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They’re fluffy, independent, the internet's in love with them, and there is scientific proof that having a furry roomate is actually all kinds of good for your health. Whether you live with a cuddly lap cat or a quiet introvert who loves their space, having a feline around you can be just as rewarding and benefitial as any other animal friendship.
In honor of International Cat Day, we collected a few little-known scientific facts that prove how awesome cats really are.
1. THEY CAN LOWER YOUR RISK OF HEART DISEASE
Studies have found that owning a cat can lower your stress levels, which in turn will have a knock-on effect on your risk of cardiovascular disease. Owning a cat can actually lower ones risk of various heart diseases, including stroke, by around 30 percent.
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2. THEIR PURRING HELPS TO HEAL BONES, TENDONS AND MUSCLES
A cat purring is one of the most comforting sounds in the world and while it certainly means your cat is happy and comfortable, the sound has also been long associated with a therapeutic healing ability on human bones and muscle.
A cats purr creates vibrations at a frequency of 20-140 HZ, and studies have shown that frequencies in the 18-35 HZ range have a positive effect on joint mobility after injury, scientists have begun talking about how the cat noise could help humans.
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3. YOU'LL SLEEP BETTER
Several studies in the UK have found that people (especially women) prefer to sleep with their cats over their partners, and they even report sleeping better with a cat than with a human bed companion. A recent study from the Mayo Clinic Center for Sleep Medicine was able to confirm those findings: 41 percent of the people in that study indicated that they slept better because of their pet, while only 20 percent said that it led to disturbances.
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4. THEY'LL MAKE YOU MORE ATTRACTIVE (TO WOMEN)
Research conducted by leading pet researcher Dr June Nicolls found that women were more likely to be attracted to men with pets with a whopping 90 percent of single women perceiving men with cats as nicer and more caring than those without.
5. THEY REDUCE STRESS AND ANXIETY
Having a cat around you can actually trigger the release of calming chemicals in your body which lower your stress and anxiety leves. Cats are known for being super low-maintencance and a simple petting session is usually enough to make both you and your cat happy.
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6. CATS MEAN FEWER ALLERGIES (FOR YOUR KIDS)
In 2002, the National Institutes of Health released a study that found children under a year old who were exposed to a cat to be less likely to develop all kinds of allergies. According to Marshall Plaut, M.D., chief of the allergic mechanisms section at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, "high pet exposure early in life appears to protect against not only pet allergy but also other types of common allergies, such as allergy to dust mites, ragweed, and grass."
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7. EVEN JUST WATCHING CAT VIDEOS IS GOOD FOR YOU
A study of over 7,000 people by Indiana University Bloomington found that watching cat videos on the internet boosts viewers’ energy and positive emotions while decreasing negative feelings. Turns out all those hours spent on YouTube actually did you some good.
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