On Healthy Living

If you’re experiencing empty nest syndrome, the grief that follows a grown child’s departure from home, the answer may be adopt a cat. According to the June 2005 issue of Cat Fancy, “cats may protect baby boomers against high blood pressure and stress.�
Makes sense. Kid grow up and leave; cats grow old and stay. And boomers, according to a National Pet Owner Survey represent nearly half of the cat owners in the United States. Sixty-two percent of whom view their cats as children.
“In many cases, parents have been accustomed to taking care of their young for years and may long for another ‘child’ to nurture,� says a North Carolina-based therapist quoted in the article. It also helps couples reconnect after years of focusing on child rearing rather than romance. “Couples often grow closer when they adopt a new pet. When spouses refer to each other as ‘Mommy’ or ‘Daddy,’ as in ‘Go to Mommy, she’ll feed you,’ waves of affection are ignited.�
In regards to lower blood pressure and lower stress, the research suggested “the owners didn’t need to make physical contact with their pets to received health benefits. The cat’s presence in the room was enough.�
If you’re thinking about adopting a stray from the shelter, the same issue offers tips on how to “rein in your indoor cats outdoor desires.� Everything from spaying and neutering to leashes and window trees is covered.

jane kennedy wrote this on April 25th, 2005 and filed it under Healthy Living |