Cats are undoubtedly the most popular pets. Their number living in families with people significantly exceeds the number of dogs. Scientific research has shown that furry pets, who are cute and independent, have a positive effect on people's health. So much so that even watching videos of cats online can improve a person’s performance, evoke positive emotions and improve their mood.
The cat pleases the eye with its graceful elegance, it loves the house where it lives and its owners, in addition, here are a few more scientifically proven benefits that you will receive if you get yourself a cat.
Have a positive effect on people's mental health
A group of 600 people were studied with whom cats were placed. About half of these people had mental health problems. Among cat owners, 87% said they felt their animals had a positive impact on their emotional well-being, and 76% reported that cats made it easier for them to cope with everyday stress. Here's another good reason why you should hug your cat as often as possible!
Sanitary control
Having a cat at home (as well as a small child) often forces home owners to maintain cleanliness and order. Restless animals do not know the “place” command, love to run around the apartment and often misbehave, dropping dishes or other objects on the floor - or spoiling papers left on the table. This quickly teaches owners to put fragile things back in their places, remove excess from horizontal surfaces, keep balls and threads only in the needlework box, and so on.
And finally, the benefit of a cat is that it is the one that can put an end to the protracted conflict between men and women regarding the initial position of the toilet seat. Many cats show great interest in the water running in the toilet... and then it immediately becomes obvious that the toilet seat should be down and the lid closed. For purely sanitary reasons. This means that there are fewer quarrels in the family.
A cat's purring has a beneficial effect on bones, tendons and muscles
If you love cats, you already know that a cat's purr is one of the most soothing sounds in the world and usually means that your cat is happy and comfortable.
The study found that the frequency of a cat's purr ranges from 25 to 140 Hz. These are exactly the same frequencies that have a therapeutic effect on bone growth, healing of fractures and wounds, reducing swelling, growth and restoration of muscles and tendons, improving joint mobility, and relieving pain. Make your cat happy more often and let her purr for your health!
Soothing massage for the soul
Who among us hasn’t found ourselves in a situation where, having decided to take on planned tasks, we put everything off because of a video with a cute furry creature that caught our eye?
Research shows that watching videos where cats are the main participants is not so bad: this video makes us happier and allows us to get rid of negative emotions.
“Even if people watch videos instead of doing work, the emotional boost they get helps them take on difficult tasks later,” says study author Jessica Gaul Myrick.
Moreover, the UK's Cats Protection Society found in 2011 that people who spend frequent time with their pets feel calmer and less upset. Of the total survey respondents, 87% believed that sharing a home with an animal improved their overall well-being, and 76% believed that having a cat around helped them cope with stress better.
“Relaxing with a relaxed, purring cat at the end of a hard day is a soothing massage for the soul,” says Beth Skillings, Cats Protection veterinarian. “Perhaps because a calming purr is associated with calmness and affectionate communication, or perhaps because of the frequency of vibrations, the range of which has a healing effect on a person.”
We are used to thinking of cats as indifferent creatures who are not capable of empathy, like dogs, for example. However, in reality, felines understand when their owner is feeling unwell and react to it.
Moriah Galvan and Jennifer Vonk, in their research, the results of which were published in the journal Animal Cognition, found that cats can “read” their owner’s facial expressions and see certain emotions, which allows them to react depending on the situation.
Helps prevent allergies in children
Cats have the most positive influence on children. Having a pet can teach kids social skills, help them cope with traumatic situations, and even make them less prone to allergies.
The study showed that contact with pets - cats and dogs in the first year of a child's life can strengthen his immune system, and help strengthen protection against respiratory diseases and other childhood diseases.
Purring doctor. How cats help people stay healthy
The cat is one of the most beloved and revered animals on the planet. To date, about 200 breeds have been bred, the number of animals in the world is about 600 million, and almost 60% of the world's population have them as pets at home.
The domestication of cats began more than six thousand years ago - and since then there have been many legends and superstitions around them. In Ancient Egypt, these graceful animals were worshiped as deities, they were allowed to go anywhere, many gods were depicted with a cat's head, and after death the cats were mummified. Unfortunately, the period of worship in the 14th century ended - and the Inquisition began. Cats, especially black ones, were not in the best position during these times, because they were considered assistants to witches and were burned at the stake in their hundreds.
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Today, there are many fewer people with prejudices against cats. However, many still believe that these animals are capable of feeling what is hidden from human eyes: they predict death, hiss into the void and can find a new home for their owners without ever having been there. There is no scientific evidence that cats have supernatural powers, but they definitely have a beneficial effect on the human condition.
