After a long and stressful day, there’s nothing more soothing than relaxing on the couch with a purring cat next to you. Cat lovers know that being around our feline friends makes us feel good, but science has proven that owning a cat can lead to physical changes in your body, improving your blood pressure and even making your heart healthier.

Many studies have looked at the benefits of pet ownership, including the mental and physical health benefits of living with a dog or cat. It’s amazing but true: The simple act of petting a cat—or even just sharing your home with a cat—is not only calming, it can lower your blood pressure and boost your overall heart health.

Owning Cats Reduces Your Risk of Dying From Cardiovascular Disease

In 2009, a decades-long study was published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology demonstrated that cat owners were less likely to die from heart attacks, cardiovascular disease, and stroke when compared to people who did not own cats.

The study adjusted for different risk factors like the person’s age, gender, ethnicity, blood pressure, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol, and body mass index, to focus on cat ownership. This is a great physical result of owning a cat.

That’s a pretty incredible finding!

There was even more great news for former cat owners. People who used to own cats in the past, but did not currently live with a cat, still had less risk of death due to cardiovascular diseases when compared to people who had never owned cats in their life

So what is it about cats that provide us so much benefit? When we humans pet an animal, especially a cat, it creates a chemical reaction causing the release of hormones in our brains including oxytocin, seratonin and dopamine. This creates a mutually beneficial result, calmness. Physically, the purr of a cat has a frequency of 20 to 140 Hertz. This is similar to a sound wave that creates physical healing in a person, including healing of muscles. Isn’t the heart one big muscle?

Cats are the easiest pets to own. You teach a kitten or cat how to use a litter box, provide them fresh water and healthy food, annual shots, and voilά’; you have a quiet, sweet pet that lowers your risk of cardiovascular disease. Of course, before you adopt a cat, do your research and prepare your home for your new kitty. Cats are a lot less expensive then Eliquis, but the drug manufacturers don’t want you to know that. It helps if your cat is not an asshole too.

Carpe Diem – Meow