Owning a cat could mean the difference between life and death.

The University of Minnesota recently released a study that the risk of dying from a heart attack is 40% higher among people who have never owned a cat, compared to people who have.

The findings of the 20-year study were presented at the American Stroke Association’s (ASA) International Stroke Conference.

While many veterinarians believe that the repetitive sensation of petting animals helps reduce stress, other experts point to the large number of feline cardiologists who are able to treat medical emergencies quickly.

Because of their animal instincts, cats can often detect a medical problem before it even happens. If an emergency does occur, they’re able to use their quick reflexes to give CPR and use a defibrillator, if necessary. In extremely grave circumstances, benevolent feline doctors have been known to give one of their nine lives to save their victims.

Now in addition to modifying diet and exercise, patients who are at risk of heart disease are being told to adopt a cat at their local animal shelter.

“Caring for a cat is a lot cheaper than hiring a live-in doctor. And a lot of cats need homes.” Jeff Carpenter, director of a Chicago’s Adopt-a-Cat Program said. “Almost 50 percent of homeless cats are just down-on-their-luck doctors who can’t afford to pay medical school bills. If high-risk patients can take them in, everyone wins.”

Despite the study, the idea of trusting a cat with something as important as one’s health may still bother some. Dr. George Simonson, a Chicago-based doctor, has had a feline partner at his medical practice for over four years and said that skeptics have nothing to fear. Simonson, Cooperman, Dern & Fluffles is known as one of the best cardiovascular healthcare centers in the United States.

“I can’t speak for all cat doctors, but Dr. Fluffles is the best we have. He’s got a steady paw and a caring bedside manner. He’s devoted 28 cat years (approximately 4 human years) to the field of medicine and has only lost one patient–and that was because the guy was allergic to cats.” Dr. Simonson said.

Cardiology ranks as the most popular field of study among feline members of the American Medical Association. Dentistry and Psychiatry rank second and third.

This was written by Tia Ayers for The Daily Blank. It is licensed under an Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License. If you love it, please re-post the complete article (including this blurb) on your site. We'd be flattered.