© Alena Koval
Interacting with cats, for example, enhances the well-being of dementia patients.
September 18, 2024
Sophie Rodewyk
Cats are not only a big topic in the US elections. They also have healing powers and can, among other things, reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
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The US presidential elections of 2024 have brought surprising players to the big world stage. They are currently being mentioned in all international media and even one of the biggest superstars of our time, Taylor Swift, mentioned them on Instagram in a post in which she publicly expressed her support for the Democratic candidate Kamala Harris.
For those who are still in the dark about which actors we are talking about here: we are of course talking about cats.
Back to the US election campaign: Republican vice-presidential candidate J. D. Vance had three years ago in an interview disparaged Kamala Harris and called her one of the "Childless Cat Ladies" who were unhappy and therefore wanted to make the rest of the country unhappy too. A storm of outrage broke out.
Anyone now wondering what cats have to do with Health and Wellbeing have to do with, let it be revealed: more than you think. Even though so far mainly dogs and horses are known to promote health and are used as animal therapists - see also our article Dr. Dog - cats can also help alleviate physical and psychological ailments.
There is first the very exciting assumption that they can accelerate healing of bone fractures or simply muscle regeneration with their purring.
So far, there is no verifiable evidence to confirm this thesis. However, it is based on studies that have shown that a vibration frequency between 25-100 Hz. has positive effects on bone growth and muscle recovery.
Since cats purr at a frequency between 25-150 Hz., there is at least a possibility that a purring cat, which has close body contact to the affected body region for a certain period of time, could have positive effects on it.
© Lina Kivaka
Cat owners have a significantly lower risk of heart attack than people who have never owned a cat.
The fact that cats can have a positive influence on our cardiovascular system has actually been confirmed by studies from the universities of Pennsylvania and Minnesota. This is mainly due to the fact that many cardiovascular diseases are associated with an increased release of cortisol which is related to stress can be caused.
Since dealing with cats has been proven to lower stress levels, the studies showed that cat owners had a lower susceptibility to heart attacks and heart failure.
Even though it is well known that there are many other ways to reduce stress levels (tip: the current trend Cozy Cardio Trying it), living with cats in most cases is something that can lead to a longer and healthier life.
For example, some pediatricians advise against acquiring a cat in certain cases as they may have a higher allergenic potential than other pets.
Pregnant women are also advised to exercise particular caution when handling cats due to the risk of toxoplasmosis, as cats can be carriers and possible transmitters of the toxoplasmosis pathogen, which can be dangerous for the expectant mother and the unborn child during pregnancy.
Speaking of 'Childless Cat Ladies': Anyone who investigates whether childless women with cats are actually, as claimed by JD Vance, particularly unhappy, quickly encounters Paul Dolan, a professor of behavioral science at the London School of Economics.
In a 2019 appearance, he cited reasons that provide evidence that childless, unmarried women (who may also own a cat) live significantly longer and happier lives than those who spend a large part of their lives caring for their families.
