Let’s Chat: Benefits of cats outweigh any risks
By Linda Tooth on June 28, 2023.
If we have learned anything from COVID-19 it is that hand washing is crucial in fighting germs and disease. So, in response to the June 9 Medicine Hat News article ‘The health consequences of cats’ by Dr. Gifford-Jones and Diana Gifford-Jones, we get hygiene is important when dealing with not only cats but all animals. As a pet parent to two cats and one dog, I am constantly washing my hands after picking up poop and scooping the litter box. It’s common sense. Research has told us that the benefits of having a cat(s) far outweigh the possibility of encountering an infected cat. I recently read the article Kindred Spirits: Understanding the Bond in Paw Print magazine and they state there are roughly 370 million cats in the world and that the results of a study done in 2015 found cat owners have an overall higher quality of psychological health. As an instructor at Medicine Hat College, I have been involved with two very successful pop-up cat cafes offered on campus. Students, staff and faculty have all stopped by and voiced their happiness at being able to be in the company of cats and de-stress from exams or whatever life has thrown at them. I have also taken cats from a local shelter to the Medicine Hat Public Library for Coffee and Cats, and they have asked us to be a permanent event once a month. Again, the benefits of being in the company of cats are being felt by those who come to the library. Therapy Cat?? You may be shaking your head at this point, but it is a reality. This relatively new concept believes that petting the cat is therapeutic and calming not only for the cat but the person as well. By being in the company of a cat it allows us the chance to reduce stress, have a stronger immune system, and help with anxiety and depression. Nursing homes have realized the value of having cats available to their residents as it helps to improve the overall health of their residents, especially those suffering from dementia. So, Dr. Gifford-Jones, I get that you prefer dogs but to say there are health consequences to having cats seems unfair. I have had cats most of my life and have never encountered any issues you raised in your article. Linda Tooth is a communications instructor at Medicine Hat College 11-10
