What a pet can do for your mental health
By Angela Espinoza, Arts Editor
Up until June of last year, I had never had a pet beforeâat least, not one that wasnât a hamster. Inside a blue cardboard box with air holes was a scruffy little kitten, soon to be named Nibbler. In no time at all, Nibbler became an honourary Espinoza, and almost one year later, my family and I canât imagine our lives without her.
Whether itâs a little rabbit or a giant dog, eventually theyâre going to bond with their owner. Sure, theyâre going to form their own little quirks and âpersonalities,â but pets pick their mothers-of-sorts based on who most of their interactions are with. For Nibbler, despite technically having five owners, she spends most of her time with me, so obviously we have the strongest connection.
How far this connection goes is the big question. Iâve found that if Iâm at my wits end and Iâm crying a lot, my cat will crawl all over me and meow until I stopâthatâs a big deal. I donât imagine all pets do that specifically, but a pet that shares a bond with you will at some point react to specific emotions.
Another thing to note is that just having another sentient entity around can do wonders for someoneâs mental health in general. How animal companions can keep people happy is a subject thatâs been researched for years, and because of this research, itâs widely known that having a pet around can lift up the spirits of everyone, from fragile seniors to people with depression.
When youâre in a position where itâs almost impossible to stay positive, a petâs company really can save the day. If for no other reason, walking through the door after a miserable day only to have a dog lick your face or a cat circle your leg is instantly uplifting. Always remember that just because a pet canât âloveâ doesnât mean they donât recognize or arenât attached to you.
Not everybody wants or needs a pet, but if you do and you know youâre allergic, donât let that stop you. Itâs important to find out what about an animal youâre allergic to; it can be anything from a specific dander (animal dandruff) to a specific furâeither way, find a pet that works for you! I can honestly say when itâs time to go to bed and fall asleep, having Nibbler curl up beside me is, thus far, the best feeling in the world. Thatâs not just because sheâs my cat, itâs because in the short year weâve had together, my cat has found little ways to brighten up my day, even if theyâve been completely unintentional, and those little moments have done wonders for my previously negative attitude towards life. Now letâs do each other a favour and not question the horrible scars sheâs left behind on my arms from playtime.
