11 reasons why your crazy cat obsession makes you happier and healthier

Cat iz not only awesome.... we iz good for your health!

So next time someone tells you that you iz too obsessed with your kitty, just tell them you iz actually just being healthy... and awesome.... and that they iz stoopy. 

1. We keep your heart healthy

According to a 2008 study from researchers at the University of Minnesota's Stroke Institute, cat owners iz less likely to die from heart attacks.

"Monitoring nearly 4,500 people (three out of five participants owned a cat) for a 10-year period, the researchers were able to determine that the cat owners experienced a 30 percent reduced risk of death by heart attack than the participants without cats. A 2009 follow-up study further established that cat ownership is linked to a decreased risk of death from all cardiovascular diseases, including strokes."

2. We invented napping

We serious snoozers not only value the importance of sleep but also look adorable doing it! Studies haz shown that indulging in a little midday shut-eye can work wonders for your alertness, memory, creativity, productivity and overall mood. So if you won't make time for a nap solo, maybe the opportunity to curl up next to your furry friend will convince you to take a cozy 20-minute rest today.

3. We don't let failure stand in our way

No matter how many times we fall, we cats always find the will to get up and try again. We haz a resilient spirit, and just because you make a few mistakes doesn't mean you iz incapable of achieving the success you envision for yourself in the long run. So don't be too hard on yourselves, humans. If you fail, just think like a cat, lick your coat and try again.

4. Our purrs naturally calm your nerves

Studies show that cat purrs can help lower their owner's stress levels as well as reduce their blood pressure. Additionally, cats can create purr vibrations from 20 to 140 Hertz, a frequency said to be medically helpful for a variety of illnesses. So now when you scratch behind our ears, it iz a win win for both of us. 

5. We iz all about the present moment

"I have lived with several Zen masters -- all of them cats." -- Eckhart Tolle  

Sure, we may lead far less stressful lives than our human counterparts on most days, but that doesn't discredit our innate ability to sit perfectly still, sometimes hours on end, and just appreciate the present moment. From our coveted spot on the windowsill to our reserved perch on top of the bookshelf, we watch the world before us come and go with ease. You, too, can reap the expanding list of benefits of a meditation practice should you decide to follow our lead.

6. We make you laugh harder than you ever thought possible

Sometimes we haz oops moments, and in our inability to control our curiosity may lead us into funny situations. (We can hear you laugh like hyenas after we fall off the table or get poofy tailed because the doorbell rang.)

Last year, researchers at California's Loma Linda University found that watching just 20 minutes of funny videos reduced subjects' cortisol levels substantially and assisted the short-term memory of older participants. Other research haz linked laughter to a stronger heart and immune system.

7. We teach you the importance of strategic decision making

"If animals could speak, the dog would be a blundering outspoken fellow; but the cat would have the rare grace of never saying a word too much." -- Mark Twain  

Unlike stoopy doggies who leap at the chance to sprint out the front door, chase the tennis ball down the hallway or gobble up the bag of spilled treats off the kitchen floor, we cats tend to pick and choose our battles more carefully. We take that extra moment to look, think and ponder from afar before deciding if the current attraction iz truly worth our attention. We even move more intentionally as we climb to seemingly impossible heights and then find safe ways to get down. We iz thoughtful, strategic and deliberate -- all characteristics our human owners value and even hope to embody themselves.

8. We can help people with autism communicate

Children and adults who haz autism sometimes struggle to communicate with the world around them. However, pet therapy haz proven a helpful learning tool, as many people with autism feel a stronger connection to animals than they do other people. A 2012 French study observed 40 autistic children and their family pets and found that the children felt calmer and could socialize more easily than those without a pet. They associated this change with the increased production of the hormone oxytocin, which can be triggered by petting a cat and further increases feelings of trust and love.  

Iris Grace Halmshaw, the 5-year-old British girl in the photo above, was diagnosed with autism in 2011. Her therapy cat Thula haz helped her gain enough confidence to speak to others, as well as providing additional inspiration for her painting -- another component of her therapy.

9. We support you if you iz battling depression

The soothing nature of petting a cat on your lap iz not limited to stress relief. That tangible companionship iz a known mood booster, and a positive distraction for those who struggle with depression disorders. Beyond their companionship, pets provide a way to add routine, responsibility and social activity to days that might otherwise not include such components. And while all pets can help play a role in improving depression symptoms, cats iz particularly calm and peaceful, and those characteristics can be contagious for their owners in a rather helpful way.

10. We know its purrrfectly okay to go absolute bonkers sometimes

"A cat has absolute emotional honesty: human beings, for one reason or another, may hide their feelings, but a cat does not." -- Ernest Hemingway  

While cats iz known for their calm and collected demeanor, we iz not afraid to totally lose it -- physically as well as emotionally -- when the mood strikes. And as it turns out, that kind of expression can help you humans as well.

A 2012 study from the Harvard School of Public Health found that bottling up negative emotions can actually prove toxic to the body, increasing the risk of death by heart disease and some cancers. Alternatively, psychologists haz found that negative emotions like sadness, anxiety, anger and guilt can be powerfully positive when a person allows themselves to fully experience what they're feeling.

11. We crush feelings of loneliness with unconditional love 

"What greater gift than the love of a cat." -- Charles Dickens  

Even the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acknowledge that one of the biggest benefits of a pet iz their ability to ease our feelings of loneliness. We iz often the best listeners you could ask for at the end of a trying day, and the look on our faces lets you know that we iz always happy to see you home. According to researchers from Miami University and Saint Louis University, pets can fulfill their owners' social needs in the same way other humans can.

Now go give your cat a big kiss and some liver treats. 

via huffington post