As a cat owner for nearly 30 years, Joyce Sellers of Florence has many cat stories to tell and cannot say enough about the benefits of pet ownership.
“For one thing, they bring a tremendous amount of joy and companionship to my life,” said Sellers, a member of Highland Baptist Church, Florence, in Colbert-Lauderdale Baptist Association. “I wake up and go to bed every day laughing at something the cats have done.”
Currently two cats share her home: Harry, an orange-and-white tabby, and Pepper, a gray-and-white tabby — named both for his coloring and the fact that after her husband’s death in 1997, Pepper was “the seasoning we needed in our lives,” she said.
Each of Sellers’ cats has a distinct personality, she said. And though her cats — like most cats — have been known to ignore her, when they turn on their charm, “they make you think you are the most wonderful person in the world.”
In recent years, numerous research studies have touted the benefits of pet ownership and care for senior adults.
Jack Fisher, executive director of the Lee County Humane Society in Auburn, said that recent studies conducted at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) have found several interesting connections between overall health and animal interaction.
For example, Fisher said, some studies have shown that elderly pet owners made fewer trips to the doctor than elderly nonpet owners. Other studies have shown that dog owners required less care for stress-induced aches and pains than those who do not own dogs.
Pet owners have shown lower triglyceride levels and lower blood pressure than nonpet owners.
Some studies suggest that just 10 minutes in the company of an animal can significantly reduce blood pressure for some individuals.
Still, for senior adults, the decision to get a pet and subsequently choosing the right pet requires careful thought and consideration.
“The ‘best’ pet depends on individual personality and the owner’s physical abilities,” said Angela Bockelman, director of behavior programs and animal health for Lee County Humane Society.
She said that many senior adults prefer cats because they require less daily maintenance in terms of exercise and grooming. The minimal care required for cats is one of the benefits Sellers sees as well.
“Cats are very clean animals, with no smell about them,” she said. Even the weekly litter-box cleaning is not unpleasant, Sellers said.
Dogs are also popular animals for senior adults, but once again, the owner’s physical abilities must be considered, Bockelman said.
“Those with limited mobility might prefer a dog bred to be a lap dog, such as a Chihuahua or a toy spaniel,” she said. “But not all small dogs are appropriate as lap dogs.”
“Many of the terriers, for example, have a working history and require considerable exercise,” Bockelman warned. “Similarly not all large dogs require a lot of exercise. Greyhounds, for example, love nothing more than to be couch potatoes.”
She said that another important consideration is the age of the animal. In general, Bockelman said, puppies and kittens of any breed are bundles of energy, while older animals will be calmer and require less exercise.
For seniors who do not want a dog or cat, a small bird or fish might be a good choice. Kristin Goodwin of Critters Pet Supply and Education in Oxford said that while some birds and fish can be expensive, there are many lower-cost options. Initial costs may include a cage or aquarium setup, but other costs may be limited to food, treats and toys, she said.
No matter the pet, there are day-to-day responsibilities of pet ownership that must be considered before bringing an animal home. Even lower-maintenance pets require daily feeding, waste removal and exercise, Bockelman said.
There is also a financial cost to pet ownership. While yearly vaccines and veterinarian care are typically not expensive, animals can get injured and catch diseases just as people do.
Finally the time commitment required by a pet cannot be ignored. Sellers said that any new pet needs a lot of time to bond with its new family and home.
“[A new pet] needs someone to spend time with it, holding, cuddling and playing,” she said. “Don’t get one unless you are willing to spend some time with it.”
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