. Taking care of a pet therefore means having someone to take care of those we sometimes don't have a lot of time for.

A Therapeutic Purr

A few years ago, one particular cat attracted the attention of cat behaviourists and scientists for its seemingly unique feline abilities. Oscar the therapy cat, adopted by the Steere House Nursing and Rehabilitation Centre in Providence, Rhode Island, has shown remarkable interest in terminally ill patients, keeping them company until the very last moments of their lives. Examining the behaviour of this atypical cat, scientists had started to notice patterns in such behaviour, and went on to raise awareness about the extraordinary intuition these animals possess and, consequently, their therapeutic value.

Deeply attached to their human friends, both cats and dogs are capable of sensing mood-swings and unusual, health-related alterations in human behaviour. As house doctors, they are equally gifted for regulating and improving our health. Patting alone is a rhythmical movement that can lower blood pressure, thus reducing the stress hormone levels and helping us relax. The body temperature of cats and dogs is way higher than that of a human, which is also worth mentioning.

Consequently, the warmth they provide offers comfort and relieves us of anxiety. Thanks to Oscar, the therapy cat, we now know for certain that having a pet is some much-needed therapy for those struggling with depression and other issues of a psychosomatic nature.

Our existence has never been lonelier than in these modern times. We have it all figured out now, so we climb the ladder of our social success very fast. With no time to rest, somewhere between our last adolescent summer and the autumn of our adult years, we lose touch with most of our old friends and befriend few new ones.

Once we are finally up, our schedules all checked out and our goals achieved, we realize that there's no one to share our accomplishments with. Solitude truly is a plague of modern life, and so is the lack of self-reflection time and spontaneity. Those soothing purrs we can hear from our lap can slow us down for a moment, and make us appreciate the beauty of those calm little moments in life.

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