Recently, a female college student in Guangdong received a call from her family saying that her pet cat had suddenly become ill and was "very weak." The student, who was studying at a university in Jiangxi, took leave overnight, bought a train ticket, and rushed home the next day.
When the cat saw her, it immediately bit the hem of her clothes and never let go until it passed away.
Finally, the girl wrapped the cat in the clothes and buried it next to her house.
The related topic became a trending topic on social media on the 17th.
Netizens expressed their feelings of being touched, saying, "Perhaps the cat wanted to remember its owner's face and scent in its final moments."
In recent years, the number of pet owners has been increasing. For many, pets are a source of emotional support, and a home with a pet is like a refuge, alleviating many of life's troubles. According to relevant research, in addition to companionship, pets offer the following health benefits:
Relieving loneliness
A study from the School of Health Sciences at the University of South Australia has found that pet ownership is beneficial to the mental health of older adults and may even help prevent suicide. More than one-third of the elderly participants reported having suicidal thoughts or experiencing severe trauma, but their pets gave them a reason to live. The analysis showed that pet ownership enhances the well-being of older adults in multiple ways; the responsibility of caring for pets gives them purpose in life and reduces loneliness.
Reduce anxiety
The UK's National Institute for Health and Medical Research (NIH) has found that people who live with cats feel better mentally, emotionally, and physically. For example, daily activities such as feeding, playing with, and cleaning up after cats release oxytocin, a hormone that effectively reduces stress and alleviates anxiety.
Boost immunity
Experiments have shown that children's heart rate and blood pressure decrease, and their breathing becomes more even, when they pet dogs compared to interacting with people. Multiple medical studies have also found that pet owners have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Compared to non-pet owners, pet owners tend to have more regular exercise habits, go to bed earlier, and maintain healthy lifestyles that help them maintain good immune levels.
Delay brain aging
A study by the University of Michigan of 1,369 seniors with an average age of 65 found that long-term pet ownership can help slow brain aging. At the start of the study, all participants had normal cognitive abilities; 53% owned pets, and 32% had owned pets for more than five years. After six years, compared to those without pets, pet owners experienced a slower rate of cognitive decline, a difference that was more pronounced among long-term pet owners.
Reduce the risk of disability
The National Environmental Research Institute of Tsukuba, Japan, collected data on dogs and cats owned by approximately 11,000 Japanese seniors aged 65-84. The study showed that elderly dog owners were half as likely to develop disabilities compared to those who had never owned a dog. Elderly dog owners who exercised regularly had a lower risk of disability. Combining dog ownership with regular exercise can help prevent disability in the elderly.
