A family pet can soon become a cherished member of your family. Almost 85 million of us have a pet at home, according to the American Pet Products Association. There’s a reason for that. Having a pet can make you happier and healthier.

On paper, it may not seem like there’s a clear reason to choose one pet or the other. Why choose a dog over a cat? Or a cat over a bird? Any type of pet offers a ton of benefits. In truth, having any pet at all can make your family happier, regardless of which type of pet you choose.

However, cats can make exceptionally good companions, especially if you are weighing kids care along with all the other benefits of getting a pet. Cats are calm and docile, and they require less maintenance and attention than a dog. A feline friend can be a soothing addition to your family that helps your whole family feel calmer and happier.

Here are 9 of the benefits of adding a cat as a member of your immediate family.

1. They are Good for the Heart

Cats are heart-healthy. No, seriously. That isn’t just in the sense of providing love and comfort. A study found that cats are literally good for your heart, with cat owners experiencing a lower overall risk of a heart attack.

The study about pets followed more than 4,000 Americans over the course of 10 years. It found that the cat owners in the group of participants had a 30 percent lower risk of death from a heart attack compared to the non-cat owners.

This may be due in part to the calming impact of a kitty’s presence. They can help promote mindful wellness simply by being themselves. is all about being in the moment to reduce stress and anxiety. Often, psychologists recommend meditation to promote mindfulness. Mindfulness can have positive impacts on all aspects of our lives, from anxiety and depression to just getting through our days.

What’s more meditative and calming than a cat sleeping in the sun? Their natural attitude and approach toward life is all about being calm and mindful. Take a cue from your new family member and you may feel the health benefits in your heart and mind.

2. They are Good for Your Kids

If you have young children, a cat can be an ideal pet. Cats are beneficial for child development. Playing with a cat can help your child learn and grow.

In fairness, it is not just cats that are great for kids. Having any kind of pet is often beneficial for child development. Playing together can be mentally stimulating for both the pet and the child. Having a pet can also help teach children discipline and responsibility.

Having a docile pet is especially good if you have children. A super active, high-energy pet can make your children also hyperactive. Cats, who tend to be more docile and calm, are therefore great for children to interact with.

3. They are Great for Children with Disabilities

Some children face extra challenges. Cats make great pets for a kid with down syndrome or autism.

If your child has a disability, having a calm, docile pet is extra important. A cat fits that bill. There is research that shows a child with disabilities can benefit tremendously from having a loving pet who isn’t very active or rough.

Even though they can’t speak themselves, a cat can serve as a means of speech therapy for kids. A cat who just wants to be loved can encourage a child to practice their speech.

Partly, this is due to the way children are drawn to animals. A cat can be a great focal point for a speech or language exercise. You can also talk to your child about the cat and encourage their speech that way. Let the child talk about the cat, about feeding the cat, playing with the cat, brushing the cat—whatever they like. You may be surprised by how vocal your child gets.

4. They are Great for Taking Selfies with

There’s no reason to be modest about this: Cats are photogenic. There’s a good reason the internet is obsessed with cats. They look great in every photo, including photos with you.

Having a cat can instantly up your selfie game. Plus, it’s just fun! Having a family pet should bring you joy and taking selfies with your beautiful, photogenic cat is part of that fun.

If you get a cat for your home, include them in your family photos. Get everyone in on the fun by taking family photos together. Even the shiest member of your family may be coaxed out of their shell by the prospect of taking photos with the cat.

We already mentioned how cats can promote mindful wellness. That will show in your photos. If you are happy, and your cat is happy, your selfies will look happy. Snuggle up to your cuddly fluffball and selfie to your heart’s content.

5. They are Good for Allergies

This one might come as a bit of a surprise. We often associate cats with causing allergies, but a household that includes a cat can actually be good for fending off allergies, especially in children.

A cat won’t really make a difference to an adult who already has allergies, but for children, a cat can make a huge, lifelong impact.

In fact, the National Institutes of Health found that a child who has a cat or dog in their first year of life is less likely to develop allergies than children raised without a pet. This may be because of bacteria carried by pets. Early exposure to this bacteria teaches the immune system not to react to allergens.

And the effect isn’t minor. The study found that a child who grew up with a cat or dog was 66 to 77 percent less likely than average to develop allergies for their entire life.

Unfortunately, many of us already have allergies, including to cats. But that does not mean we cannot have a cat as a pet.

