Posted on November 19, 2025

Photo: © Niklas Jeromin on Pexels

In a nutshell:

• Pets help us manage stress and anxiety;
• Owning a pet has mental benefits and physiological benefits;
• They help lower cortisol, blood sugar, and blood pressure levels;
• They reduce rumination, feelings of isolation, and make us more social.

It was just a little ball of fur. You just could not resist. You pictured yourself playing with it. You took it home, but now you wonder if it was a good choice. You are already so stressed and overworked.

Actually, what you did was very smart. Research has shown that pets help us to manage

stress and anxiety better.(1) Studies have shown that having a pet lowers cortisol levels. (1) Pets are so good to relieve stress that therapy dogs are used just for that purpose in hospitals and nursing homes. (2)

Cats and dogs are not the only pets that help you lower your stress. Other small mammals, birds, and fishes have the same effect. Have you ever stopped before an aquarium and spent time looking at the fishes? If you have done it, you have practiced mindfulness meditation, a well-known tool to reduce stress that also lowers heart rate.

Pets bring you back to the present moment. There is no rumination any more, no spiraling thoughts, just connection. (3)

Not only that, but it also helps you to be in good physical shape because your dog needs to be taken for walks which are a perfect exercise to forget your stress. (3) Moving more is linked to weight management, better blood glucose levels (insulin sensitivity is improved), decrease risks of chronic diseases, better sleep, and lower cortisol.

Also, they are an interesting subject of conversation. It often happens that people stop you, ask to pet your animal, and start talking with you. Therefore, they offer wonderful opportunities to connect with others, a natural antidote to chronic stress. (3)

In addition, it is fun to play with both cats and dogs. Nothing beats playing fetch with a dog, or dangling a few feathers in front of a cat. Both you and the animal have fun; the pets make you laugh and you forget about your preoccupations.

The bond you form with your pets is as strong as the one you have with family members or friends. Pets offer companionship and they are great to eliminate feelings of loneliness. (4)

Dogs, cats, and other pets such as horses, give you affection, support, and they trust you in an unconditional manner. Just petting an animal for a few minutes releases bonding hormones like oxytocin, the bonding and calming hormone. (3) Also, it creates a deep sense of emotional grounding. Your nervous system synchronizes with that of your pet.

The benefits of having pets are specific to each type of animal. Dogs, for instance, relieve stress by making their owner exercise (walks) and by offering companionship.(3) Cats, with their calm purring, provide relaxation and decreased anxiety. Small mammals require regular care which creates stress relieving routines giving you structure and purpose. (3) Birds with their beautiful songs bring you closer to nature.

Young children who have pets can be taught how to care responsibly and lovingly for their animal. For instance, if they have guinea pigs, they can be the person responsible for giving them food, water, and for cleaning their cage.

If they have a dog, they can walk the dog when they are home.

If they are stressed at school, or have worries and preoccupations, they can open up to their pets. The animal will always be a wonderful confidant ready to listen without judgement. (4) The child can even cuddle with them.

Studies have found that children with special needs, in particular autism, benefit from the companionship of a dog. It lowers their anxiety. Both autistic children and children with ADHD are able to socialize more with their peers when they have the support of a dog. (5)

If the idea of owning a pet does not appeal to you, there is still a solution: you could volunteer to work in a shelter or do pet sitting. That way, you get the benefits of having an animal without the obligations and the cost.

In conclusion, owning a pet might be seen as an additional chore by someone who is overstressed, but in fact the benefits when it comes to stress largely outweigh the drawbacks.

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1. https://newsinhealth.nih.gov/2018/02/power-pets
2. https://www.husson.edu/online/blog/2022/07/benefits-of-animal-assisted-therapy
3. https://hrvethospice.com/blog/pets-mental-health-benefits/

4. https://mhanational.org/resources/how-pets-help-ease-loneliness-and-social-isolation/

5. https://autismcentersofpittsburgh.com/the-power-of-pets-for-kids-with-autism-adhd-anxiety-and-depression/