Cat owners, the next time someone calls you a “crazy cat lady,” you can take it as a compliment.
New research has revealed there’s no evidence to support the fact that the classic crazy cat lady troupe actually exists. Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles analysed more than 500 pet owners and found that nothing supported the long-held stereotype that’s been teased over time.
In total 561 people took part in the study, with researchers asking about their pet ownership, mental well-being, and social lives.
“We found no evidence to support the 'cat lady' stereotype: cat-owners did not differ from others on self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety or their experiences in close relationships," the study said. "Our findings, therefore, do not fit with the notion of cat-owners as more depressed, anxious or alone."
This was also backed up by a 2017 study that found no correlation between cat ownership and mental health issues.
The benefits of loving a cat
Unsurprisingly, the study also found that cat and dog owners were more likely to emphasise with an animal’s distress calls meaning that they were more likely to get sad versus non-pet owners when they heard a cat meow or dog whimper.
Although, we already knew about the many health benefits of owning a pet. Back in April, UAE residents shared with us their tales of how their furry companions have change their lives.
“When I adopted my first kitten, I received love from a source I had not expected,” said one Sharjah resident.
After giving birth and going through many years in a difficult marriage, she developed depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder. She also began developing physical symptoms such as heart palpitations, joint pains and severe migraines, or what she believes was stress manifesting in different ways.
“My Arabian mau would follow me around, sleep on me, purr at being touched. Very soon I adopted another kitten to keep him company. Both of them now wait for me to open my bedroom door early in the morning so that they can cuddle with me. I don’t remember the last time I had a migraine.”
This change in her health isn’t merely a physiological or placebo effect, as Dr Fadi Daoud of Australian Vet explained. “Once you elevate the serotonin levels because you’re happy and relaxed, it indirectly improves your immune system and that improves your physical health,” he says. “Animals really can heal their companions to a certain extent.”
23-man shortlist for next six Hall of Fame inductees
Tony Adams, David Beckham, Dennis Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Eric Cantona, Andrew Cole, Ashley Cole, Didier Drogba, Les Ferdinand, Rio Ferdinand, Robbie Fowler, Steven Gerrard, Roy Keane, Frank Lampard, Matt Le Tissier, Michael Owen, Peter Schmeichel, Paul Scholes, John Terry, Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic, Patrick Viera, Ian Wright.
Uefa Nations League
League A:
Germany, Portugal, Belgium, Spain, France, England, Switzerland, Italy, Poland, Iceland, Croatia, Netherlands
League B:
Austria, Wales, Russia, Slovakia, Sweden, Ukraine, Republic of Ireland, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Northern Ireland, Denmark, Czech Republic, Turkey
League C:
Hungary, Romania, Scotland, Slovenia, Greece, Serbia, Albania, Norway, Montenegro, Israel, Bulgaria, Finland, Cyprus, Estonia, Lithuania
League D:
Azerbaijan, Macedonia, Belarus, Georgia, Armenia, Latvia, Faroe Islands, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Liechtenstein, Malta, Andorra, Kosovo, San Marino, Gibraltar
Anghami
Started: December 2011
Co-founders: Elie Habib, Eddy Maroun
Based: Beirut and Dubai
Sector: Entertainment
Size: 85 employees
Stage: Series C
Investors: MEVP, du, Mobily, MBC, Samena Capital
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Some of Darwish's last words
"They see their tomorrows slipping out of their reach. And though it seems to them that everything outside this reality is heaven, yet they do not want to go to that heaven. They stay, because they are afflicted with hope." - Mahmoud Darwish, to attendees of the Palestine Festival of Literature, 2008
His life in brief: Born in a village near Galilee, he lived in exile for most of his life and started writing poetry after high school. He was arrested several times by Israel for what were deemed to be inciteful poems. Most of his work focused on the love and yearning for his homeland, and he was regarded the Palestinian poet of resistance. Over the course of his life, he published more than 30 poetry collections and books of prose, with his work translated into more than 20 languages. Many of his poems were set to music by Arab composers, most significantly Marcel Khalife. Darwish died on August 9, 2008 after undergoing heart surgery in the United States. He was later buried in Ramallah where a shrine was erected in his honour.
Drishyam 2
Directed by: Jeethu Joseph
Starring: Mohanlal, Meena, Ansiba, Murali Gopy
Rating: 4 stars
