好消息 貓對你的健康有好處
Scientists studying the human-animal bond have discovered there are health benefits of owning a cat. Yes, even that belittled “black cat” can be good for you!
研究人與動物關係的科學家們發現養一隻貓會有一些健康益處。是的，甚至是被貶低的“黑貓”也會對你有好處！
1. Help your cardiovascular system
有助於你的心血管系統
Studies at the University of Minnesota determined those who did not own cats were 30-40% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than cat owners were. (Sorry, dog owners, you don’t see the same benefit.) The chance of death from sudden heart attack is reduced, too, for cat owners. A study funded by the NIH determined that pet owners were more likely than non-owners to survive a heart attack, regardless of the severity of that attack.
明尼蘇達大學的研究確定了那些沒有養貓的人比那些養貓的人有多30-40%的可能死於心血管疾病。（抱歉，狗主人們，你看不到相同的好處。）對養貓的人來說，從突發心臟病發作的死亡機率也降低了。由美國國立衛生研究院資助的一項研究認爲養寵物的人比不養寵物的人更可能從心臟病發作中活下來，無論其嚴重程度如何。
Other research suggests that owning a cat compares favorably with going on a low-salt diet for reducing heart disease risk.
其他研究表明，養一隻貓毫不遜色於低鹽飲食降低心臟病風險的功效。
2. Help your immune system
有助於你的免疫系統
The immune system gets a boost from the feeling you get just by owning a cat. Owning a cat may lead to improved social support, reduced depression, and more laughter, play and exercise – all of these help your immune system function better.
免疫系統會從你養貓的感受中有所提升。養一隻貓可能會改善社會支持、減少抑鬱、笑的更多，玩耍和鍛鍊——這些都有助於你的免疫系統功能更好。
And cats can tell when you’re not feeling well. They help you get better by coming to comfort you.
貓可以辨別出你感覺不好的時候。它們通過讓你舒服幫助你感覺更好。
3. Avoid allergies and respiratory problems
避免過敏和呼吸問題
Children who are raised around cats (and dogs) develop immunity to allergens at an early age. The incidence of respiratory problems, including asthma, is reduced in children exposed to cats early in their lives.
那些成長身邊有貓（狗）的孩子會在幼年時對過敏原產生免疫力。在那些早期成長中接觸到貓的孩子身上，包括哮喘等呼吸問題的發生率會降低。
As a bonus, children raised with pets appear to develop greater empathy for the feelings of others and relate better to other people.
作爲獎勵，和寵物一起長大的孩子們會發展出對他人感受更大的共鳴，並與其他人更好地建立聯繫。
4. Lower your blood pressure
降低你的血壓
Petting your cat is calming and reduces your blood pressure. Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo found lower blood pressure in the study subjects who owned pets compared with those who did not.
撫摸你的貓能鎮定和降低你的血壓。紐約州立大學水牛城分校的研究發現，與那些沒有養寵物的人相比，他們的血壓下降了。
5. Lower your cholesterol and triglycerides
降低你的膽固醇和甘油三酯
Diet and exercise go a long way toward reducing cholesterol and triglyceride levels, but owning a cat helps, too. A 2006 Canadian study found owning a cat lowered cholesterol better than even some medications.
飲食和運動對降低膽固醇和甘油三酯水平很有幫助，但是養一隻貓也有幫助。一項2006年加拿大的研究發現，養一隻貓比一些藥物能更能降低膽固醇。
6. Reduce your stroke risk
減少你的中風風險
A University of Minnesota study determined cat ownership can reduce your stroke risk by up to one-third!
明尼蘇達大學的一項研究認爲養貓可以減少你高達三分之一的中風風險！
7. Heal your bones and muscles
治癒你的骨骼和肌肉
Cats purr at a frequency between 20-140 Hz, which is known to have therapeutic effects. Bones heal best at 25 Hz and 50 Hz frequencies (and 100 Hz and 200 Hz are also helpful). Soft tissues like muscles, tendons and ligaments heal faster at these frequencies. And infections and swelling are also healed in this frequency range.
貓發出呼嚕聲的頻率在20-140赫茲之間，衆所周知這有治療作用。骨骼癒合最好在25赫茲和50赫茲的頻率（100赫茲和200赫茲也有幫助）。像肌肉、肌腱和韌帶這樣的軟組織癒合快於這些頻率。在這個頻率範圍內，感染和腫脹也能癒合。
8. Reduce anxiety and stress
減少焦慮和緊張
In today’s fast-paced lifestyle, with more work and less socializing, interacting with a pet brings play-time and creativity back into your life. Caring for your cat and cuddling with your cat take your mind off your own worries and reduce your levels of anxiety and stress.
在今天的快節奏生活方式中，人們有着更多的工作和更少的社交，與寵物的互動會將玩耍時間和創造力重新帶回到你的生活中。照顧你的貓、擁抱着你的貓會讓你忘記自己的煩惱，減輕你的焦慮和壓力水平。
9. Improve your mood, relieve depression
改善你的情緒，緩解抑鬱
Cats may have the reputation of being solitary, unsocial animals but cat owners know this is not the case. The love and companionship of a cat helps you feel better about life in general and can lift your mood and lessen feelings of depression.
貓可能有是孤立、不合羣的動物的名聲，而貓主人知道不是這樣。貓的愛和友誼能幫助你更好地瞭解生活，能提升你的情緒，減輕抑鬱情緒。
10. Reduce loneliness
減少孤獨感
Having a person-cat connection is a form of social interaction. If your group of friends is small, or far away, your cat can help relieve your feelings of loneliness. If you come home to an empty house at the end of the day, spending time with your cat can uplift your mood.
人和貓的聯繫是一種社會互動形式。如果你的朋友很少，或是離得很遠，你的貓可以幫助緩解你的孤獨感。如果你在一天結束的時候回到一個空房子裏，花時間與你的貓可以提升你的情緒。
Families today are smaller and often far apart. Empty-nesters fulfill the need to nurture and find a reason to get up in the morning by owning a cat. The social support provided by your pet may encourage you to interact more with other people.
現在的家庭人員更少，往往相距甚遠。空巢老子通過養貓來滿足養孩子的需求以及找到早晨起牀的理由。你的寵物提供的社會支持可能會鼓勵你與其他人進行互動。
11. Therapy pets reduce medical expenses
治療性寵物會減少醫療費用
People who own cats make fewer doctor and hospital visits. When they do visit the hospital, they are discharged earlier. Overall, their medical expenses are reduced.
養貓的人更少去看醫生和醫院就診。當他們去醫院的時候，他們也能更早出院。總體而言，他們的醫療費用會減少。
Therapy dogs are fairly common in nursing homes and special-needs schools, but there are therapy cats, too. Cats know who needs a good purring!
治療犬在護理院和特殊需要學校裏相當普遍，但也有治療貓。貓知道誰需要一個好的呼嚕聲！
12. Exercise
鍛鍊
Cats don’t need as much exercise as dogs, but they still love to play. Make your cat your exercise buddy and help him bat a toy mouse around! Watch your cat and learn how to stretch! Observe how many times your cat stretches – and when he does it – and join in!
貓不需要像狗一樣鍛鍊那麼多，但它們仍然喜歡玩耍。讓你的貓成爲你的鍛鍊夥伴，並幫助他抓玩具老鼠！看着你的貓，學習如何伸展！觀察你的貓伸展了多少次——當它這樣做的時候——加入它！
