Pets and Mental Health

I'm speaking from my experience with cats, but I'm sure the feelings are the same for dogs, rabbits, hamsters, and all other pets.

People are often very quick to offer their solutions when you open up about mental health - most being along the lines of trying yoga or getting professional help. While these two things can be extremely helpful, they don't work for everyone.

I've tried both: yoga was boring and difficult so I gave up after about five minutes, and professional help is very hard to get, not to mention useless when you do sometimes get it. It leaves you at a bit of a dead end. A giant wall looming in front of you, blocking your path, seeming to laugh at you because nothing will ever work and you'll never get better.

And then a cat walks by.

The sun seems to shine a little brighter. The wall doesn't seem so imposing with a companion by your side. You think 'could this be it?'

The answer - for me, at least - is yes.

Four-legged friends are often overlooked when it comes to mental health. Okay, someone might say 'a dog would get you out in the fresh air' but that's about the extent of the conversation, and they never take other species into account. Dogs are proven to be good for depression - they get you out of the house, provide exercise, constant companionship, a reason to get out of bed in the morning, and so much more - but so do other animals.

My cats, while still causing me a great deal of anxiety in regards to leaving them alone and coming home to find them dead or gone, have done me the power of good. I will never forget the day we brought each of them home: Draco (who we thought was a girl) in a box that I didn't realise needed to be cracked so he could get air; Luna when we realised he was a boy and I decided I didn't want any of the them if my little black kitten wasn't a girl; Cobwebs, snorting like a pig because he was so close to death; and Mysha, who was running around some hay bales and had to be caught in a fishing net.

Each has their own character, but at the heart of it, they're all just as loyal and loving as any dog. Mysha even more so, as she refuses to leave my side for too long. They've given me a routine and a reason to get out of bed - if I don't feed them they'll suffer... and also pester me until I want to tear my hair out. They've created hours of amusement - who knew a laser pointer could be so much fun? They've comforted me when I needed it - don't be fooled into thinking cats are heartless and won't come to you when you most need them. They've even helped me deal with loss - thankfully they're all still alive and well, but we've had our fair share of scares from them, and they definitely helped me with the loss of my grandad.

It's hard to imagine where I'd be right now if we didn't have the cats - I certainly wouldn't have applied to university, that's for sure. They've become such a big part of my life and my family, cheering me up and cheering me on, boosting my confidence like personal mascots.

It's difficult to put into words just how they've helped me but they have. And for that I'll be forever grateful.