Animals are present in the lives of many people. Although the idea of going to a psychological clinic to speak with a professional who can help us deal with our problems, there are now other effective methods of coping with difficulties everyday. In this sense, pets can be our allies in complex moments.
If we think more carefully about cats, we will realize that they are animals that can arouse a wide variety of sensations. Have you ever thought about the fact that they can be a therapeutic aid? If you want to know more details, in this Psychology-Online article, we will provide you with information about the benefits of cat therapy.
Index
- What is cat therapy
- reduce stress
- Helps channel negative emotions
- Improves quality of life in autistic people
- encourages responsibility
- Strengthens the immune system
- Improve social skills
- Reduces the chances of heart attacks
What is cat therapy?
Cat therapy is a therapeutic approach used to treat stress, low self-esteem and anxiety
Furthermore, we must bear in mind that the improvement in psychological health provided by cat therapy It provides both physical and mental well-being, since the body and mind are interrelated with each other. Yes.
Reduce stress.
The most recent research confirms that the interaction between humans and felines reduces stress levels. Thus, cat therapy relax our mind, since the repetitive and incessant thoughts that plague us cease to be relevant for a while. In addition, it also favors a decrease in muscle tension thanks to the different movements that are made with the feline.
Helps channel negative emotions.
Many times, we live in situations in which we feel sad and this prevents us from carrying out our activities correctly. Cat therapy allows gdeal with negative emotions in a more pleasant way, given that the company of a feline makes it possible to deal with loneliness and that other hidden interests are awakened thanks to the bond with the animal.
If you want to learn more about how to manage emotions, Do not miss this article.
Improves the quality of life in autistic people.
autism, along with other pathologies, is one of the conditions whose symptoms include communication and social relationship difficulties. In this sense, autistic people have great difficulty understanding other people's emotions. Given this, it has been shown that cat therapy is a vehicle that Improves quality of life, since cats are a company that is not intrusive to them.
It encourages responsibility.
Living with a cat not only offers company, but also implies a high degree of responsibility, since you have to take care of it. In other words, it is essential to provide him with food, pay attention to his state of health or play with him, among other things.
For this reason, another of the benefits of cat therapy is that the presence of this animal increases the sense of responsibility of the human being, a value that can be extrapolated to other situations.
Strengthens the immune system.
It is well known that our body is exposed to a multiplicity of viruses and bacteria on a daily basis. However, it should be noted that the emotional factor plays an important role, since it affects the way in which we defend ourselves against pathogens.
For this reason, contact with cats can optimize the functioning of the immune system of human beings. One of the benefits of cat therapy is that these animals favor production of hormones intended to protect the body.
Improves social skills.
When we are in contact with a cat we also express the way in which we relate to the environment. Although they are not people, cats can activate the social skills of human beings. In other words, cat therapy is a space that offers us the possibility of implement interaction modalities with other people.
Reduces the chances of heart attacks.
There are studies that show that cat therapy promotes general well-being of the person who adopts these animals. In general, living with cats reduces the chances of having heart attacks, since it stabilizes stress levels and reduces the effects of negative emotions on the organism.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Benefits of cat therapy, we recommend that you enter our category of Emotions.
Bibliography
- Oropesa Roblejo, P., García Wilson, I., Puente Saní, V., Matute Gaínza, Y. (2009). Animal-assisted therapy as a resource in rehabilitation treatment. MEDISAN Magazine, 13 (6), 1-10.
- Sastre Martinez, M. (2015). The benefits of the cat in depression. Myth or Reality. University of the Balearic Islands, Faculty of Psychology.
