Oliver has a special message about this past week.
In light of the suffering The Human has endured this week and the Tribe’s efforts to sooth her with purr therapy, I thought it would be a good week to talk about how we’re good for human health (even emotional health) and sometimes even saving your life! We hope you enjoy and that your humans stay healthy!
Cat tries to heal owner’s headache
This cat’s response to his owner’s headache has melted hearts after his healing attempts were shared on TikTok.
Since L.A.-based hairstylist @jenjo_original shared the video it’s gained more than 3.5 million views, sparking conversation about the unique bond between humans and their feline friends.
In the clip, rescue cat Calvin swiftly responds to his owner’s discomfort, positioning himself beside her head, purring and gently nuzzling her face. Alongside the video are hashtags including #headacheremedy and #healingcats.
While there is no definitive scientific evidence that cat purrs have healing properties, some studies and hypotheses suggest potential benefits. For example, a 2001 paper found how the frequency of cat purring is similar to vibrational and electrical frequencies used in treatment for fractures, pain, muscle strain, joint flexibility, and wounds.
4 Ways Pets Can Improve Your Health
Research has proven that pets improve your health. Here are a few.
Fight Allergies
People used to think that if a family had a pet the children were more likely to become allergic to the pet. Now a growing number of studies are suggesting that kids raised with furred animals, like felines, will have less risk of allergies and asthma.
New studies indicate that infants with furried animals in the home were less likely to show evidence of pet allergies– 19% vs. 33%. They also were less likely to have eczema, a common allergy skin condition that causes red patches and itching. In addition, they had higher levels of some immune system chemicals — a sign of stronger immune system activation.
Aging
“Studies have shown that Alzheimer’s patients have fewer anxious outbursts if there is an animal in the home,” says Lynette Hart, PhD, associate professor at the University of California at Davis School of Veterinary Medicine.
“Their caregivers also feel less burdened when there is a pet, particularly if it is a cat, which generally requires less care than a dog,” says Hart.
Walking a dog or just caring for a pet — for elderly people who are able — can provide exercise and companionship. One insurance company, Midland Life Insurance Company of Columbus, Ohio, asks clients over age 75 if they have a pet as part of their medical screening — which often helps tip the scales in their favor.
Healthy Mind and Soul
Pet owners with AIDS are far less likely to suffer from depression than those without pets. “The benefit is especially pronounced when people are strongly attached to their pets,” says researcher Judith Siegel, PhD.
In one study, stockbrokers with high blood pressure who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did people without pets.
People in stress mode get into a “state of dis-ease,” in which harmful chemicals like cortisol and norepinephrine can negatively affect the immune system, says Blair Justice, PhD, a psychology professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health and author of Who Gets Sick: How Beliefs, Moods, and Thoughts Affect Your Health.
Studies show a link between these chemicals and plaque buildup in arteries, the red flag for heart disease, says Justice.
Like any enjoyable activity, interacting with your cat can elevate levels of serotonin and dopamine — nerve transmitters that are known to have pleasurable and calming properties, he tells WebMD.
Good for the Heart
Heart attack patients who have pets survive longer than those without, according to several studies. Male pet owners have less sign of heart disease — lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels — than non-owners, researchers say.
So there you go humans, we felines are good for your health!
How pet cat saved a Fresno woman’s life after mobile home catches on fire
We’re not just good for your health, we can save your life too.
The Fresno Fire Department said a woman’s life likely was saved after her pet cat woke her up during a fire inside her home.
Fresno Fire said a woman, who lives alone in a mobile unit in the area of Blackstone and Herndon avenues, fell asleep after cooking Tuesday.
She, however, left a stove top burner on and it somehow caused a big enough fire that part of her mobile home ended up damaged, Fresno Fire said.
With no smoke detectors found inside the unit, Fresno Fire believes the woman might not have known about the fire until it was too late had her cat not come to her rescue and nudged her awake.
“If it hadn’t been for the cat, there’s a strong possibility she might not have made it out,” Fresno Fire public information officer Joshua Sellers said.
Sellers said the woman suffered only minor smoke inhalation.
Though part of the mobile home was charred, much of the residence was saved thanks in part to a fire engine showing up within a minute of reports of a fire.
Sellers said the fire engine just so happened to be driving by for training when the call came in for help.
That kitty deserves a big bowl of tuna!
Meet the Jewish funeral cats of Sacramento
Sometimes our humans suffer from something that isn’t illness but grief. We felines care when our humans suffer from grief and we can help with that too.
Jason Lindo sat alone in the Lombard Funeral Home in Sacramento, reading psalms while performing shmira, the Jewish ritual for the 90-year-old Jewish mother of a close friend. His beloved dog crossed the Rainbow Bridge that morning making his grief all the more heavy. He heard a sound, looked down and saw Lana, a 5-year old brown tabby with black stripes. Lana lives at the nondenominational funeral home, one of two primary partners with the Jewish cemetery Home of Peace in Sacramento.
Lana and Oreo and Zuko, two felines who comfort those mourning at Home of Peace Jewish cemetery in Sacramento also offer love and purrs to those whose hearts are broken.
Despite his cat allergy, Lindo suffered through the sniffles and itchiness and said, “But I thought: You know what? This is worth me putting up with, because I don’t know what’s going on here, but it’s something really special,” Lindo said. “And I’m not going to interrupt that.”
Lana has comforted many who mourn and folks often leave with cat hair all over their mourning attire.
Lana works healing therapy for those who mourn. There is a place for cats to comfort those who mourn and we should never underestimate the healing power of felines.
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