Posted on 02/22/2008 11:46:17 PM PST by bruinbirdman
According to a study by researchers at the University of Minnesota, having a kitty in your life could make you less likely to die of a cardiovascular disease, but this same protective effect does not extend to those who share their lives only with dogs.
A WebMD news report said, compared with cat owners, people who never had a pet cat were 40 percent more likely to die of a heart attack and 30 percent more likely to die of any cardiovascular disease, including stroke, heart failure, and chronic heart disease.
The study was based on data collected from nearly 4,500 men and women, ages 30 to 75. All were free of cardiovascular disease when they entered the study in the 1970s. The angle of pet ownership was examined on the tail of recent research indicating pets reduce stress. Apparently they did not make the same connection to improved health with the respondents who only had dogs.
The study results were presented this week at the International Stroke Conference in New Orleans.
So should you head to the shelter and adopt a cat as part of a heart-healthy lifestyle?
I would say yes, as long as you like kitties. I would also recommend adopting two cats, because two are always better than one. However, you must remember that you are not the owner of the cats; you are their employees.
Do good work and they will reward you with life-saving purrs and chin-rubbings.
Taste alot better though. A little lemon pepper, and its just like cornish game hen.
I have five cats.
I’m gonna live forever!
I think you only have to sniff them.
Your dog tasted better. A little Hunan sauce, and we served it as chicken fried rice last week.
You’re both disgusting. I have eight cats and two dogs and would eat the lawn before eating them.
Good. Thanks for getting rid of him. He had mange, tube worms and distemper.
I take it you are not filipina or korean.
Yeah, but when you chase them with beer... 
they taste like really hot chicken!
ROFLMBO
WebMD - yeah right. A real plethora of info backed up by facts from the NIH.
My pets are family. We have two rules about family.
1. We don’t leave family behind.
2. We don’t eat family.
I would take down anyone who tried to eat my pets (y’know, end of world scenario type thing)...
If I were willing to accept the data...then my first reaction would be why? Logic would dictate that it is not merely having a close pet...which a dog would easily accomplish in this logic. The cat has to have some type of bacteria....that would be helping your body in some fashion. So...as the cat owner quietly sleeps at night...that dang cat is licking your face...transmitting lots of friendly bacteria into you...thus saving your life in the end. Logically...this is the only way that this would work.
Our son is allergic to aspirin. Does this mean he’s now allergic to cats as well?
Our daughter is allergic to cats. Does this mean she’s now allergic to aspirin?
I know this isn’t as funny as eatin’ cats and dogs or even eating the dirt that the cat has buried its poop in, but it was a thought . . .
Yeah, but the dog gives a sh!t if you die.
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