I suppose there is plenty of room here for skeptics, but I have to admit that this seems like an interesting possibility. I have heard it said many times that people with pets may live longer (although it must be tough to back that statement up…)
Something worth pondering, either way. I’d love to hear what ya’ll think about this.
I don’t have a pet, but sometimes when I’m feeling particularly stressed out, I daydream about petting and playing with a dog or cat. It really does make me feel better.
It is not uncommon to have a “ward dog” for people recovering from or living with illnesses. Interacting with animals such as cats and dogs lowers the blood pressure among other things. The japanese have released a robotic “pet-seal” that gives the same effect, especially to patients with dementia who have a harder time diferentiating between a real and not-real pet. The robotic pets are obviously also non-allergenic and will stay still as required etc.
I just think it’s kind of cool when science begins to back up things which seem a bit off the wall at first glance.
I have seen a lot of science going into previously unknown territory lately. I don’t necessarily buy all of it but I do have an open mind about such things…
Pets are pretty cool. It’s nice to see them getting the credit they deserve.
Several years ago I went through some severe depression. I credit my four goldfish in helping me get through each day. Of all the pets I’ve had, they were the ones who have left the biggest impression on me. I had them for four to six years and I still miss them even now.
The power to heal comes in all shapes and sizes.
Mixed reactions to the thought that my cat might heal.
On the harmful hand, she insists on sleeping on my legs in a way that cuts off the circulation. Every. Damn. Night. And she thinks an appropriate way to welcome me home is to trip me every few steps until I come to a dead stop and pick her up.
However, I had a back spasm a few weeks ago which woke me up in a degree of pain I hope never to recall clearly. While I was trying to figure out what was wrong (sleepy me thought the place was being burgled, actually), and then what to do about it (eventually concluded that if I could move, I would go get a heating pad) she climbed aboard, turned herself in three circles, and then lay down, purring louder than I have heard her do in a long time. Once I got over wanting to kill her for walking on my spasming back, I realized that she was vibrating her body heat directly into the offending muscles. Maybe she was trying to help, after all.
cause and effect people! cause and effect!
seems like if this is true, that the more reasonable answer is “people that are dieing don’t buy new pets”. if I have late stage AIDS and a bad case of cancer I am not gonna go buy a cat. and if I beat by kids I am not going to give them a goldfish.
I would really think they are switching the cause and effect. people that own pets probobly do live longer, because people in worse situations have statisticly less pets.
We’re not playing with YOU anymore. Heh. 
http://www.angelfire.com/film/merla/merlas_cat.jpg
As much as I’d like to claim him, that is Merla’s cat, not mine.
I’d die without my cats… much as they drive me nuts sometimes.
When I am totally mired in depression they are there giving me love, whiskers in the ears at 3 am and the obligatory wet nose on an unsuspecting body part at any time:D
I told my boyfriend , who is now my husband, never, never, never try to make me chose between my cats and him because I couldn’t promise to chose him. And much as he fusses about them when I had three die in one summer he drug me out to a barn and made me pick two of the kits to bring home again.