Looking for reasons to convince your other half you need a pet? You’re in the right place! While you may have dreamed about being a cat or dog parent your entire life, your partner might not be quite so keen — thankfully, we’re here to help you make a great case.
There are so many great things about owning a dog, cat, bird, fish, rabbit, or other animal. For starters, owning a pet has been proven to reduce stress, improve heart health, and reduce loneliness. If you have children, pets are also a wonderful way to teach them responsibility and help them learn how to interact with others.
Some pets also offer you the chance to get fit (there’s nothing like zooming about after the best cat toys to get the heart racing!) while others help us be present and relax (staring at fish swimming in a tank is incredibly soothing).
But above all else, pets bring so much joy to our lives and they’re brilliant for offering emotional support, comfort, and companionship. Hopefully, these words alone have been enough to sway your partner, but if not, here are many more reasons to convince your other half you need a pet.
32 reasons to convince your other half you need a pet
1. They make us feel safe
Pets can give us a real sense of security, no matter how large or small they may be. There’s something about having a pet in the house that can make you feel safer, especially if your other half is away and you’re home alone. This is particularly true if you decide to adopt a dog, as various surveys and studies have shown that burglars are much less likely to target a home when a dog is present.
2. Pets relieve stress
While cats and dogs are no doubt the most popular choice of household pets, all pets are wonderful for reducing stress. Staring at fish as they swim serenely around a tank can be a truly meditative experience while listening to a guinea pig chirp away happily can be very soothing to the nervous system.
A 2019 study published in AERA Open backs up the theory that pets help to reduce stress, with findings showing that just 10 minutes of petting an animal offers a stress-buffering effect that lowers cortisol levels (the stress hormone) in the body.
3. They can help keep us fit
Yes, it’s true that you’re unlikely to take your hamster hiking, but hiking with cats and dogs is definitely possible! While we often associate dogs with getting fit, don’t underestimate how helpful cats can be in this area too — simply playing with your feline friend for 15 minutes can give you a good workout. And, of course, if you get a dog, you have even more ways to workout with your pet.
4. Pets reduce loneliness
You may live with your partner, but that doesn’t mean you’re always together. Perhaps they work a completely different shift pattern to you or have a job that takes them out of town a lot. Either way, if you find you’re often home alone, you may have times when you feel lonely — which is where getting a pet can be helpful. Animals make wonderful companions and dogs and cats especially tend to love spending time with their humans. So if you’re looking for a weekend cuddle buddy or someone to play with, a pet can certainly assist with that.
5. They teach children responsibility
When it comes to the best first pets for children, the list is actually longer than you might think. Aside from cats and dogs, other brilliant choices include fish, birds, and ferrets, but regardless of which option you go for, all pets are great for teaching children how to be responsible.
If you have children, giving them small tasks like asking them to feed the family pet, clean their cage (if they have one), or help take them for a walk can all give them a sense of achievement.
6. Pets can boost your immune system
Did you know that pets are good for our immune system? It’s true! One study, published in Psychological Reports, showed that petting a dog increased the levels of an immune antibody called IgA which is a key player in defending our immune system from attack.
Because pets also lower our stress levels, our bodies are also better able to fight off infections. So if you want to have access to one of the most potent antibiotics in the world, consider getting a pet.
7. They can be great at providing emotional support
Pets are a wonderful source of support and comfort — especially if you’re planning to adopt one of the best emotional support animal breeds. But regardless of which pet you choose, all animals do a good job of being there for us in their own way. Dogs, in particular, are very present and many are super sensitive and intuitive, being able to read the emotions of others and respond accordingly.
8. Pets are good for your heart
Pet ownership may be linked to a lower risk of cardiovascular disease because it dampens down the body’s stress response. But owning a pet also increases the chances that we’ll engage in heart-healthy behaviors — like taking our dog for a walk or connecting with other like-minded people at a local cat cafe.
9. They can help us cope in times of crisis
All of us remember how isolating the pandemic was with lockdowns and social distancing, but for those of us with pets, those sweet faces helped make things a little easier. While the pandemic is an extreme example, it’s well-known that pets are brilliant at journeying alongside us as we navigate the difficulties life throws our way. Whether it’s the death of a loved one or the loss of a job, having a pet by our side can bring us a lot of comfort and help us feel less alone.
10. Pets can help us make new friends
Pets are a great way to meet people who share your animal interests, so if you’re looking to expand your social circle, a new fur or feathered friend (or aquatic-based water baby) could be a great way to do that. A study published in the journal PLoS One found that all kinds of pets can be catalysts for making friends and finding new sources of support.
11. They provide unconditional love
If you’re looking for a friend who will provide you with unconditional love, listen without judgment, and provide you with comfort and support, then you definitely want to get a pet. Animals accept us as we are and are always on hand to give us the love we need.
12. Pets boost your mood
Caring for a dog, cat, or other pet can help us to live mentally healthier lives. Pets offer strong mood-boosting health benefits, including lowering our stress levels and reducing feelings of anxiety and depression.
13. They can improve your relationship
Having a pet can work wonders in your relationship. For starters, pets make us work as a team because caring for them is a shared responsibility. Taking care of a pet together is a fantastic relationship-building activity and because you need to divide up the tasks, you’re able to work on your communication skills.
Pets can also offer us new ways to spend time together — especially if we’ve adopted a dog who needs to be taken on daily walks. Finally, if you want to expand your social circle as a couple, pets can help you form new bonds with fellow pet owners, fostering a sense of community.
14. Pets teach acceptance
We often find it hard to accept people for who they are. It’s easy to find ourselves looking at our partner and thinking that if only they would do a little bit more of this or a little bit less of that, we’d feel better. But in reality, the only person we ever have any control over is ourselves and the greatest gift we can give to our partner is to accept them for who they are.
