From reducing the risk of heart attacks to helping limit the feeling of loneliness, our pets provide many physical and mental health benefits, along with helping our community stay healthy.

There are many benefits of having a pet, or two. The Human Animal Bond Research Institute researched those benefits and how they affect our health.  The two most common pets are dogs and cats. It’s always been a question of whether a cat makes a better house pet than a dog, or if a dog is more superior. 

Dogs are loyal, playful and able to detect cancer and COVID-19. Dogs do also require a lot of attention and need to be able to exercise and socialize. They attach to certain people, and they stick with them for life.  One study found that “cats form attachments to their owners that are similar to those that dogs and even babies form with their caregivers.”   

Although a cat may not care about human morals, cats can and do distinguish between good and bad people, and are excellent judges of human character and emotion.

 Cats also share “95.6 percent of its DNA with Tigers” and the Drake center said that a cat can run up to 30 mph over short distances. (Which means a cat can outrun retired sprinter Usain Bolt in a 200 meter dash.) 

Cats are more popular than dogs in 91 countries, and dogs more popular in 76 countries.

From my experience, cats allow me more time in my daily routine, are perfectly happy indoors, and in terms of survival, cats are better than dogs. They can sense how you feel and want to help you get better. Yes, dogs can as well, but they don’t provide you with as many benefits. 

Cats also live longer than dogs, so you can really make the most of the health benefits they provide. 

  As a blog from Budget Direct states, “Cats are crowned the most popular in the world, but the data shows that the battle between cats and dogs for our affections is far from over. Perhaps you even have room in your heart for both.”