Human interaction with cats
Dating back thousands of years, cats were originally domesticated for their ability to control pests and later became valued companions.
Owners provide the food, shelter, and medical care, while play and enrichment activities stimulate their physical and mental well-being.
Positive reinforcement training can shape desired behaviours, fostering a harmonious relationship between humans and their feline companions, built on mutual respect and affection.
[26][27][28] Research indicates a correlation between the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which sexually reproduces exclusively in cats, and numerous human psychiatric conditions, including OCD.
[32][33] Some humans who are allergic to cats—typically manifested by hay fever, asthma, or a skin rash—quickly acclimate themselves to a particular animal and live comfortably in the same house with it, while retaining an allergy to cats in general.
[34][better source needed] Whether the risk of developing allergic diseases such as asthma is increased or decreased by cat ownership is uncertain.
[38] Cat ownership may also improve psychological health by providing emotional support and dispelling feelings of depression, anxiety and loneliness.
According to a Swiss study carried out in 2003, cats may change the overall psychological state of their owner as their company's effect appears to be comparable to that of a human partner.
However, the effect of these pets on human health is closely related to the time and effort the cat owner is able to invest in it, in terms of bonding and playing.
[43] Ailurophobia is a rare animal phobia affecting humans characterized by the persistent and excessive fear or hate of cats.
The important traits to look for in a cat include a steady demeanor with tolerance to sights and sounds that are unfamiliar or sudden, petting that could be awkward or rough, and the ability to stay calm when being poked or pulled in unusual manners.
[50] Therapy cats are being used as companions to help the recovery and well-being of people who have had strokes,[51] high blood pressure,[52][53] anxiety,[52][53] and/or depression to name a few.
[57] Therapy cats are also sometimes used in hospitals to relax children who are staying there,[58][unreliable source] as well as helping those in hospice care cope with their terminal illness.
[64] While both the Humane Society of the United States and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals strongly discourage or condemn the procedure,[65] the American Veterinary Medical Association supports the procedure under certain guidelines and finds "no scientific evidence that declawing leads to behavioral abnormalities when the behavior of declawed cats is compared with that of cats in control groups.
This may also happen for other reasons; for instance, if a cat becomes constipated and defecation is uncomfortable, it may associate the discomfort with the litter box and avoid it in favor of another location.
[67] Some cats can be trained to use the human toilet, eliminating the litter box and its attendant expense, unpleasant odor, and the need to use landfill space for disposal.
An exhibit at the San Diego Natural History Museum states that cat feces from urban runoff carry Toxoplasma gondii parasites to the ocean and kill sea otters.
[69] This trend of pet culture involves providing cats with a higher level of care, attention and often even luxury, similar to the way humans are treated.
It involves attributing human-like qualities, emotions and needs to cats and providing them with care, attention and comforts similar to those given to human family members.
[72] Domestic cats are affected by over 250 naturally occurring hereditary disorders, many of which are similar to those in humans, such as diabetes, hemophilia and Tay–Sachs disease.
