A pet can be your medicine

BarcelonaIt has just arrived in bookstores I'll prescribe a cat.by the writer Syou Ishida, published by Columna Ediciones. It is a literary phenomenon in Japan and is part of what are known as healing booksOr, healing fiction books, which come mainly from Asian authors and present plots with very common problems and conflicts that are always resolved in the end. They are comforting, unhurried stories with endearing characters. In this case... best-seller In Syou Ishida's work, the solution to the problems presented in the various stories—whether work stress, family conflicts, or personal matters—is cats, but this could be extended to any pet, whose presence has a positive and healing emotional impact on all the characters in the book. According to the review made by New York Journal of Books, It's an "absolutely charming celebration of the healing power of pets." But is that really the case? Do animals have the healing power the book describes? We interviewed psychologists and veterinarians to find out if you can really "prescribe" a cat to cure some of the ills of modern society.

According to Dr. Jaume Fatjó, veterinarian and director of the Affinity Foundation Chair in Animals and Health at the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), there are many studies that support the theory that living with a pet "is associated with a number of benefits," but this statement needs to be qualified. "These aren't immediate benefits," Fatjó warns, "because we're not talking about medication." Among all the benefits, he highlights the social support of the animal, "which is very important because it makes you feel better, more loved, and is an indicator of good physical and mental health."

"They can have a positive impact on many levels," emphasizes Loreto Sánchez, psychologist and collaborator with the Affinity Foundation, who says that although they aren't magic solutions, there are certain recurring patterns among people who have pets. "On an emotional level, people describe themselves as calmer and better able to regulate themselves in stressful situations, but there's also the behavioral aspect, since animals have the ability to offer a routine that in many cases is very positive, especially for people going through a difficult time."

Gema Hernández, psychologist and director of the Lur group, which offers animal-assisted psychological support and coordinator of the Working Group, expresses a similar sentiment. She explains that "each animal gives you something different: a cat provides relaxation, well-being, and tranquility, while a dog makes you more sociable, forces you to go out, take walks, and socialize," she says. "Neither cats nor dogs will judge you, and they'll listen if you tell them your problems, even if it seems silly. With them, you don't have to pretend to be someone different; you can be yourself without forcing anything."

It's not an automatic solution

However, it's important to understand that the benefits of having a pet aren't a magic bullet, as Loreto Sánchez warns. "We must keep in mind that the benefits won't be the same for everyone or in every situation," and that not all animals are automatically beneficial. Nor are there any species that are better or worse for mental health. "The important thing is to see how that particular animal fits with that person," says Sánchez. "It's not so much the specific species as the quality of the bond and the person's stage of life."

Jaume Fatjó highlights some very recent studies, and cites one in particular from the University of BudapestThey suggest that the relationship established with a pet is a mix of the relationship we might have with a child and a friend, "but with one advantage: it's unconditional. Whatever you do, it will be there. It won't judge you and can even act as a confidant." Fatjó says that many people explain their problems to their pets, which helps them release complicated emotional situations and unload their feelings. Children do this especially, say the specialists, who often find in the animal the perfect confidant to confide in, more so than their parents or a therapist. According to Gema Hernández, "growing up with a pet is positive because it helps children be responsible, develop empathy, and not just think about themselves... these are things that can't be worked on just by talking. If there's an animal with needs at home, you have to attend to them, and that provides many valuable lessons," says this expert, who also emphasizes that in difficult times, such as bullyingStudies have shown that having a pet helps children. Another group that benefits greatly from animal companionship is the elderly who suffer from unwanted loneliness. Having routines and feeling useful is a great help to this group, who in many cases are also forced to go outside and socialize, which can be very beneficial. In short, although experts say that animals cannot be "prescribed" because they are not medicine, they agree that they can be very beneficial companions for many people.