Furry friends ease depression, loneliness after spousal loss

Researchers have found the companionship of a pet after the loss of a spouse can help reduce feelings of depression and loneliness in older adults.Click here to read ScienceDaily article

What are the mental health benefits of cat ownership?

Here, we take a journey into the scientific research behind mental health benefits of pet ownership, specifically, the opinion-dividing cat. Click here for news piece

Pets Can Help People Manage Mental Health

A new study from the U.K. is one of the first to review evidence on how a companion animal or pet can help a person manage their mental health. Read PsychCentral article here

Cat ownership not linked to mental health problems

New UCL research has found no link between cat ownership and psychotic symptoms, casting doubt on previous suggestions that people who grew up with cats are at higher risk of mental illness.

Recent research has suggested that cat ownership might contribute to some mental disorders, because cats are the primary host of the common parasite Toxoplasma Gondii (T. Gondii), itself linked to mental health problems such as schizophrenia. However, the new study, published in Psychological Medicine, suggests that cat ownership in pregnancy and childhood does not play a role in developing psychotic symptoms during adolescence. The study looked at nearly 5000 people born in 1991 or 1992 who were followed-up until the age of 18. The researchers had data on whether the household had cats while the mother was pregnant and when the children were growing up.