If, like me, you have been contemplating getting a pet for ages, but just haven’t taken action yet, then the stack of research over the last 25 years supporting the theory that pets can form an important part of a stress management system, may help sway you.
Research (including a paper from Frontiers in Psychology) shows that playing with or petting an animal can increase levels of oxyctocin, the stress-reducing hormone, reducing the production of the stress hormone, cortisol. There’s even research from Science Direct to show that just watching videos of cats has a similar effect!
So, with that in mind, and especially if you love cats, take a moment out of your day to encourage the oxyctocin to flow by watching this great video.
So is kitten therapy a ‘thing’?
Well, maybe not yet, but……. this kitten therapy video is a great example of how to reduce stress in an instant.
A box of kittens probably isn’t available to you right now, and you might not be able to get a pet, so maybe you would consider spending a bit of time at an animal rescue centre, or with the RSPCA or Cats Protection League? You are bound to get your kitten therapy and the centre and the animals will really appreciate your time. It will be a close call as to who will get more from your visit!
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“There’s nothing you can’t do if you get the habits right.”
- Charles Duhigg