Since 1980, several hundred studies have been conducted in the UK, Europe and the USA on the effect of cats on humans and it has been revealed that the owners of these pets:
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- had lower blood pressure and heart rate;
- visited doctors 21% less often;
- suffered less from depression and loneliness;
- had greater social connections and had more friends;
- were more active;
- experienced losses more easily;
- took better care of ourselves;
- felt safer;
- had better survival rates one year after myocardial infarction.
Photo: Depositphotos
There’s also no denying the power of a cat’s purr, something no one else in the natural world can do. These sounds, which oscillate in the range of 24-44 hertz, promote the growth and strengthening of bone tissue, restore cells and activate the body's protective properties. Cats also purr when they themselves are sick—apparently, this is how they treat themselves.
Massage in combination with “acupuncture”, which pets sometimes give to their owners, also turns out to be useful. In addition, cats help with cardiovascular diseases, since contact with them normalizes the patient’s blood pressure.
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Some people have difficulty interacting with cats due to severe allergies to fur. However, scientists, having conducted a number of studies, have proven that regular communication between a child and a pet prevents the occurrence of allergic reactions and asthma. The medicinal properties of cats are also used in feline therapy - a method of treatment and prevention of diseases, which is based on human interaction with cats and their images.
Photo: Depositphotos
The necessary qualities for a therapy cat are a calm, balanced character, lack of aggression towards strangers of any age, as well as a sincere interest in communicating with a person. There are many beneficial effects from therapy: thermal (the “heating pad” effect), electrostatic, bioacoustic (ultrasound therapy) and energy, as well as the effect on nerve endings.
Unlike dogs and horses, which are widely used in animal-assisted therapy, cats are more difficult to work with - not everyone easily adapts to a new place, and their mood can change quickly. And yet, in many nursing homes and foreign hospitals, the presence of cats has shown positive results - in particular, it has a beneficial effect on children with autism.
Paintings of Iris, Raining Cats and Anima
The famous story of the little artist Iris and her cat Tula is proof of this. The girl suffered from sleep disorders, obsessive behavior, refused to make eye contact, and avoided playing with her parents and other children. When Tula was first brought home, the kitten slept in Iris's bed all night, allowing her to pet him, and did not resist when the girl held his tail.
Thanks to Tula, Iris decided to take the boldest step for a child with autism - she learned to trust the world around her: sleep soundly, ride a bike, not be afraid of water and engage in creativity. Her paintings are in demand all over the world.
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Cats continue to guard our health and well-being. They are a real “vitamin of joy”, because it is their tricks that can bring a smile even on the gloomiest day. In addition, cats are excellent stress relievers and relieve insomnia and irritability. Every day they captivate people with their independent, majestic character and bring undeniable benefits. Check out the effect of a cat on the body by adopting a pet from our “In Good Hands” section.
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No household inconveniences
In addition to the scientifically proven health benefits, cat owners receive a number of other benefits. Judge for yourself! Cats cost less to own than medium or large dogs because they require much less food, toys and trips to the groomer.
Cats don't bark, so there's little chance they'll wake up the neighbors when someone rings your doorbell.
Cats can be in a playful mood, and they delight their owners with their cheerful dexterity. Ever wondered why cats love to play? In nature, they have to hunt for prey, and therefore cats accumulate a lot of unspent energy for hunting, which they spend during play.
Persistent alarm clock
Cats also become invaluable helpers for those who have difficulty getting up in the morning. These animals are excellent and very persistent alarm clocks, and they have a huge number of tools in their arsenal for waking up their owners. If family members get up at the same time in the morning, cats usually quickly get used to the established daily routine and begin active wake-up actions simultaneously with the alarm clock, or a couple of minutes ahead of it.
True, the desire of cats to wake up their owners in the morning sometimes brings trouble - many cats find it difficult to discern the difference between weekdays and a day off, when they could sleep longer. But some still succeed - and then the cats wake up their owners in strict accordance with their work or school schedule.
Types of Tartar
Fossils on enamel come in different types depending on location. So they distinguish:
- supragingival stones – formed on the first molars (lateral) and front or lower teeth;
- subgingival - hard areas that penetrate soft tissue;
- stone bridge – covering the main and adjacent teeth.
Special abilities of cats
In the course of biological evolution, which followed the path of active growth and development of the brain, man lost many abilities that allowed him to navigate living nature. Our hearing and sense of smell have been greatly reduced, and technological progress has made the ability to notice the slightest changes in the surrounding space insignificant.
