We’ve said it before and we’ll repeat it: there are many reasons cats are the perfect companions. From their fuss-free and low-maintenance needs to their ability to bring a smile to anyone’s face with one purr or meow.
Plus, according to multiple research papers, having a cat as a companion can help decrease the risk of a stroke and prevent allergies. Yes, these loveable kitties don’t ask for much, but they give so much in return. When these cute companions aren't keeping you entertained by pouncing on one of the best cat toys, they're cleaning up after themselves by grooming their fur.
So, it’s fair to say that these furry housemates make for the most perfect of companions. To prove this, we’ve compiled a list of all the reasons why below.
32 reasons cats are the perfect companions
1. Their affectionate nature
Contrary to what you might have thought, cats have an affectionate side. Whether it’s the way that they look at you adoringly with their big round eyes or the fact they want to spend all their time being your shadow.
Put simply, these little balls of fluff are happiest when they’re close to their human.
2. Cats are adaptable to small spaces
Unlike our other four-legged friends, cats require minimal room. They don’t need bundles of space to run around or take up lots of footage due to their small stature.
As long as they’ve got your love and affection and all the basics — including one of the best cat scratching posts to watch the world go around — they’re happy!
3. Cats are happy in families
Generally speaking, most cats are great with people. For example, the best cats for kids and families can make wonderful companions for you and your children.
While the friendliest cat breeds, like a Maine Coon or a Siamese cat, love nothing more than coexisting with their human counterparts. What more could you want from a four-legged companion?
4. You’ll never be lonely
There’s a reason why most pet parents refer to their cat as their furry four-legged ‘shadow’.
As we touched on, most cats love being close to their owners. Whether they follow you from room to room, or they love sitting on your lap, more often than not your fur friend won’t stray too far from your vicinity.
5. Cats can decrease the risk of a heart attack
Well, that’s according to a 2009 paper, published in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology, which observed that there was a decreased risk for death due to heart attack and all cardiovascular diseases (including stroke) among owners with cats.
So not only do these fur friends bring you lots of happiness with their cute ways, but they can also help give your cardiovascular health a boost, too. Which is just another way having a pet can lower your stress levels.
6. Cat purrs have therapeutic effects
Speaking of health benefits, a 2001 study, published in The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, found that a cat's purr has a frequency between 25 and 150 Hz — which is the same vibrational/electrical frequency used in the treatment for bone growth/fractures, pain, edema, muscle growth/strain, joint flexibility, dyspnea, and wounds.
The same study noted that most domestic cat purrs are between 25 Hz and 50 Hz — which researchers say are the two low frequencies that best promote bone growth/fracture healing. Who knew?
7. Cats can help to boost immunity
As it turns out, cats can enrich your (and your child’s) life in more ways than one. Researchers in this 2017 study in Microbiome found that little ones who were exposed to cats, dogs, and other fur friends before birth and up to three months after, were less likely to develop allergies or become obese.
Researchers said this could be down to the 'significant increases' they found in two types of gut bacteria, including Ruminococcus and Oscillospira. The former is linked to a reduced risk of childhood allergies, while Oscillospira has been associated with a decreased obesity risk.
8. Cats are easy to train
n easy-to-train fur friend makes for a pretty good companion, if you ask us. And while cats might not be the first animal that comes to mind when you think of ‘well-trained pets’, these balls of fur pick up new skills easily — especially if you’ve got one of the easiest cat breeds to train and some of the best cat treats to hand.
9. Cats are low maintenance
Compared to dogs, cats make life as a pet parent easy. They don’t need daily walks or require much formal training.
Of course, you'll still need to bathe and brush your cat. However, these balls of fur take great basic care of themselves when it comes to grooming and it's believed they spend up to 30 to 50 percent of their day doing so.
10. Cats are the perfect mix of independent and sociable
Cats have a reputation for being lone wolves. But as is the case with any species, every cat is different.
Yes, some like to be left alone, some are social butterflies and others are a mixture of both, preferring some time to themselves along with their human pack. Which is great if you’re time-poor or not in the house 24/7.
11. Cats can lower stress levels
Who knew our cute cat companions could decrease blood pressure and lower stress levels?
This comes after a study, published in Psychosomatic Medicine Journal, looked into 240 married couples and found that those with a cat or dog had lower heart rates and blood pressure levels than those who didn't have pets.
So if you're looking for a way to bust some stress, try spending more time with your fur friend.
12. Decrease risk of depression
It’s no secret that pets bring with them a wealth of benefits. But did you know, pet owners are associated with lower levels of depression compared to non-pet owners? As researchers in this 2021 study found, pet owners (cats included) were 41% less depressed than non-pet owners.
13. Cats can help you increase your physical activity
It's true, we should all be standing more and sitting less. And it turns out, our cats can help us achieve this.
Whether you’re encouraging your cat to play with some of the best interactive cat toys, teaching them some of the top cat tricks or picking up after them, cats can increase your physical activity levels and step count in more ways than one.
14. They get on well with other pets
A happy home is a harmonious one. If you've got another four-legged friend in the family, you might be wondering can dogs and cats live together? The good news is that cats and dogs can live together in the same four walls if given enough space, time, and warning. Cats also get on with the majority of farm animals.
