Per my own experience, owning and taking care of a cat fills my heart with feelings that are seemingly impossible to ignore. I personally know what it’s like to mourn over another human being, and also know that when I had a cat, I felt better. When I was 22, I made the hardest decision of my life and decided to give my newborn baby to a new family with the hopes and wishes that she would prosper and be provided for under their care. Although I knew I made the right choice given my situation (which was a situation I wasn’t able to escape from), I still felt empty and felt like I had just given all of myself away. Then I met Clark. He turned my life around by filling the space that my daughter would have. He gave me reason to strive to rise from my depressed state so that I could be the cat mom he needed and deserved. There are many reasons that owning a cat or dog are good for you. If you’re struggling on the inside, consider checking out the SPCA!

Here are some benefits of owning a pet. Hopefully they will stand out to you and make you want to take action as soon as possible.

• Reduces anxiety and stress
• Decreases risk of stroke
• Therapeutic benefits – Loving and trusting releases a chemical in the brain called oxytocin. By feeling these emotions, you’re soothing and taking care of your body and mind.
• Boosts immunity- By being exposed to pet dander, you’re increasing your tolerance to allergens and decreasing risk for allergies and asthma.
• Decreased risk of heart disease and heart attacks
• Lowers cholesterol levels
• Increase sociability- Owning an animal makes for a great conversation starter and can enhance the owners ability to socialize.
• Provides companionship

Whether you adopt from a shelter or find a breeder, the only thing that matters is your relationship with your new best friend. It seems that more often than not, people ignore the signs of being lonely. Seeing as how loneliness is extremely unhealthy (not to mention avoidable), that should really make you want to consider who your true friends are and where to find one when in need.

Friendship is based on trust. Make sure your new friend knows that you’re their friend. Afterall, they are animals and take a while to trust. In most cases it won’t be an immediate thing, but instead will take a little patience and time.

Hopefully this helps you decide if having a pet is right for you. If you do decide that it is, check out the SPCA! Those animals are counting on you to at least consider them.