Can Stroking a Cat's Fur Relieve Stress?

You can tell by the way she arches her back, purrs and rubs her head against you that your cat enjoys it when you stroke her. Doing so is beneficial for you, too. Most people have a basic need for physical touch, and stroking a cat̵7;s fur can fulfill that need. It's not the only health benefit associated with owning a cat.

  1. Reduces Heart Attacks and Strokes

    • A study published in the January 2009 ̶0;Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology̶1; asserts owning a cat can reduce stress and blood pressure. That could, in turn, reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes. People who owned cats, the study found, displayed a ̶0;significantly lower relative risk̶1; of death from heart disease. The researches concluded that owning a cat might be a novel approach to take for people who are at high risk for cardiovascular disease.

    Stroking the Fur

    • Just owning a cat and letting her fend for herself outdoors probably won̵7;t reduce stress as much as having a house cat who enjoys sitting on your lap or, at least, being stroked. Lawrence McGill, technical vice president and veterinary pathologist at ARUP Laboratories in Utah, told ABC News he suspected the reason cats can reduce stress is that they enjoy sitting on their owners̵7; laps. When a cat sits on a person̵7;s lap, it is typically natural for that person to stroke the cat̵7;s fur. While you are sitting down and relaxing with your pet cat on your lap, your stress level tends to diminish, says McGill.

    Not Everyone Agrees

    • Some experts don̵7;t believe that stroking a cat̵7;s fur relieves stress and cardiovascular disease. Steve Nissen, chairman of the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, told ABC News that people are gullible if they believe the research published in the ̶0;Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology.̶1; Nicholas Dodman, director of the Animal Behavior Clinic and a professor at the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Massachusetts, told ABC News that cat owners are typically low-stress people anyway, which might be the reason for being at lower risk for heart disease and stroke. Robert Myerburg, director of cardiology at the University of Miami, was confused by the research findings. He says that cats are more allergenic, so he expected owning a cat would increase the risk of a heart attack -- because immune response is one factor that can cause a heart attack.

    Cats Can Be Calming

    • People have reported feeling alleviation from pain caused by chronic illness by having cats lie down with them. One chronic pain sufferer highlighted in an ABC News report said that, though she was still in pain, her cat eased the pain somewhat by cuddling with her and purring. The act of stroking a cat̵7;s fur can also relieve loneliness. Meanwhile, playing or interacting with your cat can increase your dopamine levels, which can calm and relax you, according to Lawrence Robinson and Dr. Jeanne Segal writing for HelpGuide.org. Owning a cat gives many stressed-out people a responsibility -- adequately caring for the pet -- that helps the person to calm down and to function. For instance, your life might be falling apart but your kitty gives you a reason to do things that get your mind off your troubles. Interestingly, when Indiana State Prison inmates were given the opportunity to care for cats, they experienced long-term changes in their behaviors. The act of stroking and feeling love or affection for a cat can soothe you when you feel stressed and anxious.