Scientists studying the human-animal bond have discovered there are health benefits of owning a cat. Yes, even that belittled¹ “black cat” can be good for you!

研究人与动物关系的科学家们发现养一只猫会有一些健康益处。是的，甚至是被贬低的“黑猫”也会对你有好处！

1. Help your cardiovascular system

有助于你的心血管系统

Studies at the University of Minnesota determined² 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.

明尼苏达大学的研究确定了那些没有养猫的人比那些养猫的人有多30-40%的可能死于心血管疾病。（抱歉，狗主人们，你看不到相同的好处。）对养猫的人来说，从突发心脏病发作的死亡几率也降低了。由美国国立卫生研究院资助的一项研究认为养宠物的人比不养宠物的人更可能从心脏病发作中活下来，无论其严重程度如何。

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，养一只猫毫不逊色于低盐饮食降低心脏病风险的功效。

2. Help your immune system

有助于你的免疫系统

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.

免疫系统会从你养猫的感受中有所提升。养一只猫可能会改善社会支持、减少抑郁、笑的更多，玩耍和锻炼——这些都有助于你的免疫系统功能更好。

And cats can tell when you’re not feeling well. They help you get better by coming to comfort you.

猫可以辨别出你感觉不好的时候。它们通过让你舒服帮助你感觉更好。

3. Avoid allergies³ and respiratory problems

避免过敏和呼吸问题

Children who are raised around cats (and dogs) develop immunity⁴ to allergens at an early age. The incidence of respiratory problems, including asthma⁵, is reduced in children exposed to cats early in their lives.

那些成长身边有猫（狗）的孩子会在幼年时对过敏原产生免疫力。在那些早期成长中接触到猫的孩子身上，包括哮喘等呼吸问题的发生率会降低。

As a bonus, children raised with pets appear to develop greater empathy for the feelings of others and relate better to other people.

作为奖励，和宠物一起长大的孩子们会发展出对他人感受更大的共鸣，并与其他人更好地建立联系。

4. Lower your blood pressure

降低你的血压

Petting your cat is calming and reduces your blood pressure. Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo⁶ found lower blood pressure in the study subjects who owned pets compared with those who did not.

抚摸你的猫能镇定和降低你的血压。纽约州立大学水牛城分校的研究发现，与那些没有养宠物的人相比，他们的血压下降了。

5. Lower your cholesterol⁷ and triglycerides

降低你的胆固醇和甘油三酯

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.

饮食和运动对降低胆固醇和甘油三酯水平很有帮助，但是养一只猫也有帮助。一项2006年加拿大的研究发现，养一只猫比一些药物能更能降低胆固醇。

6. Reduce your stroke risk

减少你的中风风险

A University of Minnesota study determined cat ownership can reduce your stroke risk by up to one-third!

明尼苏达大学的一项研究认为养猫可以减少你高达三分之一的中风风险！

7. Heal your bones and muscles

治愈你的骨骼和肌肉

Cats purr at a frequency between 20-140 Hz, which is known to have therapeutic⁸ 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 swelling⁹ are also healed in this frequency range.

猫发出呼噜声的频率在20-140赫兹之间，众所周知这有治疗作用。骨骼愈合最好在25赫兹和50赫兹的频率（100赫兹和200赫兹也有帮助）。像肌肉、肌腱和韧带这样的软组织愈合快于这些频率。在这个频率范围内，感染和肿胀也能愈合。

8. Reduce anxiety and stress

减少焦虑和紧张

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.

在今天的快节奏生活方式中，人们有着更多的工作和更少的社交，与宠物的互动会将玩耍时间和创造力重新带回到你的生活中。照顾你的猫、拥抱着你的猫会让你忘记自己的烦恼，减轻你的焦虑和压力水平。

9. Improve your mood, relieve depression

改善你的情绪，缓解抑郁

Cats may have the reputation of being solitary¹⁰, 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 lessen¹¹ feelings of depression.

猫可能有是孤立、不合群的动物的名声，而猫主人知道不是这样。猫的爱和友谊能帮助你更好地了解生活，能提升你的情绪，减轻抑郁情绪。

10. Reduce loneliness

减少孤独感

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.

人和猫的联系是一种社会互动形式。如果你的朋友很少，或是离得很远，你的猫可以帮助缓解你的孤独感。如果你在一天结束的时候回到一个空房子里，花时间与你的猫可以提升你的情绪。

Families today are smaller and often far apart. Empty-nesters fulfill¹² the need to nurture¹³ 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.

现在的家庭人员更少，往往相距甚远。空巢老子通过养猫来满足养孩子的需求以及找到早晨起床的理由。你的宠物提供的社会支持可能会鼓励你与其他人进行互动。

11. Therapy pets reduce medical expenses

治疗性宠物会减少医疗费用

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.

养猫的人更少去看医生和医院就诊。当他们去医院的时候，他们也能更早出院。总体而言，他们的医疗费用会减少。

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!

治疗犬在护理院和特殊需要学校里相当普遍，但也有治疗猫。猫知道谁需要一个好的呼噜声！

12. Exercise

锻炼

Cats don’t need as much exercise as dogs, but they still love to play. Make your cat your exercise buddy¹⁴ 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!

猫不需要像狗一样锻炼那么多，但它们仍然喜欢玩耍。让你的猫成为你的锻炼伙伴，并帮助他抓玩具老鼠！看着你的猫，学习如何伸展！观察你的猫伸展了多少次——当它这样做的时候——加入它！