Some over-the-counter medications can help with cat allergies, but talk to a doctor first to find out what options you might have.

If you want to avoid doctors and medication, there are other ways to cope with your cat. Some cat breeds are hypoallergenic, such as cats with no hair. Other hypoallergenic cats include Balinese, Bengals and Russian Blues. But no matter what type of feline you get, neutering your pet can help reduce the amount of allergenic protein they shed.

You can also do things around your home. If you are allergic to your cat, you may need to clean more often than usual. Getting that hair out of linens and furniture can help ease your allergies. An air purifier can also help keep allergenic proteins out of the air or minimized. You and your cat may also just need to take some time and space apart once in a while if your allergies are getting bad.

6. They Kill Pests

Calm and docile as a house cat may be, they still have some killer instincts. Even a house pet will want to hunt. A cat will naturally kill pests that are living in your home.

No matter how carefully you’ve checked for pests, the design of your home can’t keep out every type of pest. Luckily, cats are happy to do the work for you. They are natural predators despite generations of domestication.

Sometimes, it is mice. But the pests a cat will catch are not just rodents. They will also hunt down bugs and other critters hiding in your home. If you have a concrete basement, that offers a lot of nooks and crannies for pests to hide in. A cat can find creatures that you simply won’t be able to find on your own.

Your cat might also serve as an alert that your house has pests. You might not even realize you have a pest problem before your pet discovers it for you.

Once you know, you can take additional steps to control pests in your home, including sealing any gaps you find and repairing weatherstripping. You can also try natural solutions like vinegar and onions, which repel ants and spiders, respectively.

If you are looking at a serious pest problem, it may be more than your pet can contend with. Consider contacting an exterminator if the problem persists or gets worse even after you’ve done some work and repairs yourself.

7. They May Make You Smarter

Cat owners may have a leg up when it comes to intelligence. A study compared “cat people” and “dog people” and found some startling differences between the two groups.

In general, “dog people” were found to be lively, energetic and outgoing. They also tended to follow rules more closely. Meanwhile, the “cat people” were more introverted, sensitive and open-minded, and tended to be non-conformists who were less concerned with following rules. Most interesting, however, was that the “cat people” scored higher on intelligence tests than the “dog people.”

Granted, this is just one study. But if you’re thinking about career opportunities, perhaps step 1 should be getting a cat as a pet. Stay home, curl up with your cat and a good book, and increase your brainpower in the meantime.

8. They are Great Cuddle Buddies

Speaking of curling up, cats are superior cuddle buddies. They absolutely love to snuggle. They want to feel cozy and safe and you may be the way they get that.

Kittens cannot regulate their own body temperature until they are 3 weeks old. This means they learn early that snuggling is the best way to get warm and cozy. Usually, kittens will snuggle with each other, but if you get a kitten they will learn to snuggle up to you for safety instead. You will find you have a cuddle buddy for life soon.

All that cuddling isn’t just good for the furball. We need snuggles and love just as much as they do. Cats make great companions. They can help us cope with stress, with loss or just with daily life. Cats remember kindness and will reciprocate the love you show them.

Of course, they can also be a bit demanding when it comes to wanting attention. They will often initiate the attention and have developed a call that sounds somewhat like a baby crying to get our attention.

9. They are Good for Business

A feline friend can be good for business. If you are a business owner and want to keep a pet around, a cat may be a better choice than a dog. For one thing, they are cheaper than dogs, which is better for your bottom line. But they are also calmer and less likely to slobber than dogs, meaning having them around a store won’t cause damage you need to deal with later.

Cats aren’t just for book shops and coffee places, though. Offices that allow pets can benefit tremendously from allowing workers to bring their cat to work.

Not only will a cat in the office attract more customers, but they can also help keep workers’ stress levels down. We’ve already mentioned the positive effects a cat has on mindful wellness. That holds true in the workplace as well as at home. And, just like in a home, a cat can help keep pests under control in your office place.

Picking a Feline Friend

There are many, many more than 9 reasons to get a cat, but here are some of the best reasons. Whether you want to help socialize your children, prevent allergies or lighten up your work place, a cat can be a great companion. They will also help you feel calm, mindful and healthy due to their soothing presence. Whether you want a cat for companionship, for the selfie opportunities or for your heart, they can make a huge positive impact on you and your family’s lives.

If you are on the fence, visit a shelter near you. You might find a feline who steals your heart at a glance and discover a companion for life.