Everyone knows that cats rule the Internet with the best memes, but not as many people are hip to the fact that felines are actually really good for your health.
Dog people may never see eye-to-eye with cat people on the never-ending debate over which is the better pet, but science is here today to help the cat lovers.
Check out these five reasons why scientists say cats attribute to good health:
1. The power of the purr
There is nothing in this world that's more relaxing than listening to the sound of a kitten purring. Some say it's the vibrations from the purr that make it so soothing, but scientists from Scientific American suggest there's more to it than that.
"Cats purr with a consistent pattern and frequency between 25 and 150 hertz. Various investigators have shown that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing."
Just leave it to science.
2. You're less likely to have a stroke
That's what the books say!
People who have cats have fewer strokes than people who don't have them, according to WebMD. While scientists haven't nailed down the answer as to why this happens just yet, they speculate that it has something to do with the way cats become the focus of their owner's interests so they can forget about the stresses of life for a while.
3. They can even keep your heart healthy!
In 2008, science proved that people with cats were less likely to die of a heart attack than people without a furry feline in their life.
The University of Minnesota monitored nearly 4,500 people (some had a cat, some didn't) for a 10-year period. By the end of the study, the scientists found that people with cats were 30 percent less likely to have a heart attack.
4. Babies exposed to cats are less likely to develop allergies
Last year a study found that homes that are too clean can cause a baby to be more prone to developing allergies and asthma later in life.
When kids are exposed to common allergens at a young age, their bodies get a chance to learn how to respond to them, Dr. Todd Mahr, an allergist-immunologist in La Crosse, Wis., told HealthDay.
The researchers ruled that the bacteria cats expose tiny humans to actually helps them build their immune system to block out allergins as they get older.
5. They never let you feel lonely
Just because you like to spend time with your cats, and perhaps even talk to them, doesn't make you a crazy cat person - it's actually normal. Cats make great companions.
"You start developing particular routines and rituals with each other and get drawn into a relationship, which can make you feel as though you're not alone," Colin Jerolmack, PhD, an assistant professor at New York University, whose research focuses on animals and society, told Better Homes and Gardens.
