The research found that about 4,500 men and women between the ages of 30 and 75 found that people who never owned a cat were 40 percent more likely to die of a heart attack over the 20-year study period than people who had owned a cat at some point. Non- cat owners were also 30 percent more likely to die of any cardiovascular disease.
Researchers say that cat owners share some of the same personality characteristics, such as low levels of stress, which might help protect them against heart disease and stroke. Though the findings weren’t seen in dog owners, researchers say that both cats and dogs make people feel good, and an overall sense of well-being is often linked to better health.
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