Get Smarter With a Purr

Women aren’t the only ones who can be crazy cats lovers. Men love cats, too and why not. Instead, they should – Cats are brilliant. They’re fluffy, independent, the internet is 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 beneficial as any other animal friendship.

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Studies have shown that just watching cat videos on the internet can boost a person's energy and create positive emotions—so it's no surprise that actual cat ownership has a number of benefits.

“The cat,” wrote author Muriel Spark in A Far Cry from Kensington, “will settle down and be serene, with a serenity that passes all understanding.”

“And,” she writes, “the tranquility of the cat will gradually come to affect you, […] so that all the excitable qualities that impede your concentration compose themselves and give your mind back the self-command it has lost.”

“[A cat’s] presence alone is enough,” she says. “The effect of a cat on your concentration is remarkable, very mysterious.”

Cats are often hailed as pets that can soothe and bring calm. That is, perhaps, why places such as cat cafés — where anyone can go and stroke or cuddle a cat while having a soothing drink — are so popular wherever they open.

However, aside from enthusiastic reports from cat owners about all the benefits of interacting with felines, what health and well-being benefits can we actually expect cats to bring? In this light, we give you an overview of how cat lovers can make you even smarter.

Now this has been a topic of intense debate for pet owners – feline and canine – whether cats or dogs make the best furry companions. But studies have regularly claimed that cat owners are smarter than dog owners – regardless of their pet's intelligence.

The research revealed that the owners of the two animals tend to have different personalities - with cat lovers being more introverted, open-minded, sensitive and non-conformist than dog lovers who are largely energetic.

A 2010 survey of British pet owners by the University of Bristol had found that people who owned cats were more likely to have college degrees than their dog loving counterparts.

In 2014, a researcher in Wisconsin surveyed 600 college students and found that cat owners were actually more intelligent as well. Probably not because the feline animal itself makes the owner smarter. Instead, researchers in the Bristol survey said that smarter people tend to work for longer hours, and since cats require less attention than dogs, they are a better choice for the busy intellectual.

Denise Guastello, associate professor of psychology at Caroll University in Wisconson, said: “It makes sense that a dog person is going to be more lively, because they're going to want to be out there, outside, talking to people, bringing their dog.

"Whereas, if you're more introverted, and sensitive, maybe you're more at home reading a book, and your cat doesn't need to go outside for a walk."

Cats can also bring physical health benefits to their owners. For instance, one study that Medical News Today previously covered found that people who live with cats have a lower risk of experiencing cardiovascular diseases which will keep your heart health well.

The purr of a cat 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.

In addition, cats also help in improving behaviour and socially connect with children, especially those who suffer from disorders such as autism that may affect their ability to “read” others’ emotions and respond to them. In fact, a study published earlier this year found that children with autism spectrum disorder who grow up, and bond, with kittens display better behaviors, as the cats provide valuable emotional support.

So, the next time you turn your nose up when taking your used cat litter to the trash, just take a moment to consider that this isn’t just poop — it may actually hold the key to the next big breakthrough in clinical research.

To honour and venerate the feline, the International Fund for Animal Welfare in 2002 announced August 8 as the International Cats Day. The observation is to raise awareness for cats and learn about ways to help and protect them.

From the September 2020 issue of FHM India.