Major Contributions: Rodent Control and stress release.

We all know that cats enjoy mouse hunting, and for any home with a rodent problem, cats are excellent solution. But often overlooked about cat ownership are the health benefits they provide. Aside from improving your mood, encouraging exercise, and giving people someone to talk to, cats actually help lower blood pressure and reduce stress. One study looked at the effect that cat ownership had on New York Stock Brokers, which showed those with pets had lower blood pressure and less stress than those without. In other words, they were happier and more at peace. But the stockbrokers are just a small group. If more proof is needed it may be best to just ask a cat owner, and they are certainly not hard to find: In the United States some 90 million cats are kept as pets, and their owners can attest to their benefits.