If one of your New Year’s Resolutions this year was to take control of your life, especially when it comes to maintaining your youth and vitality, you may already be off to a running start if you have a cat. It’s no secret that living with a cat is life-enhancing. Not only do they bring such joy and love to our lives, but they can also help us add another 10 years to our lives! (Hey! If cats can have nine lives, then doesn’t it seem fair that we should benefit somehow by keeping them company every day?)
So, exactly how was this conclusion made that cats can add move the finish line out by several years for us? Well, as reported by cats international.com, Dr. Horst Becker, along with several scientists from the Berlin Longevity Institute, observed and studied in excess of 3,000 cat owners and discovered that felines have an instantaneous calming effect that seems to occur immediately after holding one. Just moments after you pick up your cat, your blood pressure will drop and your heart rate will slow down. Translation? Cats are like the fountain of youth…. consider them the felines of youth! Sure, most any pet will probably add a few years to your life, but cats? Oh, my! They have cornered the market on this one. They can add nearly a decade of living to people who have had one since childhood. (Never fear, however, if you added a cat to your family later in life…you will still reap some of the same health benefits!)
Now, if you are still single and looking for love, be sure to seek out another cat lover so the two of you can live a long, healthy, happy life together…. along with your cats! (And before you start doing the math, I don’t think the study suggested that if you get two cats, you will add 20 years to your life and that three cats will add 30 years to your life! It’s a safe bet, however, to conclude that, yes, cats are somewhat of a magical formula for a long life. It’s always been a challenge to discover the actual fountain of youth, so isn’t it great to know you have had one sitting beside you (or on your lap!) this whole time?
Written by Ann Butenas
An internationally-recognized author and writer, Ann began her professional writing career at age 12 and began speaking while in college. She has been published thousands of times over the past three decades in all media forms, was former editor and publisher of KC Metro Woman magazine, and has also hosted three talk radio shows in the Kansas City area.
