mypetfriends.co.uk

Children who have pet cats are more able to understand medical procedures such as X-rays, injections and surgery, new research shows.  A study carried out by health psychologist Dr June McNicholas shows that children aged between 6 and 7 have a better understanding of health and illness if their families own a cat.
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The research project, carried out for charity Cats Protection, found that:

• 78 per cent of cat owning children understood surgery, compared with just 37 per cent of non-cat owning children

• 79 per cent of cat owning children understood X-Rays, compared with 61 per cent of non-cat owning children

• 66 per cent of cat owning children understood injections and vaccinations, compared with 41 per cent of non-cat owning children.

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The findings also show that children who live in households with cats have a better knowledge of healthy eating and the importance of exercise.
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Dr McNicholas said: “These results show that children who have cats gain a much greater awareness of health issues, often gained through their involvement in cat care routines including visits to the vet surgery.
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“For many children, the health treatment of a pet cat may be more thoroughly explained to them than any treatment they, or a close family member, may receive from human medics.
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“It goes to show that cats have a very valuable role in teaching children important health lessons which will stay with them for life.”
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Director of Veterinary Services for Cats Protection, Maggie Roberts BVM&S MRCVS, said: “These results are fascinating and show that not only do cats provide great companionship for children, they also help children understand very important issues.
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“By tagging along when a family cat is taken to the vets, children are exposed to medical issues which they otherwise may be sheltered from if the patient were human.
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“Most vets recognise the strong bonds between children and their pet cats and will take time and care to explain the reasons behind procedures such as vaccinations and neutering.”
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Cats Protection is the UK’s largest cat charity, rehoming 52,000 cats every year through a network of 252 volunteer-run branches and 29 adoption centres.
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The charity has around 7,000 cats in its care at any one time and desperately needs to find loving homes. To find out more about adopting a Cats Protection cat, please visit www.cats.org.uk or telephone the charity’s national Helpline on 08702 099 099.

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