8 Health Benefits of Having a Cat Although they’re often consideredbr independent, having a cat can greatlybr improve the quality of your life. Here are eight health benefits of owning a cat. 1. Petting a cat can release calming chemicals in yourbr body that decrease stress and lower anxiety levels.br 2. Studies have shown that those who ownbr cats are less at risk of suffering a stroke.br 3. Owning a cat can help release oxytocinbr in your body, which is a hormone knownbr to induce feelings of love and trust. br 4. Cat owners have a 30 to 40 percent reduced risk ofbr dying from heart disease than those who don’t own cats.br 5. A cat’s purr creates vibrations betweenbr 20 and 140 hertz, a frequency which has beenbr shown to help heal bones, tendons and muscles.br 6. A recent study by the Mayo Clinicbr found that 41 percent of people indicatedbr they sleep better with their pet companion.br 7. Children are less likely to developbr allergies if regularly exposed to cats.br 8. Owning a cat not only enhances yourbr ability to socialize, but also leads people tobr perceive you as sensitive and intelligent.