Owning a cat can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes by more than a third. Having a cat helps to relieve stress and anxiety, protecting against heart disease by lowering blood pressure and reducing your heart rate.
A study examined almost 4,500 adults, about half of whom owned a cat. The findings showed that 3.4 percent of the cat owners died from a heart attack over 10 years. The rate was 5.8 percent for the group who had never owned a cat.
The findings held even when researchers took account of other factors such as high cholesterol levels, smoking and diabetes.