Cats And The Elderly - Forming A Warm Bonding

Many old people suffer from loneliness on being alienated from their families. Some are not even able to adjust to the life of nursing homes. Having to live without a partner, a family or friends can be very distressing.

In such times, having a pet will take care of their emotional needs of companionship. And what better pet can there be than a cat! Cats and the elderly provide ideal company to each other. Cats are gentle and affectionate creatures. The elderly need love and affection. They want a feeling of being dependent upon and to find an outlet to their suppressed emotions. Cats make the best pets for the old because they are generally less demanding than dogs and do not require constant care.

Cats Promote General Well Being In The Elderly

With the onset of old age, a person tends to become physically dependent on others for many things. This can be very disturbing for someone who has led an active life. With a cat as a pet, such people can regain their self esteem by caring for the cat and having a sense of control and responsibility.

They also enjoy the fact that they have someone totally dependent upon them. Over a period of time, the cats and the elderly forge a bond with each other. This promotes a feeling of well being by reducing negative emotions that are caused by loneliness, stress and dependence on others.

In fact, people can also come in contact with others like them who own cats. This will help form friendships at an age when friends are hard to come by. According to psychologists, having friends during old age helps maintain mental sanctity and prevents old age depression. A study conducted on people over 55 years of age showed that the owners of cats had a fun-filled social life.

A Mutually Beneficial Relationship

A cat is a warm and friendly animal. They are laidback in nature and enjoy being caressed to sleep. Cats and the elderly draw maximum benefit from this attribute of the cats. Cats produce soft purring sounds on being petted and running a hand through their soft fur, relaxes the heart; infusing warmth in the human body.

People become so attached to the companion of their old age that many even apply for pet insurance to secure the future of their cats. But having a loyal companion automatically means living a longer and healthier life. Old people are less likely to suffer from low blood pressures mainly because they lead an active life by taking care of their pets. Their feline friends keep them on their toes by ensuring that there is proper cleaning, feeding and training. These activities, even if performed for a few minutes, keep the cardiovascular system strong. The limbs also greatly benefit from performing these functions.

A research showed that a nursing home where the elderly were talking care of rabbits, cats and birds had a lower mortality rate as compared to a traditional nursing home without any animals. This clearly shows that having a pet can greatly increase the chances of the elderly owners leading fitter lives. And a cat can be an excellent pet to achieve this purpose. Cats have a lot of unconditional love, loyalty and affection to offer. The elderly have a lot of time to invest in taking care of their feline friends. Cats and the elderly clearly have a symbiotic relationship.