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Why Pets Are So Important When Your Children Leave Home

When your children leave home for university, or move away to work, or simply just enjoy their lives, it can be difficult to adjust. One of the best ways of adjusting to your free time and new way of life is by getting a new pet. There are many reasons to get anew pet, and here is the science behind it.

Pets Make Us More Active.

Whether you are walking a dog daily, or throwing a ball of string around for a cat, being active is a part of it. If you want to be far more active getting a dog that you can take for walks or play with in the park is a great idea. Even lap dogs are fun, and can make you more active. Dog owners walk almost 80% more than people who don’t own dogs.

Pets Keep Us Healthy.

Pet owners have lower blood pressure, lower cholesterol, lower likelihood of obesity, and reduced rates of cardiovascular disease. Scientifically, you are more likely to have a prolonged life if you have pets. Cat owners are 40% less likely to have a heart attack or stroke.

Pets Offer A Self-Esteem Boost.

Whether it is because they make us feel needed, or they have some sort of psychic ability, pets give us the extra self-esteem boost we need when the kids are gone, to live their own lives. When your children leave, you can often feel that you are not needed as much anymore – pets can change that in an instant. They also offer a greater sense of belonging.

Pets Increase Social Connection.

Pets are a great conversation starter. No matter where you go, someone will most likely really love the look of your pet, and want to comment on it, or pat it. It really is a great way to make new friends. It’s amazing how a simple social interaction with a stranger can boost your mood. Social interaction is even easier than normal if you are walking a cute fluffy puppy.

Petting Animals Increases Happy Hormones.

Not only can it be incredibly soothing to pet a cat or dog, it can increase our mood a lot. Petting animals boosts serotonin and oxytocin, which are the hormones, or chemicals in our body that create happiness. Stroking a pet’s fur decreases cortisol, which is a stress hormone.

Pets Bring Order To Our Lives.

Daily walks, feeding times, toilet training, toilet stops when travelling and almost everything to do with pets brings back the order to our lives that we once had when children were around. It’s a basic parenting behaviour that is transferred across between your children and your fur children. It’s not a bad thing, even though sometimes it can be mundane at times.

About the author

Tara Tyrrell

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