By Chelsy Ranard, The Catnip Times

For cat people it’s no question: the whiskers, the fuzzy faces, the meows, and the head nudges let us know our cats are definitely beneficial to our mental health. The rest of the world, however, has some catching up to do. Those who don’t have cats are missing out on the cats’ appeal. The reality is that behind all of the warm cuddles and purring is an animal that improves mental health by decreasing stress, offering companionship, purring the pain away, and serving as a therapy animal.

Many people benefit from a relationship with a pet. Both cats and dogs – along with a slew of other stress reducing activities, have helped college students during finals week because they offer powerful stress relieving properties. Hospitals and nursing homes are other common places where cats are helpful to patients in stressful settings. Sitting with your cat and petting them can have a lasting, positive effect on overall health.

In the same way that friendships, family, and romantic relationships can prove to be positive (as long as they are healthy), animal relationships can also provide an abundance of mental health benefits. Whether a person suffers from mental health issues or not, having a relationship with an animal is rewarding. Knowing your furry little one is waiting for you at home can give purpose to one’s life and combat loneliness. And as long as you offer plenty of gentle petting and yummy treats your cat will reward you with head boops, purrs and lap naps. Human and cat are both happy.

Cats are beneficial to us from a mental and physical health perspective. Because of a cat’s ability to calm us, lower our stress levels, and offer companionship, they are great therapy animals for a wide variety of uses and patients.  While a cat isn’t a substitution for medication or therapy, there’s no denying the subtle positive effect on mental health.

Cats are loving and affectionate animals – despite having a reputation for being aloof and headstrong. Every cat is different, but for cat-people especially, we love and celebrate their unique personalities and idiosyncrasies. Little did we know, cats help our mental health just by being themselves. Their ability to reduce stress, offer companionship, heal with purrs, and offer their services as therapy animals makes them the ideal champions for mental health. So next time your cat rubs its body against you, give her a loving pat and thank her for her role in helping your mental health stay positive.

Chelsy Ranard is a writer from Montana who is now living in Boise, Idaho. She graduated with her journalism degree from the University of Montana in 2012. She enjoys napping with her cat, throwing a Frisbee with her pup, and volunteering at Simply Cats in Boise.