Do you remember the first few months of the Covid-19 pandemic when everyone in America was desperately trying to get a pet? Shelters had long waiting lists of people who wanted to adopt dogs and cats to cure their loneliness. I know because I was one of those eager people who sought to mitigate my isolation by adopting a cute cat. I remember scouring the internet for weeks looking for any available kitten in a thirty mile radius. After several weeks, I finally located a free litter through the Next Door app and ran over to claim one of the kittens–which is how I got my Covid kitty.

That kitten, who eased into my new home with lots of affection (and a few fleas), was one of the highlights of my covid days. The love I gave and received from that cat seriously helped me pull through the hardest days of the pandemic. And I’m not alone in that. ASPCA says that an estimated 23 million Americans adopted animals during the pandemic. But why? Besides a few belly rubs, what exactly does having a pet in the house do for people?

Here are four ways pets can have a positive impact on your life.

1. Decreases Stress

One major impact of having a pet is that when you’re having a bad day, stressed out by your family, boss, or friends, you can sit in the quiet of your home and snuggle with your furry friend. There are studies that have found that petting an animal can increase oxytocin, which is the hormone that leads to good, happy feelings. 

2. Eases Loneliness

If you’ve ever lived alone, you know that coming home to an empty house can be painful. While there’s no substitution for human connection, a soft and squishy cat or maybe a rabbit, can allow you to ignore the feelings of loneliness. Right now in the U.S, loneliness remains an epidemic. Pets can be a temporary bandage to this issue. You can talk to your pet (though you won’t get much response) and you can establish a routine for you and your pet which allows for a more structured home life. Having a fulfilling routine when you wake up and go to bed involving your pet can increase overall contentment. 

3. Unconditional Love

Humans may come and go, but a pet is forever ( or at least until they pass away). Pets don’t fight with you when you hog the bathroom and they don’t care if you’re in a bad mood when you get home from work. They’ll still come up to you and give you lots of cuddles. Though pets do require attention, money spent, and extra care devoted to maintaining their health, they are easy to please. They will always love you (especially if you give them treats!)

4. The Prophet SWS Loved Cats

It’s a beautiful thing to mimic and follow in the footsteps of our beloved Prophet Muhammad SWS. The day I found out that the Prophet SWS loved cats, was one of the moments that solidified my decision to adopt one. There are several narrations about how the Prophet SWS interacted with cats demonstrating his affection for cats. 

Dawud ibn Salih ibn Dinar at-Tammar quoted his mother as saying that her mistress sent her with some pudding (harisah) to Aisha who was offering prayer. She made a sign to me to place it down. A cat came and ate some of it, but when Aisha finished her prayer, she ate from the place where the cat had eaten. She stated: The Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) said: It is not unclean: it is one of those who go round among you. She added: I saw the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) performing ablution from the water left over by the cat.

[Sunan Abi Dawud 76]