Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2025-11-21 Origin: Site
A pet owner’s daily life often starts with these little moments:
Before opening your eyes in the morning, you’re stepped on the face by a cat;
When you get home at night, a dog rushes over to pounce on you, and the fatigue of the day fades away;
Occasionally scrolling through your phone, most of the photos in the album are of them.
Of course, there’s no shortage of worries. Every aspect of their food, shelter, and health requires attention—they need more nutritional supplements than humans, and even minor illnesses can cost several times your own expenses…
Many people, especially elders, don’t understand: Pets can’t earn you money or support you in old age. They’re just money-draining "little ancestors"—isn’t it a loss?
But that’s not the case. A recent study found that—
The life satisfaction improved by owning a pet is equivalent to earning an extra 650,000 RMB per year
How did the study discover that owning a pet is so rewarding? It wasn’t a random guess or a simple questionnaire asking "Are you happy?"
The research team put a lot of thought into it.
They used long-term tracking data from "Understanding Society," following thousands of people for more than a decade. The information was so detailed that it included factors like "How is your relationship with neighbors?" and "What is your father’s education level?"—almost every possible factor affecting happiness was taken into account.
Then, they used instrumental variable analysis (an advanced statistical method) to clarify the true relationship between "pet ownership" and "happiness."
The results showed—Pets really "bring" happiness, rather than happy people being "more willing" to own pets.
Specifically: Owning a pet can increase life satisfaction by 3 to 4 points (out of 7).
What does this improvement mean?
The research team specifically converted it: In terms of "income," it’s roughly equivalent to the happiness brought by earning an extra 70,000 British pounds per year*, or about 650,000 RMB.
*The average annual income of study participants was 26,000 British pounds.
Yes! The study found that if you’re single, the "happiness boost" from owning a pet is more obvious.
Especially for dog owners—dogs may partially fill the gap in intimate relationships. For single people, a dog’s companionship is like a combination of "family + friend + emotional buffer."
Married people also gain happiness from owning dogs, but it’s slightly weaker compared to singles.
The data also revealed interesting "portraits of cat people and dog people":
Does this remind you of someone around you?
The study also pointed out the realistic side—owning a pet is not just sweetness.
Pet ownership means investing time, money, and energy. You need to arrange boarding when going out, spend money on emergencies when they’re sick, and dog owners in particular have to walk their dogs every day, rain or shine.
But it’s precisely because of these efforts that the emotional bond between humans and animals becomes deeper.
Beyond happiness, the physical and mental health benefits of owning a pet are tangible.
Studies have found that being with cats and dogs may help reduce stress, anxiety, and even the risk of depression.
For example, when stroking a cat, the sound of its purring creates a sense of calm and relaxation.
Dogs offer companionship in another way: Fixed daily walks, interactions, and companionship not only increase physical activity but also invisibly reduce loneliness.
Another interesting finding: When a dog stares at its owner, the owner’s body secretes more oxytocin. Known as the "happiness hormone," oxytocin is an important substance in the brain that maintains intimate relationships and increases trust.
So, when you feel "heart-to-heart" with your dog, it’s not an illusion—science has confirmed it.
Surveys show that 87% of pet owners believe their mental state has improved significantly after getting a pet.
Some psychologists even recommend that people with low mood or strong loneliness consider getting a pet as part of their daily emotional support.
Dog owners generally have higher daily physical activity.
A study showed that dog owners walk an average of 22 minutes more per day than non-dog owners. The cumulative effect of this increased activity is undoubtedly beneficial to physical health.
More importantly, a meta-analysis covering data from over 3.8 million people found that owning a dog is associated with a 31% reduction in cardiovascular disease mortality and a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality.
Even the American Heart Association stated in a scientific declaration that owning a dog may be associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.
Cat ownership also has many proven physiological benefits.
When stroking a cat, human blood pressure and heart rate have been observed to decrease in the short term; interacting with cats can also activate brain areas responsible for emotional regulation and social emotional processing.
Long-term cat ownership has also been linked to a reduced risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular disease mortality.
The low-frequency vibrations (25–150 Hz) produced by cats when purring have also shown potential in promoting bone repair, relieving pain and edema, and accelerating physical recovery in studies.
The changes brought by owning a pet often don’t happen overnight.
They may just lie quietly in the corner of the sofa,or greet you with a wagging tail when you come home late from overtime.
But it’s these ordinary moments that slowly form part of life, making the mood softer and the days less monotonous.
Of course, owning a pet is a decision that requires careful consideration. Pets are not just cute—they shed hair, get sick, and cause trouble. Every aspect of their care needs attention.It means companionship, and also responsibility.
