5 Reasons Treating Your Pet Like A Human Is Good For Your Health

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It’s not uncommon for doting pet parents to receive a bizarre look or two from strangers as they coo at their furry friend in public —and let’s be honest, we all know that’s probably the least weird thing we do with them. There is plenty of criticism out there when it comes to anthropomorphizing pets, so instead, we want to address all of the benefits that come along with making a true friend out of your animal companion.

1. Talking to your pet actually makes you more mentally sound.

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People may think you’re crazy, but you’re actually keeping yourself sane. According to The Atlantic, our pets’ responsiveness to our voices is what makes them seem more like humans and it’s why we continue talking to them. This feedback loop gives us a safe place to share secrets and explore emotions, thus reducing feelings of stress and anxiety. So keep that dialogue going regardless of any species-related language barrier for the sake of your mental health.

2. Sleeping with your pet could reduce your anxiety and help you snooze more soundly.

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Yes, your pet might bring a few more germs and allergens into your sleep space, but it might be worth it. Snoozing alongside your favorite pooch or feline can help you feel calmer and safer, and the sound (and feel) of their rhythmic breathing might even improve the quality of your sleep, too. Not to mention, who doesn’t love a good cuddle session? Your pet is bound to love you even more if you two choose to bond in this cozy way.

3. Feeding them the really good stuff can make you rethink your own diet.

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If you care deeply about the food you feed your pet friend, hoping that the nutrition they receive will help them live the longest and healthiest life possible, it’s more likely that you’re also going to spend a fair amount of time considering your own nutritional needs as well. After all, you two are in this wild ride of life together. What good would it do to feed your fluffball raw, natural — hell, even vegan — meals while you gorge on delivery pizza every night?

4. Prioritizing their exercise routine keeps you both active and healthy.

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Pets can only play so much when you’re just sitting there on your couch. In fact, most activities require you to get up and move along with them. This quality time together not only strengthens your bond, but also it keeps you healthy. People who have dogs are 57 to 77 percent more likely to hit their weekly activity goal than people who don’t have a fun-loving pooch. So ask doggo if he wants to go for a walk as much as you’d like — it’s only going to benefit both of you.

5. Caring for your pet like it’s basically your baby helps to prepare you for the real deal.

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Plenty of people refer to their pets as “fur babies” with good reason: 44 percent of millennials in particular actually view their cats and dogs as their starter children. A lot of the responsibilities required in caring for a pet apply to human kids as well (with plenty more added on, of course) so learning how to handle these daily stressors now ultimately makes people more comfortable with the idea of those duties increasing later in life. Once you know you can handle it, it’s not nearly as scary, which is a huge bonus in the way of anxiety levels.