Hana Oakes

While cats can be fuzzy companions that cuddle and make you laugh, there is a lot more to these felines than meets the eye.

This animal can often be overlooked as nothing more than a common house pet, but there are many positive aspects of owning a cat. Nationwide Children’s Hospital writes that pets can help improve your mental health and manage depression and anxiety. Their companionship makes you feel less lonely, and petting a cat after a long day can actually release stress-reducing hormones. On top of all that, Professor Leslie A. Lyons, Ph.D  explains that cats’ purrs have positive effects on the human body as well, reducing areas of inflammation and muscular issues. 

Cats could also have an impact on students here at Penn State Abington. College students have a lot on their plates; many individuals juggle homework and studying, while simultaneously working a job. This can all lead to a lot of stress, which negatively impacts the human brain in a few ways. The prefrontal cortex shrinks and enlarges the amygdala, allowing the brain to be more susceptible to stress. That’s where cats come in! After a mini stress-reliever, they can get back to their tasks but now in a healthier, calmer mindset and all it took was a few pets to a furry friend. Abington students are also able to adopt cats at the Montgomery County SPCA, which holds a variety of potential feline companions. There’s no time like the present to bring this therapeutic animal home and enjoy each other’s company!