Scott Adams on the Benefits of Pet Ownership

I adore my cat and my dogs. Orange Cat is an indoor/outdoor cat, so I have the benefit of his companionship when I am working outside. He loves to 'supervise' gardening. I would be interested if someone would do a research on this because I've found that I have way more energy when I've walked the dogs or played with them outside. Or played with the cat outside.

I think my cats give me agita more than anything else. Peeing on the floor, bring dead lil' critters into my home. It's nice when they sit on your lap and purr. There's a theory out there that the cats purr at a frequency that helps heal their bodies. I am wondering if there is a residual meditative affect if the purring vibrations are felt on the owner's lap.

While I like dogs, they are decidedly high maintenance. I would rather go running on my own or biking, than try to bring a dog along who might stop every few trees to have a sniff and mark his/her territory.

-Charley

I am a cat person and while dogs a nice and fun, cats provide an intellectual joy that dogs do not.

Pets can keep you alive as well, both dogs and cats. Dogs are obvious guardians, but if you know your cat, you will know when someone who is not supposed to be around is because the cat will let you know. And one personal story. I am seriously diabetic. When my wife was in the hospital a couple of years ago, our cat woke me up early in the morning, something she never does. I reached over, petted her and then said, "I'll be back in a second. I need a drink of water." (Yes, she understands.) Well, I got up and was immediately dizzy. I was in a major insulin reaction and if our cat had not awoken me, with no wife to take care of me I might not have awakened again at all.

People who disapprove of pets are not mere wrong, they are probably mentally ill and need serious counseling, perhaps even sheltered care as they are obviously a danger to themselves and others.

I think part of the benefit of walking a dog has nothing to do with the exercise or sun, but simply with being outdoors--whether it in be a city, small town or nature. I was feeling down the other day, and simply walking around and seeing other people made me feel better.