--- title: Healthcare: The Best Pets and Animals For Your Health description: Animal friends can reduce stress, protect your heart and even help you lose weight canonical: https://time.com/3960787/best-pets-health/ author: TIME article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-16T15:16:35.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-05-11T05:02:27.329Z article:section: Health og:title: The Best Pets For Your Health og:description: Animal friends can reduce stress, protect your heart and help you lose weight og:url: https://time.com/3960787/best-pets-health/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt222875860e992270/69885b27cd68481bca0a0d3a/cat-owner-kissing.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1200 og:image:height: 675 og:image:alt: cat-owner-kissing og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: The Best Pets For Your Health twitter:description: Animal friends can reduce stress, protect your heart and help you lose weight twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt222875860e992270/69885b27cd68481bca0a0d3a/cat-owner-kissing.jpg?branch=production&width=1080&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # The Best Pets For Your Health by [Susannah Felts / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Susannah Felts / Health.com Jul 16, 2015 3:16 PM UTC  Beautiful young woman kissing a cute striped cat Beautiful young woman kissing a cute striped catGetty Images by [Susannah Felts / Health.com](https://time.com/author/health-com/) ## Susannah Felts / Health.com Jul 16, 2015 3:16 PM UTC Our [pets](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20904688,00.html) aren’t just our best friends; they’re members of the family. While their companionship can bring us so much joy, pets are also good for our health, according to a wealth of studies—sometimes in unexpected ways. And the more attached you are to your critter, the stronger the protective benefits may be. Check out the [top animals](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20307349,00.html) that can lend a helping paw, hoof or wing to your health. **#1 Pet with benefits: Dogs**“The breadth and depth of what [dogs](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20841292,00.html) do for our happiness and longevity is pretty remarkable,” says Marty Becker, DVM, author of _Chicken Soup for the Pet Lover’s Soul._ Studies link [dog ownership](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20859592,00.html) to lower blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, plus a reduced risk of heart disease. A 2011 review in the _Journal of Physical Activity and Health_ found that dog owners are 34 percent more likely to meet their exercise requirements (based on the federal guidelines) than nonowners. There are also the mood-enhancing perks. “Simply petting a dog is like a spa treatment,” Dr. Becker says. “after just a minute or two, you have this massive release of positive neurochemicals like dopamine and serotonin.” extra bonus: kids who grow up in homes with dogs are less likely to have allergies. **#2 Pet with benefits: Cats**No need to hiss at this second-place finish, [cat lovers](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20864529,00.html). You’re probably getting the same stress relief as dog owners; there are just fewer studies to prove it. In one, when stockbrokers with [high blood pressure](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20488689,00.html) were given the choice of adopting a cat or a dog, both animals significantly lowered their owners’ stress responses. And cats earned a few more points toward a healthy-pet pedigree when researchers at the University of Minnesota found that people who had never owned a cat had a 40 percent higher risk of death from heart attack than cat owners. **#3 Pet with benefits: Fish**Want a little dose of [calm](http://www.health.com/health/video/0,,20912167,00.html)? “Watching fish, like listening to music, can distract you in a good way,” Dr. Becker says. Numerous studies show that spending time in nature improves well-being, and an aquarium lets you bring that healing action indoors. In fact, one study revealed that for patients about to undergo dental surgery, gazing at a fish tank for 20 minutes was as effective at lowering stress levels as being hypnotized. **#4 Pet with benefits: Birds**Human companions for ages, birds have only recently been recognized for their healing properties, says Gregg Takashima, DVM, president of the American Association of Human-Animal Bond Veterinarians. Like fish, these small space friendly creatures offer “nature on demand”—a relaxing or even [energizing](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20911513,00.html) touch of wild beauty in your home. And they provide the same interactive pleasures that make cats and dogs so popular. **#5 Pet with benefits: Horses**A list of healthy pets wouldn’t be complete without horses. Sure, their size and strength can make them a bit intimidating—but therein lies their healing power. “By gaining control of a creature so much larger than you, you can gain control of a larger problem in life,” Dr. Becker explains. That’s why you’ll find horses used in hundreds of animal-assisted therapy programs. Working with horses can even reduce kids’ [stress](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20905719,00.html) hormones, according to a 2014 study. And the muscle control horseback riding requires makes it an excellent toner and balance builder for just about anyone. [_This article originally appeared on Health.com_](http://www.health.com/health/article/0,,20935130,00.html) _More from Health.com:_ * [12 Ways Pets Improve Your Health](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20810305,00.html?xid=time) * [12 Ways to Beat Cat Allergies](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20576538,00.html?xid=time) * [Healthy Steps for a Cleaner Pet](http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20588569,00.html?xid=time) ### 10 Puppies That Look Even More Adorable Underwater  Pringles & Pickme Seth Casteel  Monty Seth Casteel  Popsicle Seth Casteel  Ginger Seth Casteel  Ruger Seth Casteel  Rolley Seth Casteel  Iggy Seth Casteel  Reason Seth Casteel  Corey Seth Casteel ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3960787/best-pets-health/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3960787/best-pets-health/"},"headline":"The Best Pets For Your Health","datePublished":"2015-07-16T15:16:35.000Z","dateModified":"2026-05-11T05:02:27.329Z","description":"Animal friends can reduce stress, protect your heart and even help you lose weight","url":"https://time.com/3960787/best-pets-health/","keywords":["Mental Health/Psychology","animals","Dogs","cats","birds","Healthcare","fish","horses"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt222875860e992270/69885b27cd68481bca0a0d3a/cat-owner-kissing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Susannah Felts / Health.com"}],"articleSection":"Health","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt222875860e992270/69885b27cd68481bca0a0d3a/cat-owner-kissing.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"cat-owner-kissing","caption":"cat-owner-kissing","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/health/","name":"Health"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/mental-healthpsychology/","name":"Mental Health/Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3960787/best-pets-health/","name":"The Best Pets For Your Health"}}]}] ```