It had been a day. You know, one of those days where nothing seems to go your way. To add to it, I was exhausted, sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic driving home from the city not sure whether I wanted to scream or cry. Right when I opened the door, my recently adopted senior rescue cat Layken was there to greet me. I put my bag down, picked her up, and gave her a hug. Back then she was squeamish and wouldn’t let me hold her for long. However, this time, she didn’t move and just looked into my eyes, as if she knew I needed her at that moment. I could feel the weight of the day slowly dissipate. This is the power of pets.

Along with providing unconditional love and companionship, pets have been proven to decrease stress and improve heart health. Further studies have shown that animals greatly reduce feelings of loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and can boost your mood. I always found my childhood cats incredibly intuitive. Like my current fur baby, Muffin and Timothy always seemed to know what to do when I was upset. Timothy, in particular, would jump on my lap and lick away my tears. When I am sick or in a mood, Layken is incredibly clingy, always by my side. It’s incredible how one little ball of fur can have so much power to make me feel better.

“People recognize that there is something special about bonds between humans and their pets,” said American Psychiatric Association President Rebecca Brendel, M.D., J.D. “The animals we bring into our lives and our families play many roles from non-judgmental companions that we love to key partners in reducing our stress and anxiety. Americans clearly recognize that our relationships with our pets can have noticeable benefits for our overall mental health.”

Last week I was watching a segment from the popular Animal Planet show “My Cat From Hell” about a program out of Allendale Prison in South Carolina where incarcerated men care for animals that would have otherwise been euthanized (watch the clip here). I was so amazed to see how not only are the men saving these animals but the animals are truly saving these men. “We’re not just saving four-legged lives here, we are saving two-legged lives,” said one inmate. “Having to dedicate yourself to this animal, there is a shift inside of you where you begin to feel empathy. Nothing has changed me like caring for these animals has had.”

According to Dr. Ann Berger, a physician, and researcher at the National Institute of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, animals know how to sit with someone who is struggling and just be loving. She teaches people who have cancer and other terminal illnesses about the benefits of mindfulness. “The foundations of mindfulness include attention, intention, compassion, and awareness. All of those things are things that animals bring to the table. People kind of have to learn it. Animals do this innately.”

Having a pet can give people with mental health conditions a sense of purpose. A 2018 study on the effects of pet ownership showed that people felt more in control of their lives after bringing a pet home, with some even saying it gave them a reason to live. Pets add meaning and structure to our days and also can increase physical activity (I tried to get Layken a harness to walk outside with me but she wasn’t having it).

There is no denying that owning a pet is not for everyone. Pets can be incredibly expensive, landlords may not allow pets, or nasty allergies might prevent you from owning a pet. All of this kept me from adopting until I changed my job and home situation and, thankfully, my allergy issues went away when my brother adopted his senior rescue cat, Fred.

If you are not able to have your own pet, consider signing up with a dog walking and pet care service like Rover or volunteering at an animal shelter. Since I love dogs but can’t have one in my rental, I spend every Friday afternoon at my local shelter, North Bay Animal Services, taking the good boys and girls on long walks. They learn how to socialize and become more adoptable while I get exercise and a boost of serotonin for giving back to such a great organization. Even taking a drive into nature and looking for wildlife and bird watching, or just seeing the cows, sheep, horses, and goats around my town can lift my mood.

I had no idea when I walked into the shelter and saw Layken (previously Frankie) sitting on an elderly volunteer’s lap, how much she would change my life. Even when she is waking me up at 4 am ready for breakfast (and sometimes 2 am, 3 am, and 4 am) or loudly announcing the arrival of her toys into my room (watch her evening ritual here), the unconditional joy and love that she has brought into my life is immeasurable.

Oh, and in case you wanted to see, here is Layken in her harness. She refused to stand up.

The Power of Pets: Animals and Our Mental Wellbeing

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Navigating Grief & Loss - A Conversation with Shawna McDonald