10 pros and cons of having a pet (2023)

FAQs

What are the cons of owning a pet? ›

There are many health benefits of owning a pet. They can increase opportunities to exercise, get outside, and socialize. Regular walking or playing with pets can decrease blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels. Pets can help manage loneliness and depression by giving us companionship.

In fact, results from a survey by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute indicates that 74 percent of pet owners report improved mental health. Many report less stress, increased social interactions, less depression and reduced anxiety.

In general, cats are tidier, easier to care for, cost less (usually!) and are more independent, while dogs are more expensive and demand more time and attention, as well as sometimes being more affectionate.

Pets give you unconditional love and are always faithful. Stressed out? Pets are known to reduce stress and anxiety levels. Experts say that people can get relieve from stress and depression, if they spend time with their pets.

“Higher survival rates, fewer heart attacks, less loneliness, better blood pressure, better psychological well-being, lower rates of depression and stress levels, fewer doctor visits, increased self esteem, better sleep and more physical activity,” are just some of the recorded benefits of pet ownership, Herzog said.

In the United States, pet owners had an average happiness score of 70.7, and they were 87.3 percent happier than the average person.

Having a critter companion can be good for your health, too. Studies have shown being around an animal can ease depression, lower blood pressure and stress, and keep you active. Heart attack patients who have a dog can live longer than those who don't.

Evidence suggests that attachment to pets is good for human health and even helps build a better community. It's no secret that pets can contribute to your happiness. Studies show that dogs reduce stress, anxiety and depression; ease loneliness; encourage exercise and improve your overall health.

While owning a pet can cost you money, the companionship and potential health benefits of pet ownership could help you save over time. If you can afford the upfront and ongoing costs of owning a pet, it can be well worth it in the long run.

What are the disadvantages of cats? ›

We're a nation of pet lovers, and rightly so! Cats and dogs offer unconditional love, affection and friendship, as well as a host of therapeutic benefits, such as improved general health and wellbeing - after all, who doesn't like a cuddle from a furry friend at the end of a long day?

Cats improve your physical health – some of the many health benefits of owning a cat include boosting your immune system, reducing the chance of heart attack, and preventing some young children from developing asthma and allergies.

They help us gain a sense of responsibility, show us unconditional love, and are always there when we need them. Dogs are more high maintenance but bring many different health benefits, whereas cats, rabbits and gerbils are easy to look after, need little exercise and give our lives new meaning and purpose.

Developing positive feelings about pets can contribute to a child's self-esteem and self-confidence. Positive relationships with pets can aid in the development of trusting relationships with others. A good relationship with a pet can also help in developing non-verbal communication, compassion, and empathy.

Pets not only make our lives richer, they also help us to live longer. As much as we take care of them, they find ways to take care of us, too. Studies confirm that our animal companions help us in many ways, from boosting immunity to reducing stress. They can even sniff out illnesses using just their sense of smell.

Spending time with your pet can be relaxing, encouraging the release of endorphins, which are brain chemicals that help us de-stress and feel good. And petting a beloved animal can even help lower your blood pressure.

Licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour to dogs. For them it's a way of grooming, bonding, and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get your attention, to help soothe themselves if they're stressed, to show empathy or because you taste good to them!

Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.

Do dogs make you happier? ›

Pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults.

Paul Zak, an economist at Claremont Graduate University in California, has found in his research that dogs get a 57.2 percent oxytocin boost when they interact with their owners. Cats get a 12 percent boost. In other words, your dog truly adores you. Your cat accepts your presence.

A nationally representative survey of pet owners and non-pet owners commissioned by HABRI and Mars Petcare found that: 85% of respondents agree interaction that pets can help reduce loneliness. 76% agree human-pet interactions can help address social isolation.

Researchers at Michigan State University have discovered that dogs often take on the same personality traits as their owner. The study revealed that dogs are like humans in that they have personalities that are shaped over time.

While it's great to have your own space and have so much time for yourself, it can also be lonely. Adopting a dog is a great way to get over your fear of living alone or to add companionship to your daily life! Some dog breeds lend themselves better to single living while others are better suited for families.

Cats have been known to help with loneliness, anxiety, depression, and more, just like dogs. If you're looking for a pet that requires a little less attention, a cat might be your best bet. They still make for great companions, but they're also okay with being alone for a while.

