Pawsitive Vibes Only: How Pets Brighten Our Lives
Ever since I can remember, I’ve loved animals. Whenever there was one nearby, it became my sole focus; trying to win it over for a cuddle, following it around, and repeatedly pointing out every little thing it did (“Look, the cat moved, it’s so cute!”).
Given my love for pets, it was no surprise that I grew up surrounded by them and even got my first job working in a small pet hotel and cattery. I was constantly begging my parents for a cat but despite my persistence, I was always told no - either the dog wouldn’t like it or the cat might upset the house rabbit.
So, when I transitioned out of student life and began navigating adulthood on my own, I vowed that as soon as I could, I’d finally get a cat. That day came when I entered my 30’s and moved into my own place. I brought home a kitten and instantly fell head over heels. Clearly one wasn’t enough, because three months later I got him a friend, and before long, I had a very furry little family of three.
Everywhere you go, you can see how much people value their pets. But what is it that makes these relationships so meaningful and important?
For me, my cats bring endless joy. After a long or stressful day, they’re always at the door to greet me, full of affection and free from judgment. They give me routine and motivation to get up in the morning (and aren’t shy about letting me know if I stay up past their bedtime). When I’m stressed or anxious, I don’t need to put my feelings into words, I can just sink into the sensory comfort of their softness and the soothing rhythm of their purrs. Their quirky personalities make me laugh, and they constantly fill me with love and gratitude. The list of what they give me goes on and on.
And I know I’m not alone in this. What I feel every time I walk through the door and hear the patter of little paws is more than just a personal experience, it’s something researchers have documented again and again.
For instance, studies show that spending just ten minutes with cats and dogs can lower cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone (Pendry & Vandagriff, 2019). That familiar sense of calm I feel when my cats curl up next to me and start to purr? Science confirms it isn’t in my head, it’s a real physiological response.
Pets don’t just soothe, they also support us in deeper ways. For example, for people who have experienced trauma or live with post-traumatic stress disorder, animal-assisted interventions have been shown to significantly reduce symptoms of PTSD and depression (Hediger et al., 2021). The bonds we can create with animals and the unconditional companionship can serve as powerful therapy for those healing from profound difficulties. I’m in a very privileged position where I get to see glimpses of this first hand, as we have a therapy dog called Fred, who comes to visit the patients on the major trauma ward I work on part time. Watching the patients and staff light up when he comes onto the ward is amazing.
Loneliness is another area where pets shine. During the years I’ve lived alone, I know the presence of my cats kept me grounded and connected. I’m not alone in that; research shows that people who bring a dog into their home experience notable reductions in loneliness, even within the first three months of ownership (Toohey et al., 2019). In fact, surveys of older adults in the UK have found that the majority feel their pets make them happier and less anxious, while also easing feelings of isolation (Anchor, n.d.).
And these benefits go beyond mood. A recent study found that older adults living alone who had pets showed less cognitive decline in areas such as memory and verbal fluency compared to those without pets (Li et al., 2023). In other words, pets may even help keep our minds sharp as we age.
Taken together, these findings highlight what so many of us intuitively know: pets bring far more than joy and companionship. They are woven into our daily routines, offering structure, motivation, and a sense of purpose. They help us navigate stress, loneliness, and even the challenges of aging, while quietly nudging us toward laughter, play, and gratitude.
For me, this is reflected in the little things: the way my cats greet me at the door, demanding attention yet giving it freely in return; the way their purrs seem to smooth the edges of a stressful day; and the way their quirky personalities fill the house with energy, mischief, and love. I often think about friends who can’t have pets, and I love that my home becomes a shared space of joy for them too, they leave smiling, lighter than when they arrived and with a camera roll filled with cat pictures.
It’s humbling to realize that something so simple - fur, whiskers, paws, and tails, can have such a profound impact on mental health. The research confirms what pet owners have known for centuries: animals teach us about connection, resilience, and unconditional love. They remind us to pause, breathe, and find comfort in the present moment, whether it’s a wagging tail, a soft purr, or a quiet companionship that says, without words, “You’re not alone.”
Dr Catherine Bryan
References
Anchor. (2021, July 23). Pets’ power to prevent older people’s loneliness and anxiety. Anchor Hanover. https://www.anchor.org.uk/news/pets-power-prevent-older-peoples-loneliness-and-anxiety
Hediger, K., Wagner, J., Künzi, P., Haefeli, A., Theis, F., Grob, C., Pauli, E., & Gerger, H. (2021). Effectiveness of animal-assisted interventions for children and adults with post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms: A systematic review and meta-analysis. European Journal of Psychotraumatology, 12(1), 1879713. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008198.2021.1879713
Li, Y., Wang, W., Zhu, L., Xie, Y., Zhang, L., Liu, C., Wang, X., Shi, J., & Song, R. (2023). Pet ownership, living alone, and cognitive decline among adults 50 years and older. JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2349241. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.49241
Pendry, P., & Vandagriff, J. L. (2019). Animal visitation program (AVP) reduces cortisol levels of university students: A randomized controlled trial. AERA Open, 5(2), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/2332858419852592
Toohey, A. M., McCormack, G. R., Doyle-Baker, P. K., Adams, C. L., Rock, M. J., & McCormack, M. K. (2019). Dog-walking and sense of community in neighborhoods: A community-based study. BMC Public Health, 19(1), 777. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7770-5