Researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people without felines were 30 to 40 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those without cats. No protective effect of dogs as domestic pets was observed.
Over 4,000 people were surveyed about pet ownership and risk factors. Dr. Adnan Qureshi, stroke expert at the University, said of the cat-dog differential, “We don’t understand this completely – it’s probably not a coincidence.”
I think we can help answer this phenomenon pretty easily.
Cats are creatures of peace and tranquility. They sleep on average 16 hours a day, they are generally quiet and they purr. They follow us around like we’re the pied piper, quietly observing us as we go about our daily activities. They force us to stay on the couch a bit longer as they purr away on our laps. Many have an uncanny sense of when we’re arriving back home, waiting in the window sill until we appear, then meowing and bumping up against our legs with a friendly hello.
Some are very conversational, wanting to tell us how their day went. Their meows are generally very pleasant and sweet. If they are hungry they tell us politely. If they are sick, their observant humans will know by the change in their habits or behaviors, but not because they complain.
These are just some of the ways they affect our lives in a calming, positive way.
So……give your favorite feline a big hug and enjoy them every minute you can! You may just add some years to your life in the process.
"Mom let me nap on her work." (see http://www.bernadette-k.com/ )
"Caruso" King of the Cats at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary
There are good people everywhere who care about homeless cats, who devote countless hours to caring for them until they can find a permanent “forever” home.
Such good people can be found at Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary in Rome.
I discovered Torre Argentina watching a documentary on TV. When I researched them further on line, I was so impressed with their tireless efforts for the cats, I knew I had to help. I was able to adopt “long distance” a beautiful black male which I named “Caruso”. Caruso was named in honor of my father, whose love of cats in turn, inspired my love of these beautiful, intelligent creatures.
Here’s a typical work day at the sanctuary:
“We’ve organized our workdays to begin at 8 A.M. with cleaning and disinfecting cages. Due to our confined quarters and the ease with which diseases spread, this job is one of the most important for our volunteers. Next, food is distributed to the cats in the underground shelter along with those that live permanently outdoors among the ruins. While feeding the outdoor cats, the volunteers must keep a vigilant eye out for sick or newly abandoned ones who must be caught, treated, vaccinated, spayed and neutered.
The workload at the sanctuary demands our presence seven days a week, including Christmas, Easter and every other holiday. Not only do the cats need daily attention, our finances do as well. Soliciting donations from tourists in all kinds of inclement weather is necessary for the survival of the sanctuary. Bad weather means no tourists or passersby – our biggest source of income. You can imagine our dilemma with a week of rain…
The need to stay abreast of medical issues, scheduling volunteers and developing new fundraising ideas has necessitated role and responsibility definition for all of us. Lia as treasurer, raises and manages funds, purchases supplies and oversees housekeeping and food distribution. Silvia is the spokesperson for the sanctuary. In addition, her responsibilities include record keeping and handling correspondence. In the end we must all be ready to clean a cage and distribute food.
Being denied facilities is one problem. Keep in mind that we worked with no running water and electricity for a year and a half. The only solution was to carry buckets to the nearest Roman fountain and back. The lighting problem was solved with a big gas lantern on a table. The shadows of the cats on the cave walls would have been a perfect backdrop to a Halloween movie. Currently we are still not hooked up to the city’s drainage system. There are no bathrooms and there is no hot water. .
In spite of all the obstacles and disappointments, Lia, Silvia and the volunteers say they have never felt so satisfied, useful and happy. At times when it seems impossible to go on, something happens that raises hope and encouragement. Perhaps one of our most handicapped cats is adopted or a generous donation helps pay another bill. In the end, the hundreds of abandoned cats and kittens that have been placed in loving families and the 3722 we managed (just in one year ) to have sterilized make it all worthwhile.”
Please visit www.romancats.com/ for more information on this wonderful sanctuary and how you can help.
Have you ever wanted to have access to a full listing of shelters and animal welfare organizations across the U.S.? Look no further than www.MyThreeCats.com . We’re excited to announce our new shelter resource page, still under construction, but well along the way (we hope to have most states’ shelters listed by year end). Click the Project PURR’nership link at www.MyThreeCats.com and read all about this exciting project. If you happen to be a shelter or animal rescue, foster or welfare organization and want to be listed, please follow the instructions provided on the Project PURR’nership page. The Project PURR’nership resource is our way of saying thank you – to you, our good customers and visitors, and to our nation’s shelters and animal welfare organizations, for caring and making a difference in the lives of thousands of homeless cats and dogs.
