10/29/2026
It's National Cat Day so let's take a look at how owning a cat can provide senior citizens with lower blood pressure, reduced stress hormones, and a significantly lower risk of heart-related issues. (Note: only you and your loved one can decide if a pet is appropriate for them.)
🐱Physical Health Benefits
• Heart and Blood Pressure: Petting a cat or resting near one lowers blood pressure, reduces resting heart rate, and decreases cardiovascular risk factors. Some studies note that non-cat owners face a higher relative risk of heart attacks compared to cat owners.
🐈Mental and Emotional Benefits
• Sense of Purpose: More than 80% of older pet owners report that having an animal gives them a daily sense of purpose and a reason to get up.
• Reduced Loneliness and Depression: Cats offer steady, quiet companionship that buffers against isolation, lowers depressive symptoms, and supports slower cognitive decline in older adults living alone.
🐾Practical Considerations for Seniors
• Choose Adult Cats: Selecting an adult or senior cat from a shelter is often ideal because their personality is already formed, their energy levels are lower than kittens, and they match well with quieter home routines.
• Plan for the Future: Because cats can live 15 to 20 years, seniors or their families should set up a contingency care plan in case the owner faces unexpected health changes.
