Most of us go into each year with every intention of keeping our New Year’s Resolutions. Your resolutions may reflect a desire to improve your overall health: working out more, eating less, stressing less and finding more time for balance and relaxation in your life.
If you don’t already have a cat in your household, adding one may be the answer to the problem of New Year’s resolutions that go offtrack.
In terms of improving your health, you might not think immediately about pets, but your cat may just be the key to keeping those resolutions that are geared towards improving your health and wellness.
Here are a few ways cats and New Year’s Resolutions can work together:
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Reduce Risk of Cardiovascular Disease
Cats lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and also can reduce the risk of a heart attack. They can also give your immune system a boost. Cats seem to have that innate sense of when you are sick and will come and offer you comfort. This helps you get better while simultaneously boosting your immune system. Let’s just refer to them as little doctors with fur!
On another note, In the last couple of years, medical experts have discovered the dangers of sitting for extended periods of time. Many digital watches, such as Apple Watch, will alert you when you’ve been stationary too long.
Cats love play sessions, so why not schedule a daily morning and afternoon or early evening play session with your cat. Use a wand toy, stand up and move around the room while your cat stalks the toy. This will get both you and your cat moving, AND strengthen the bond between you.
Prevent Allergies In Children
Did you also know that having a cat can help you prevent allergies in children? Studies have shown that newborns who live with animals, especially cats, are less likely to develop allergies, as being used to them from an early age tends to trigger immunities.
Reduce BIood Pressure
Is your blood pressure higher than it should be? The simple act of enjoying the company of your cat can lead to lower blood pressure. Just stroking a cat’s fur is calming and will serve to put you in a calmer state. And those pesky triglycerides can also be lowered if you have a cat. You have to eat right and remain active, but having a cat around gives you an added benefit and boost.
Lower Cholesterol
Are you determined to lower your cholesterol this year? Research shows that owning a cat can actually be more effective at lowering cholesterol than medications designed to do the same thing. Plus, if you can bring those numbers down, you can possibly eliminate the need for costly prescriptions!
Stress Reduction
What about stress? Who among us doesn’t deal with this on occasion? When you are caught up in the chaos of your day, take the time to snuggle with your cat and just feel that stress melt away.
The best part? Outside of food, water, veterinarian care, and other miscellaneous expenses that come with owning a cat, you can bet he won’t send you a bill for his medical services! (But if he did, he would probably expect payment in the form of lots of love, snuggles and catnip!) The cat in the picture above looks skeptical that you’ll keep those resolutions. Show him with a little teamwork it can happen!
Get More Sleep
A key to staying well is giving your body enough sleep time to relax and repair the damages of daily life. As we know, cats are masters of the nap, so why not take a break and treat yourself to a np. I’ve started doing this occasionally and feel so much better after a 45 min-hour nap.
Our feline companions are masters of self-care. With all the stresses this year has brought about, Let’s take a lesson from the cat playbook and live life like cats. Our cats will be happy we humans have decided to follow their lead, and we’ll feel better applying the lessons they’ve taught us about living a better life.
Please stay safe and healthy. Marty and I wish you a very safe and Happy New Year!
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.
