Pet Ownership & Impacts on Mental Health

For those of you that don’t know, I’m kind of obsessed with my cat. We got our tabby cat, Comet, 4 years ago and he has been a fun addition to our family. We brought him home as soon as we could, when he was just a wee kitten at 8 weeks old. Comet and I are bonded, he lets me cradle him like a baby and he is a big snuggle bug. A snuggle from him or the sounds of his purr always make me feel better when I’m having a tough day.

Having a pet means that you are responsible for someone other than just yourself. If there are days when you don’t feel motivated to get outside for a walk, a dog can help. Or if you don’t feel like getting out of bed, your pet may motivate you because she needs to be fed. So, this led me to investigating if there was any research about how pets can impact our mental health. And the answer is YES!

I thought this study was interesting, it found that "pet dog owners were significantly less depressed than non-pet owners during the COVID-19 pandemic" (Martin et. al. 2021). The researchers found that individuals and families with dogs reported more positivity, less isolation, and more social supports. This makes sense, since being in the community helps us interact with more people and having a pet in common is a good conversation starter. When we are socially isolated, this can lead to more feelings of depression, disconnection, and anxiety. Not only does this impact our mental health, but our physical health as well.

Other benefits of pet ownership include:

·       Focusing on the present moment with our pet interactions

·       A sense of safety and connection in the relationship with our pets

·       Improved mood from pet snuggles or humour from funny/cute animal behaviour

·       Increased physical exercise and outdoor time from dog walking

·       Pet snuggles can lower blood pressure and stress hormones

·       Gives us a sense of purpose and responsibility

·       Reduces feelings of loneliness

The evidence shows that pets can have a positive impact on or well-being. Perhaps you have already experienced this in your personal life with your pets. If you have a pet, I encourage you to notice how it feels to get a cuddle or when your pet greets you when you come home at the end of the day. If you are not able to have a pet or maybe are not an animal person, that’s okay too – the important thing is to find ways to foster connection in your life that are meaningful to you.