Research shows that owning cats is good for your health

Yes guys, finally. Fi-nal-ly I don't have to be ashamed that I'm a cat lady anymore. Well, I never really felt ashamed of it, but I do have the feeling that all my selfies with my cat friend Pebbles were not appreciated when I shared them on the app. Lame. And in the meantime, I get bombarded with all the photos of my friends' kids. That's not how it works, of course, and I now have even more reason to multiply that influx of photos by ten. The having (and keeping) of a cat is really good for your health. HA. I knew that all along, of course.

And that's for several reasons. Some (okay, quite a few) people find it a disgusting idea that a cat would sleep in your bed. Well, those people just don't get it. Multiple studies from England show that people actually sleep better with a cat than with their partner. In fact, 41% indicated that they sleep better with their cat than when they sleep alone. And a good night's sleep contributes to a happy life. So far, point 1-0 for cat owners. Score.

Number two is that we cat owners have less stress. A cuddle or petting session can work wonders to get you zen. Having a cat around can also release certain chemicals in you that make you calmer. And less stress means a lower chance of heart disease, which means better health and (hopefully) a longer life. 2-0. BAM.

Last point, the knockout blow. Research has shown that when children under the age of one are frequently exposed to cats, they are less likely to develop allergies. And not just allergies to pets. Oh no, cats also help against grass allergies or, for example, against a dust mite allergy. So it's really good for your resistance and health. That makes the final score 3-0 in favor of cat owners. I rest my case.

If you happen to have the extreme misfortune of being allergic to cats: don't worry. The watching of cat videos is said to be really good for your peace of mind and overall positive feelings. That would have been a study I would have loved to participate in. Hours of watching cat videos, in the name of science.

If you happen to have the extreme misfortune of being allergic to cats: don't worry. The watching of cat videos is said to be really good for your peace of mind and overall positive feelings. That would have been a study I would have loved to participate in. Hours of watching cat videos, in the name of science.