Cats have retained ancient instincts, and most importantly, biological “tools” that allow them to sense the approach of danger before the inevitable happens. A sensitive and observant owner, who is always attentive to the condition of his tailed friend, may, without realizing it, receive a very important warning from him.
Feel slight vibrations
As an example, there is countless evidence that our pets sense seismic activity.
A smart person will certainly be wary when he sees that his cat is rushing around, not finding a place for itself, and is trying to take everyone it can away from the house. Often cats saved entire families from imminent death under the rubble of a house in this way.
In the nineties, a story was passed down from mouth to mouth about a cat that persistently rushed into the children's room and called other family members to follow it. As soon as they entered there, there was an explosion and part of the entrance collapsed. Of the entire apartment, only the room chosen by the cat remained intact.
Hear sounds elusive to our ears
During the world wars, cats saved many lives by warning their families in advance about bombings. It can be assumed that the cat's keen hearing allowed it to hear the distant rumble of approaching bombers.
Particularly well known is the story of the cat Sally from London, who, sensing the approach of an air raid, ran to the gas masks hanging on the wall and persistently made it clear that it was time to go down to the bomb shelter.
Fires and floods
An equally interesting story happened in the nineteenth century in St. Petersburg. A stray cat came into one of the houses from the street and brought her kittens. She dragged the kids to a fairly high step of the stairs and did not allow anyone to take them down from there. The next day, a terrible flood began in St. Petersburg, but the water level did not reach her kittens.
There are countless examples of cats saving people from fire. The extremely high sensitivity of cats allows them to smell a fire much earlier than people, and often it is cats that wake up their owners who are sound asleep and unaware of the danger.
As you can see, a lot can be said about the benefits that cats bring to us. But we get them not only for the sake of benefit, because a beloved pet gives us a feeling of joy and happiness. And any cat brings happiness to the house.
Any size, breed and gender, with any tail and ears, regardless of its color and degree of fluffiness. Because a cat is concentrated happiness. No wonder they say that your home is where your cat is...
What is tartar
Tartar is a formation that is a keratinized plaque consisting of poorly removed food debris, calcium, phosphorus and iron salts covered with a biofilm of dead bacteria.
You can find fossilized food deposits over the entire surface of the dentition, but most often the concentration is on the lower incisors, closer to the gums and on the sides.
Please note that tartar can penetrate the back wall and inside the gums. It is usually found in hard-to-reach places where it is impossible to remove food debris with a toothbrush.
How to prevent tartar formation
By observing good oral hygiene, you can prevent the (re)formation of tartar:
- Brush your teeth thoroughly at least twice a day using a good manual or electric toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste.
- Clean between teeth once a day using dental floss or interdental brushes.
- With these measures it is possible to prevent the formation of plaque and therefore tartar, as well as to prevent tooth discoloration and decay.
Cons of having a pet
With all the positive qualities and immense love for a pet, one should take into account the disadvantages of having it in the house.
First of all, the cat’s harm is the dirt brought by the cat from the street. The cat, as you know, “walks by itself” and not always in certain places, while the dirt settled on the fur is spread throughout the house. Of course, along with getting a cat, you need to forget about the integrity of the furniture, the safety of the curtains and the original appearance of the carpets. Untimely removal of claws can lead to unusability of interior items. This cat defect can be avoided if you carefully study the mother of the kitten that you plan to bring into the family or teach it yourself to be clean and calm.
Methods for removing tartar
- Physical method. Consists of mechanical destruction of deposits using a dental instrument with a thin tip. Modern medicine uses the Air flow system. Fine particles of soda are applied under high pressure, causing a stream of air containing the powder to knock the fossils off the tooth. A subsequent stream of water washes away the separated particles.
- Chemical method. Allows you to remove formations with the help of compounds that dissolve the basis of tartar - deposits of mineral salts. A composition is applied to the teeth that softens plaque, but does not cause significant harm to the enamel. Then the impurities are removed.
- Ultrasound. Ultrasonic waves do not injure teeth and gums. Contraindicated in patients using a pacemaker.
- Laser. The laser method can be used specifically in dentistry for various procedures. It is one of the most effective and expensive procedures. The laser beam is very thin and can be used precisely. This way, only truly unwanted tissue is destroyed. Healthy tissues are preserved. Local anesthesia is often not required. Laser treatment does not cause noise or vibration like drilling. The virtually painless treatment is especially suitable for anxious patients.
