Dogs Verses Cats Dogs and cats are the two most common animals among pet owners. Each provides unconditional love as well as health and emotional benefits for the owners and each are fairly equal regarding responsibility and care, however, dogs and cats each have unique qualities.

There are numerous benefits to pet ownership, whether one owns a dog or a cat. It is reported that pet owners live longer and healthier lives than individuals without pets and that blood pressure can fall to resting levels or below just by petting an animal (Health pp). The cholesterol levels of pet owners are two percent lower and heart attacks are four percent lower in pet owners compared to non-pet owners (Health pp). Moreover, the survival rate of people who have had a heart attack and own pets increased from one in fifteen to one in eighty-seven (Health pp). Petting or stroking a cat or dog can be very relaxing and a great stress relief and even just watching or touching a pet affects people physiologically (Health pp). It is reported that handicapped people and those who live alone feel more self-confident and safe in social situations when accompanied...

According to studies conducted on men with AIDS and with senior citizens pet ownership can help relieve symptoms of depression (Benefits pp). A study published in the March 1999 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society showed that senior citizens who own pets are less likely to be depressed, are better able to tolerate social isolation than those without pets and activity levels increased regardless of the kind of pet the individuals owned (Benefits pp). Moreover, pet owners who live alone say that they are less lonely and report fewer minor health problems (Benefits pp). It is believed that pets may help relieve stress and anxiety by encouraging playfulness and promoting laughter (Benefits pp). Experts believe one reason pets may have such therapeutic effects on people is comfort, pets are soft, soothing to stroke and nonjudgmental and seem to meet the need for companionship and relationship building that is not always available to some individuals (Benefits pp). The sense of…