People with cats live longer!

This is from the AARP, the old folks magazine:

During a ten year study, subjects with cats were 40 percent less likely to die from a heart attack than their catless counterparts.

There are a lot of things I can read in to that one sentence. Since I would assume that everybody on here has at least one cat, it would appear that we are going to live perhaps a lot longer than "those" people without cats. So now I want to see a study based on the NUMBER of cats you have. Does a person with six cats have half the chance of having a heart attack as those with three?

Hmm, you pose an interesting question Lee. I've read one reason people with cats live longer is because cats can help lower stress level and such. Having a lot of cats may raise stress level.

If that's true, I ought to live to be at least a hundred or more, having ten cats! Unless Cassidy causes me to have a stroke or something from frustration, due to all her poohing in the house..

I have found that the only time that my two torties actually lower my blood pressure is when they are sleeping on my lap. The rest of the time, the run around the house terrorizing each other and knocking stuff over.

Hmmm that's pretty interesting. Is it because we have cats or because people who have cats are also just more likely to have healthier lifestyles?

I seriously believe this is very, very true, and wonderful news for all of us!

I think it all depends on the cat you have. If you have a sweet, dolcile kitty that loves lap snuggles and belly rubs, then yes that is very calming and could make you live longer. If you have investigative, inquisitive cats that insist on jumping up to the very highest place then making a flying leap to the nearest counter (even if it on the other side of the room) not quite make it all the way and take your mail and bills down with them and basically rip them to shreds in their panic so that you can't tell WHO you have to call for your next monthly payment...that is not calming at all. (I could go on, but I won't.)

No, not speaking from personal experience!

I do think for older people, having a calm cat or dog is a wonderful thing for them and gives them a better quality of life. But, I wouldn't wish any of my beasts on even my least-favorite realitive.

To me, I read just the opposite in what you are saying. The study sounds like we're MORE likely to die. I was hoping I was reading it wrong, like 40 percent LESS likely to die of a Heart Attack, but you've written 40 percent MORE likely to die. That doesn't sound good at all. How is that good news?

Originally Posted by HopeHacker

To me, I read just the opposite in what you are saying. The study sounds like we're MORE likely to die. I was hoping I was reading it wrong, like 40 percent LESS likely to die of a Heart Attack, but you've written 40 percent MORE likely to die. That doesn't sound good at all. How is that good news?

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I left a word out. A word that changes the whole meaning and I have changed it before reading your note. We are LESS likely to die of a heart attack. That is what the Preview Post button is for!
My new motto in life: Use the Preview Post button before the Submit Reply button.

So that´s why I have 2!.. .. ... ....

I can believe it. I'd be totally lost without my furballs running around.

well I'm a perfect example of having multiple cats does not lower your blood pressure I have 13 and am on BP meds

Originally Posted by katiemae1277

well I'm a perfect example of having multiple cats does not lower your blood pressure

I have 13 and am on BP meds

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You too?

I have 6 cats and I hope they will lower my cholesterol cause my Dr. was not happy with me yesterday when my blood test came back! I would love not to take the medicine he just prescribed me. I do have normal blood pressure which is good.

Well i used to have 14 cats and kittens and I never once had a heart attack and i still have cats and i still haven't had a heart attack. Its true people with more cats live longer .