Our pets, our veritable therapists

Hearing a car purr triggers the production of serotonin, the famous "happy hormone", which calms us almost instantly. And the simple act of looking into a dog’s eyes triggers the secretion of oxytocin, another happy hormone, in humans. Photo: AFP

In the collective imagination, dogs and cats have nothing in common. Yet these prized pets can both contribute to our well-being, albeit in different ways.

Cats are highly compatible with our lifestyles. They’re often self-sufficient, discreet and much more independent than their arch rivals, dogs. But that’s not all: Sharing your daily life with a feline has many advantages.