In families that do not have pets, parents' top reasons rated as very important not to have a pet include: hassle of owning a pet (62%), family member with pet allergies (55%), cost of owning a pet (48%), that their child would not be responsible (43%), and having a pet would not be safe for their child (39%).

Reduce stress.

Research has shown that simply petting a dog lowers the stress hormone cortisol , while the social interaction between people and their dogs actually increases levels of the feel-good hormone oxytocin (the same hormone that bonds mothers to babies).

Why Are pets good for anxiety? ›

The companionship of a pet can help to ease your anxiety. boosting self-confidence. Pets can be great listeners, offer unconditional love and won't criticise you. This can help your self-confidence, especially if you feel isolated or misunderstood.

The study found that 35 percent of women and 36 percent of men were more attracted to someone because they had a pet, 64 percent of women and 49 percent of men were more attracted to someone who adopted a rescue animal, and 75 percent of women and 54 percent of men said they would not date someone who didn't like pets.

Getting a pet is no easy decision. Emotional perks are undeniable, yet pets require time, understanding, and training. Particularly if you have kids, it can be difficult to gauge when you are ready for a pet.

Pets are fun to spend time with, but taking care of them is also hard work. Pets need care and attention to keep them healthy, happy, and safe. They need healthy food; clean, fresh water; and a comfortable place to sleep. Most pets also require regular exercise to stay fit.

Do you have the bandwidth to add another element to your household? If you've got a regular job and only travel occasionally, then a cat is a good option. If you're single, live alone, and make frequent out of town trips and are gone for long periods of time…then not so much.

They scratch to mark territory or as a threatening signal other cats. And because cats' claws need regular sharpening, cats scratch on things to remove frayed, worn outer claws and expose new, sharper claws. All this scratching can cause a lot of damage to furniture, drapes and carpeting!

As pets go, cats are relatively low maintenance compared to dogs which need companionship, walking, training etc. However, like any pet, they do need care, and some cats need more care than others. Do you want to spend a lot of time with your cat, do you want it to be demanding, or do you have limited time?

Because of a cat's ability to calm us, lower our stress levels, and offer companionship, they are great therapy animals for a wide variety of uses and patients. While a cat isn't a substitution for medication or therapy, there's no denying the subtle positive effect on mental health.

Lower Stress and Anxiety

Petting or playing with your cat can release all the right chemicals in the brain. There is also evidence that a cat's purr can help lower blood pressure and relax the nervous system. They also help relieve stress and provide anti-anxiety benefits for their owners.

In one study, people with cats reported experiencing fewer negative emotions and feelings of seclusion than people without cats. In fact, singles with cats were in a bad mood less often than people with a cat and a partner. (Your cat is never late for dinner, after all.)

Do cats help with ADHD? ›

A: The short answer is yes! Adults and children affected by ADHD can greatly benefit from pet ownership, helping to develop their social skills, independence, and overall happiness. Having a dog, cat or other companion animal can help you, or your child, learn how to schedule, manage time, and plan ahead.

Wild animals can carry diseases dangerous or fatal to humans. Diseases include rabies, distemper, herpes viruses, salmonella, polio, tuberculosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever and bubonic plague. Wild animals also harbor parasites, such as intestinal worms and protozoa.

In families that do not have pets, parents' top reasons rated as very important not to have a pet include: hassle of owning a pet (62%), family member with pet allergies (55%), cost of owning a pet (48%), that their child would not be responsible (43%), and having a pet would not be safe for their child (39%).

A majority of pets in some countries are significantly overweight. Pet cats allowed to go outdoors face many hazards to which the animals otherwise would not be exposed. Among the threats are predators, disease, moving vehicles, parasites and poison.

Habitat loss—due to destruction, fragmentation, or degradation of habitat—is the primary threat to the survival of wildlife in the United States. Climate change is quickly becoming the biggest threat to the long-term survival of America's wildlife.

Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.

In the United States, pet owners had an average happiness score of 70.7, and they were 87.3 percent happier than the average person.

As long as the pet is happy and lives a life of love without undue suffering, for most people, animal rights and welfare activists alike, pets are definitely fine to have!

Do animals like being pets? ›

Social beasts—humans, elephants, chimps, dogs, and cats—seem to enjoy being caressed. Neurobiologists have now taken a step toward pinpointing neural circuitry underlying this pleasant sensation.

Your cat is expressing her affection for you.

Your cat's licking may be an affiliative behavior, which is a friendly, altruistic behavior. Mothers groom their kittens, and cats may groom one another, which is called allogrooming.