This doesn’t mean we always have to like or agree with how they show up, it simply means that we don’t try to change them into who we believe they should be. Pets are wonderful for teaching us about acceptance as they love without conditions or judgment.
15. Pets can help teach children how to interact with others
While you may not think that pets would be much use when it comes to socializing children, they can actually be really wonderful teachers when it comes to helping kids learn how to interact with others. Pets can help children develop social skills by encouraging them to communicate, cooperate and problem-solve. Having a pet can also help children learn what it means to have empathy for others, and because animals offer unconditional love, it can boost their self-esteem, too.
16. They can provide us with a sense of meaning and purpose
Caring for another living being helps us to feel a sense of purpose and can infuse our lives with meaning. Even when we’re feeling low, pets need to be taken care of and this alone gives us a reason to get up in the morning. Knowing that our pets rely on us to have their basic needs provided for — such as having a bowl of the best cat food placed down in front of them or being given one of the best dog toys to play with — makes us feel special and wanted.
17. Pets are wonderfully entertaining
From cat zoomies to all the funny things dogs do, animals are wildly entertaining. Whether you get a feline friend, canine companion, or pocket pet, they’re sure to keep you laughing with their hilarious antics.
18. They help teach compassion
A 2019 study published in The Royal Society revealed that pet owners are more sensitive to vocalizations animals make when they’re in distress — like a cat’s sad meow or a dog’s whimper — than non-pet owners. Scientists believe that this sensitivity could highlight a deeper empathic gift that pet owners have that they carry into their relationships with their fellow humans.
19. Pet owners make fewer trips to the doctor
According to a study published in Social Indicators Research, owning a pet can reduce those annual visits to the doctor by around 15%. So if you’re not a fan of eating lots of fruits and vegetables, we highly recommend getting a pet instead!
20. People who own a pet take fewer medications
Not only do pet owners make fewer trips to the doctor each year compared to their pet-free peers, they’re also less likely to be put on medications for heart issues and insomnia. So next time you struggle to doze off, why not swap counting sheep for cuddling up with a cat?
21. They can provide our days with a sense of structure
If you’re someone who likes routine, a pet can be a great way of adding some extra structure to your days. Pets need feeding at a regular time and depending on the animal you get, they may need playing with, walking, or their cage cleaning.
22. Pets can improve our cognitive function
Several recent studies show that pet ownership can help slow cognitive decline and prevent dementia in later years. Researchers from the University of Michigan have also discovered that pet parents over the age of 65 have better short and long-term memory for words than non-pet parents, proving that pets offer huge benefits when it comes to helping keep our brains young in later life.
23. They can be super fun to play with
It doesn’t matter whether you’re learning how to play with a dog, cat, or other animal, pets make wonderful playmates. There’s nothing like playing a game of tug with your canine companion or throwing a toy mouse about with your feline friend to brighten up your day, and even smaller pets like birds, hamsters, and rabbits will enjoy playing with you in their own way.
24. Some pets can be trained
Many of us are reluctant to get a pet because we’re worried they’re going to run riot and cause chaos throughout the house. And while it’s true that life with a young pet can be hectic in those initial few months, you can train a cat or dog to learn what’s expected of them. With time, patience, and consistency (and perhaps a treat or two!), you’ll soon have a well-behaved pet.
25. They can stop children from developing allergies
There’s some research to suggest that if a child is exposed to animals before the age of one, they’re less likely to develop allergies when they get older. So while getting a pet may be the last thing on your mind if you and your partner are expecting a baby, it could prove protective when it comes to reducing the risk of allergies in adulthood.
26. Pets have been known to detect illness
Dogs are the most well known example of an animal that can detect a wide range of diseases and this is particularly true when it comes to cancer and Parkinson's disease. However, dogs are also able to tell when their owner’s blood glucose levels aren’t right (which is great if you have diabetes), and some can also sniff out migraines and seizures before they come on.
27. They help with PTSD
Animals are wonderful for helping with PTSD. Horse care activities, like grooming, have been shown to reduce PTSD symptoms in children and adolescents, while other animals, such as dogs, are said to help adults with PTSD by providing them with companionship and a sense of routine. Pets also have a calming influence, which can reduce stress, improve sleep, and lift your mood.
28. Many pets make great snuggle buddies
Okay, so if you decide to get a pet snake or lizard, this one might not apply, but many animals like dogs, cats, and rabbits make wonderfully cuddly companions.
There’s nothing better than curling up on the couch with your fur friend on your lap or snuggled in beside you — and as a bonus, all that cuddling reduces oxytocin (often referred to as the ‘happy hormone’) which helps us feel bonded to our pets and our partners, too!
29. Some pets are environmentally friendly
Thinking of getting a rabbit? If you’re concerned about your environmental footprint, a bunny can be a great option. You can grow most of the food rabbits prefer yourself and their droppings make great compost for your garden. One of
30. They can reduce blood pressure
Research shows that people who have pets have lower blood pressure than those who don’t own an animal. Long-term high blood pressure can lead to heart disease, kidney disease, and diabetes, so if you want to give your health and wellbeing a boost, getting a pet is well worth considering.
31. Lower cholesterol
Researchers aren’t entirely clear on why this happens, but pet owners appear to have lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides than non-pet-owners. This could be because pets reduce our stress levels or it could be down to the fact that those who have an animal like a dog tend to be more physically active. While we don’t yet know the reason, it’s clear that pet ownership has a positive effect on our health.
32. Cat owners have fewer strokes
If you decide to welcome a feline friend into your family, you’ll be relieved to learn that cat owners have fewer strokes than those who don’t have a kitty in their home. Doctors aren’t sure why this is, however, scientists have a hunch, hypothesizing that cats (and their purr) have a more calming effect on people than other animals do.
