Comments on: Cat Ownership = Healthier Heart

By: Jess

Jess — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 00:49:27 +0000

I'm severely allergic to cat hair. Owning a cat would probably make my life shorter.
And in response to MoonCake's comment, I don't think it quite works that way. I grew up with cats and it hasn't made me any less allergic.
People with dustmite allergies live in the constant presence of dustmites (there is no escaping them, they're EVERYWHERE), and as far as we know, this doesn't reduce their allergic reactions.
I suppose we could do an experiment, but there would be no way of having a control no-dustmite group unless we locked those subjects naked in a plastic bubble with no fabric.

By: L

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 20:52:45 +0000

This study was biased because it didn't include dogs. I would expect to find an even better health effect from dogs, actually. Sure, you can pet them and have companionship (like with cats)... but dogs will also get you off your butt and outside because they need exercise... and therefore you get exercise, too.

And is it really healthier to give love to something that couldn't care less if you didn't come home one night? Dogs are always glad to see you. Cats? Not so much.

By: MoonCake

MoonCake — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 12:25:19 +0000

on another end of the spectrum, it could have to do with the fact that animals bring bacteria and allergens into the home. when they do this, their owners are exposed and are forced to react either by illness or allergy-related ailment. either way, your immune system has to boost itself back to health and it creates antibodies to protect you from future outbreaks. it's the same concept as a flu shot, except without so many needles and band-aids. with an over-all boost of immunity, you tend to ward off more illness, which improves your over-all health, and enables you to have a longer life-expectancy. but this is just my take on it.

By: greg l

greg l — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 07:26:49 +0000

does this include the parasite in their feces? food for thought

By: Terry

Terry — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:23:04 +0000

We used to have great biodiversity where I live but feral & domestic cats have killed everything. I really miss all the wildlife. I'm sure if all the wonderful creatures were still around to look at, I'd be healthier too. But no, all gone, killed by cats.

By: Christophe

Christophe — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 05:01:54 +0000

I have a fish tank. Go away you hungry cats!

By: Bunk

Bunk — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:51:21 +0000

What about possums? Possums are people, too, and my possums OWN two cats.

By: Lea

Lea — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 03:04:41 +0000

I have 4 cats. Gimme all the double bacon cheeseburgers ya got!

By: Miss Cellania

Miss Cellania — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:09:41 +0000

Cats owners have fewer mice and rats in their homes, too. That's enough reason for me!

By: Nbob

Nbob — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 01:25:41 +0000

This is nothing new. It's been known since the late 70's that pet ownership (cats and dogs) has a " powerful influence on long-term survival of heart patients released from coronary care units". In the first statistically valid study of its kind ( by Dr. James Lynch and Dr. Aaron Katcher of Johns Hopkins) 4 times as many non pet owners had died with in the first year compared with those with pets. Follow up studies done by the pair in the 80's demonstrated that interaction with pets - even watching fish in an aquarium- significantly lowered blood pressures and had " a truly profound effect on our hearts and blood vessels"

By: stacyj

stacyj — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:28:39 +0000

All that occurs to me in response to this is that quote about the three types of lies: "Lies, damned lies, and statistics ..."

By: JamesB

JamesB — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 00:03:36 +0000

So those crazy cat ladies who own like 80 cats are going to live forever?

By: Ollie

Ollie — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:58:49 +0000

It's true, I myself own 50 cats, this has enabled me to leap over 3 story buildings and withstand more gamma radiation than the average waterbear!

By: kaddar

kaddar — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:44:03 +0000

What if cat owners tend to be more wealthy and able to support a cat's life style, and therefore eat healthier and therefore have less risk.

correlation is not causation should be taught with more emphasis than algebra

By: VonSkippy

VonSkippy — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:38:30 +0000

More junk science from people who don't quite understand statistics (although kudos to the article for admitting they basically pulled that conclusion from their ass and have no hard science to recommend that people should buy a cat).

By: John

John — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 23:19:59 +0000

Fixed now, thanks.

By: just a guy

just a guy — Sun, 09 Mar 2008 21:44:35 +0000

Your commentary seems to contradict the article:

"cat owners have a lower incidence of heart attacks and strokes than do dog owners"
vs.
"(Dogs didn’t factor into the findings because fewer participants owned them.)"