Cats can be naturally solitary animals, so some can be happy without other feline friends, while most of the friendliest cat breeds enjoy living life with another kitty.
15. Cats can boost your mood
There's a very valid reason why you feel your happiest around your little ball of fur.
A study in News Health has shown that interacting with cats can trigger the release of feel-good hormones while decreasing levels of cortisol (a stress-related hormone).
16. Cats can boost self-esteem
Reason number 101 why cats are the perfect companion?
A study by the American Psychological Association also tells us cat owners tend to have higher self-esteem than those without. While a second study found that pets can make people feel better after experiencing rejection.
17. Cats can help with pest control
If you’re already the proud pet parent of a cat, you might have already had one or two surprise gifts left by your door.
From dead spiders and mice to even bigger surprises like a pigeon. Your furry feline works overtime as a pest controller, thanks to its natural instincts to stalk and hunt.
18. Cats make you smarter
Or so the science says. The findings come from a study in the Human-Animal Interaction Bulletin where researchers gathered 418 students who were either self-professed dog people or cat people.
After giving them a test, researchers found that cat lovers scored higher in general intelligence and also proved better at self-reliance and open-mindedness.
19. Cats can help boost your relationship skills
Now here’s one for you: owning a cat can help you better your relationship skills with other humans. And it makes complete sense when you think about it — it’s always easy to bond with another human when you’ve got a great thing to talk about, i.e. your cat!
20. Lower carbon footprint
Conscious of your carbon footprint? We should all be. But in the world of pets, a 2009 study found, that a cat has a lower carbon footprint compared to that of a dog.
Researchers in the study even went so far as to say that a medium-sized dog has the same eco-footprint as a Land Cruiser.
21. Cats are there for the good times and bad
Ever noticed your cat curl up beside you after a rough day? It’s not by chance our cat companions do this. A study published in Animals (Basel) has found that our four-legged friends can recognize human emotions through auditory and visual cues. So the next time you're feeling sad or stressed, you can always count on your kitty to help turn that frown upside down.
22. Cats love you more than food
It’s a well-known fact some cats can be aloof, showing more interest in their food than their human owner. However, this research study published in Behavioural Processes shows that most felines prefer social interaction over food. Nope, not even the best cat food or the best wet cat food can tempt them. If that doesn’t make a good companion, we don’t know what does…
23. Cats won’t make as much mess
Or at least most cats won’t. Cats are naturally very clean animals as they use their tongue, which is made up of hundreds of backward-facing spines (or papillae), to help ‘comb’ their fur and groom themselves.
Plus, once you’ve introduced your four-legged living buddy to one of the best self-cleaning cat litter boxes you won’t even have to scoop up their poop.
24. Cats can save you money
Another reason why cats make for the most perfect of companions? Over time, they typically cost less than dogs. So if you’re weighing up the idea of getting a cat or dog and budget is an essential part of your pet search, this might make you sway towards rehoming a feline over a canine companion.
25. They don’t need walking
Come rain or shine, unlike dogs, cats won’t need to spend hours outside being walked. Of course, you can leash train a cat if it means your pet will be able to spend time outdoors safely, without risking themselves or other cats. But in general, these four-legged companions won't need daily walks or hours outside.
26. Cats are quiet
Not fond of a noisy household? Contrary to dogs, cats are generally much quieter. A dog’s bark can reach up to 90 decibels (which is the equivalent of a hair dryer). Whereas a cat’s meow reaches up to 45 decibels. This means your house will generally be quiet, that is unless you have one of the cat breeds with the biggest meows.
27. Cats have a long lifespan
Wondering how long do cats live? You won't have to fear about your cat leaving you any time soon. Most domesticated cats live for around 12 to 18 years while the longest-living cat breeds can live up to 20 years — but this is of course, dependent on several factors including their environment, diet, and the healthcare they receive.
28. Cats are entertaining
Being funny is another characteristic of a great companion — and most cats are comedy gold. Whether they’ve got a serious case of the zoomies or they’re falling asleep on your laptop, there are many funny things cats do.
29. Cats are amused by little things
Of course, the best cat toys are worth their weight in gold as they help to keep your kitty mentally and physically stimulated. But more than likely, your cute little companion will be just as happy playing in a cardboard box as it would with a catnip toy.
30. You can leave cats alone for periods of time
Another great thing about cats? Generally speaking, most adult cats are content with being on their own for 8-12 hours a day.
Along with napping (they're called cat naps for a reason!), cats spend a lot of time basking in the sun, watching the world go by from a height, or playing with their toys. Plus, while you're not there, you could always check up on them using one of the best pet cameras.
31. Cats know their names
Meaning? Your cat companion will know when you’re talking to them and when you’re not. A research paper published in Scientific Report conducted a study into 78 cats and discovered our fur friends could recognize their own name. Researchers asked cat owners to say different words, including their cat’s name and found a ‘significant’ difference in the way felines responded to their own name.
32. Cats could reflect your own personality
It turns out copy cats really do exist. After looking at more than 3,000 cat owners, researchers in a study by Plos One found a link to suggest that a human's personality can affect the personality of a cat. Pets really are like family, after all.
