Companion Pets: The Best Companions for Loneliness | Thrive (2024)

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Companion Pets: The Best Companions for Loneliness | Thrive? ›

Cats have been known to help with loneliness, anxiety, depression, and more, just like dogs. If you're looking for a pet that requires a little less attention, a cat might be your best bet. They still make for great companions, but they're also okay with being alone for a while.

Staying home with a cat, rabbit, or any other furry or feathered friend also offers a degree of companionship and interaction, including fulfilling daily routines, which can all help support and manage long-term mental health issues such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness.

“While a great deal of such research has focused on dogs, our study is the first to demonstrate that cat companions can decrease feelings of loneliness in older adults,” Scott said.

“The bond between a pet and their owner can be incredibly special,” says Diane James from the Blue Cross. “For many, pets are considered an important part of the family or a best friend. For people who are feeling lonely, pets can be a great comfort and a way to share worries, without fear of judgement.”

Pets, especially dogs and cats, can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, ease loneliness, encourage exercise and playfulness, and even improve your cardiovascular health. Caring for an animal can help children grow up more secure and active. Pets also provide valuable companionship for older adults.

Among other benefits, animals have been demonstrated to improve human cardio- vascular health, reduce stress, decrease loneliness and depression, and facilitate social interactions among people who choose to have pets.

For those with depression, Dr. Joseph recommends a dog. "They read humans well, they're empathetic, and force you to go outside," she says in the video.

Dogs and cats are the most common animals used for anxiety and depression. A dog is the best pet for a child with anxiety since they can be trained as service animals who will know how to address a situation where a child may have a severe attack, tremors, or seizures.

Some popular dog breeds for ESAs include golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers, Cavalier King Charles spaniels, poodles and Yorkshire terriers. Other common ESA animals include cats, pigs, birds, rabbits and miniature horses.

Cat owners were more likely than dog owners to say their pets offer companionship, provide a calming presence and help reduce stress and anxiety. Dog owners were twice as likely as cat owners to say their pet encourages them to be physically active.

What is the best dog for lonely people? ›

Feline independence and self-sufficiency make cats an excellent pet for people who want to adopt an animal but lead busy lives. However, cats still do need company and attention and shouldn't be left alone for very long periods; this is particularly true of younger and older cats. Cats are cute.

Separation anxiety is triggered when dogs become upset because of separation from their guardians, the people they're attached to. Escape attempts by dogs with separation anxiety are often extreme and can result in self-injury and household destruction, especially around exit points like windows and doors.

Interacting with animals has been shown to decrease levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone) and lower blood pressure. Other studies have found that animals can reduce loneliness, increase feelings of social support, and boost your mood.

Alleviates Loneliness

They never do anything that hurts your child's feelings nor do they exclude them or ignore them. Consequently, having a pet also can alleviate loneliness, especially for kids who struggle to make friends or do not have many children in their neighborhood.

One of the most obvious ways that dogs show their affection is through physical contact! Licking your face, pawing at your hands, asking for some play time, and even squeezing into your lap (despite their size) are great examples of ways that dogs show affection through physical contact.

Emotional support animals can benefit our mental and physical well-being. They provide unconditional love and companionship, help people find purpose and self-worth, reduce stress and anxiety, provide socialization, and help people get exercise and all the benefits that come along with it.

The presence of a companion animal has the proven power to reduce the overwhelming negative emotions that afflict those with mental illness (such as stress, fear, anxiety, depression, and isolation), while providing the body and brain with powerful chemicals that boost positive emotions.

Maybe daily dog cuddles can also boost owners' mood in the long-term which could help to lower feelings of loneliness. Dog owners may also meet new people through their dog as people are more likely to talk strangers if they are accompanied by a dog.