Pets are positively pamper-worthy

Have you hugged your pet today?

It’s National Pet Day (and National James Day, proving there’s a day for just about every ridiculous notion — sorry, Jameses), so even if your pet is unhuggable, say, a goldfish, give it a little extra love today.

That’s as good for you as it is for your critter.

From veterinarians to psychologists, researchers and the glaringly obvious shot of feel-good from pet interaction, the body of evidence supports it: Pet affection actually does boost health for the nearly 70% of U.S. households who have one.

Even those who don’t or can’t have pets benefit from animals. Listening attentively to the chirping of birds, watching squirrels scurry, focusing while petting someone else’s dog — it all counts.

Here are a few pet facts and benefits from Census.gov, the Centers for Disease Control, and studies collected by the National Institutes of Health:

• About half of pet-owning households have dogs; 28% have cats; 5%, fish. Less than 3% each have small mammals, reptiles, birds or anything else (insects and exotics, I guess. I once knew someone with tigers).

• Exercise: Dog parents get exercise benefits from daily walks. And if your old cat is anything like ours, from chasing her around at medicine time. Or off the table.

• Healing: Results of various studies in the U.S. and abroad noted better health outcomes, or at least reduced complications, when patients with serious illnesses such as cancer and heart disease experience consistent animal interaction. Pet therapy has also been correlated with improvements for kids with autism and ADD/HD. Even caring for goldfish helped teens with diabetes manage their disease, simply by reducing blood pressure and stress.

• Mindfulness: Need to get your head unstuck from a disturbing thought cycle, or struggling to be “fully present?” Just spending quiet time alone with furry friends, who naturally live in the moment, helps humans slow down, feel more serene or meditative and breathe easier — literally. In multiple studies, participants experienced better breathing, lower blood pressure, and improved circulation (which helps good things in the blood get where they need to go) while with pets.

• Kid behavior: In studies, kids who read to pets/real animals showed better social skills, sharing, cooperation and volunteering. They also had fewer behavioral problems. Dogs helped kids with ADD focus attention. Kids with autism spectrum disorder felt calmer after playing with guinea pigs.

• Age and cognitive function: Pet interaction has positive effects on cognitive function, according to a number of studies. This may be partly due to the responsibilities of caring for a pet, but it has also been correlated with pet therapy/non-ownership. The associated companionship and positive interaction is one factor, as well as the calmness most experience around animals. While pet therapy can’t reverse or repair the brain, it is associated with a reduction in agitation and negative behaviors, and sometimes improved communication, in those with cognitive issues.

Finally, there is loneliness and depression, whether temporary or ongoing. Animals are quite simply wonderful companions. They don’t judge, they accept us for who we are. Pets are always there, wanting to be with us in their reliable and affirming, comforting way.

I try to remember that when my now-senile cat wakes me in the middle of the night. All the years she’s given comfort come back with each stroke of her fur. I’d be worse off without her; the cranky, gorgeous old thing.

Thank you, Karma. Happy National Pet Day.

[She is gorgeous, right? If you’d like to show off your furry, scaly or winged friend, send a photo (1 MB or higher resolution, please) along with pet name, owner name, and city of residence to sholeh@cdapress.com].

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Sholeh Patrick is an ailurophile (if you love dogs, you’re a cynophile; snakes, an ophiophile) and columnist for the Hagadone News Network who’d hate to imagine life without critters.