the power of purr

[Lyndsey]

I remember reading an article that said pets can help lower blood pressure, but I think I also saw another artice that talked about cat owners having a lower incidence of heart attacks. Has anyone seen this?

[The right way]

I have read lots of articles that say the same about cats and dogs, infact some care facilities are bringing them in to visit with patients and finding good results.
My cat makes me let him do time on my chest and around my neck and if I seem to be too busy he will jump right from the ground to my chest and take his share of cuddles. He gives me a bear hug every day and at night he lays on my arm while I am sleeping on my side and purrs in my ear. Weirdest thing but I like it. He makes me forget things that try to walk in my head at night when I should sleep and if that is part of what would make people healthier with having animals in their lives I could believe it. I have had cats most of my life but I never had one purr me to sleep before like this.

[Lyndsey]

I can relate. When I disappear too far into myself with worry my cat seems to recognize it and starts demanding attention with more and more piercing meows. She almost gets frantic. It's spooky how she knows when I'm worrying.

[The right way]

I remember when I had stomach problems years ago, they had me on some interesting drugs for pain and if they were not enough to kill it I went to the hospital for an IV coctail. Sometimes the pain was so bad I wondered how a person could live through it. My friend would drive me to the hospital because you need someone to take you back or they will not let you go after the drug treatment and everytime he took his little dog because she always went with him everywhere. It was funny how she could be normal when we went somewhere else but when we went for my IV and I was in pain she would cry and shiver the whole way and tuck herself tight into my stomach as if she was trying really hard to help me. You could see the tears just like a little child dripping down her face. She got emotional also if there was any roughhousing going on around her or something scared her really bad.
I have to admit, just knowing she want to help so bad made it feel a bit better or at least that was in my head.

[Taggart]

I've heard that pets can lower blood pressure. I believe that, because a responsive pet can have a very relaxing effect.

I think the trick is to try to avoid having your pet interrupt your sleep.

[Lyndsey]

Originally Posted by Taggart

I've heard that pets can lower blood pressure. I believe that, because a responsive pet can have a very relaxing effect.

I think the trick is to try to avoid having your pet interrupt your sleep.

Now there's the rub. The little one is adorable when it's not sleep time. She takes a long time to settle down, and being nocturnal, she like to get in a few more minutes play time. Still, I'm sure she improves my health. I've heard that the actual purring produces health benefits for cats, so maybe I'm sharing in that.

[justontime]

Almost a year ago we adopted an elderly stray cat who took up residence in our paper recycling box. It took a number of months to deal with his health problems but he is now fit and healthy and so obviously content with his life. He has a lovely nature and every time I sit down he comes and curls up next to me. I have always had pets, but somehow this cat is extra special. I have had high blood pressure for about 5 years and despite taking medication I have not had a normal reading until about 3 months ago and it has remained good. I can't prove that having the cat helped my blood pressure, but I think it did.

[mollyL]

I'm glad that cats are getting recognition as health "purrfesionals" (forgive me for that!!!). My granny loved cats and always had one in her lap when she sat in her rocking chair. She would rock and hum, and pet the cat, and you could feel her recharging as she did it.

[The right way]

Luckily my cat likes to tuck his nose in my ear and purr and he is there for a while, I am usually asleep buy the time he goes to my legs to sleep the rest of the night. I am not even sure if he spends the whole night there because he is very light footed on the bed but he is there when I wake up making it hard to get the blankets off my legs to get up. We got him from the SPCA and I think he was dropped off there because he probably demanded too much attention from his previous family (Lucky me ;-) He was healthy and about a year old so he was definately cared for, just too bad the other family thought he was too much for them. I have to think that because he actually tries to stop me from doing my work by jumping on me and when I try to take him off he sticks the claws in me holding on like a little child who doesn't want to be put down, makes me feel guilty to put him down. I call him Velcro Kitty. I have come in the door from a trip and he plows me over just like Dino did to Fred. He even manages to push the sliding pocket door to the bathroom open everytime I am in there,,, No privacy for the wicked, but I love him for all he gives me.

[Lyndsey]

Luckily for your blood pressure he is light-footed! My cat is unusual in that she is not in the least bit graceful or light-footed. She has a neurological condition that makes her walk like a drunk. When she jumps onto the bed she lands with thud and usually rolls over onto me. I don't get an even night's sleep because of her, but she certainly helps me relax during the waking hours. If I could just work out night time... Maybe I need to check out posts on insomnia.