Having a feline companion can be very beneficial for someone dealing with depression or anxiety. Cats can provide unconditional love, comfort, routine and a sense of purpose that can all help lift a person’s mood and outlook. When considering getting a cat to help with depression, it’s important to select the right breed and temperament to suit your needs and lifestyle. In this article, we’ll explore some of the best cats for helping with depression symptoms and improving mental health.
Key Factors When Selecting a Cat for Depression
There are a few key factors to keep in mind when choosing a cat breed to help with depression and anxiety:
Temperament
Look for breeds known for being exceptionally affectionate, calm, social and attached to their owners. These personality traits help the cat be a comforting, soothing presence.
Energy Level
Lower energy cats are often better for depression, as they are happy lounging around the house and sitting in your lap, providing a sense of companionship. High energy cats require more activity and stimulation.
Grooming Needs
It’s best to choose low-maintenance cats for depression that don’t require extensive grooming. This makes care easier when motivation is low.
Vocalization
Some cats are very vocal and meow frequently, while others are quieter. Take your sound sensitivity into account when selecting a breed.
Best Cat Breeds for Depression
Here are some of the top cat breeds to consider for helping with depression, anxiety and loneliness:
Ragdoll
- Known for being extremely affectionate, gentle and seeking constant human interaction
- Relaxed temperament and low activity levels
- Love being held and carried around
- Have a tendency to follow owners from room to room
- Sweet personality makes them ideal ESA cats
Persian
- Calm, quiet cats that thrive on gentle handling and being lap cats
- Relatively low energy and minimal exercise needs
- Sweet, docile personalities
- Thick, lush coats require daily grooming
- Tend to be very attached to their owners
Scottish Fold
- Known for being exceptionally loyal and bonding tightly with owners
- Calm temperament and moderate activity levels
- Playful but not overly energetic
- Love attention and being petted
- Their owl-like folded ears give them a sweet, unique look
Siamese
- Bond strongly to their favorite person
- People-oriented and highly affectionate
- Relatively quiet meows and vocalizations
- Intelligent and can be trained for routines
- Athletic and energetic, needs modest daily exercise
Sphynx
- Extremely social and attached to owners
- Often dog-like in following owners around the home
- Muscular bodies make them feel soft and warm to hold
- Don’t shed so won’t aggravate allergies
- Need frequent bathing and nail trims
Rex
- Curly coats make them endearing and cute
- Happy to be lap cats and handled frequently
- Intelligent and can learn routines
- Soft-spoken meows and purrs
- Moderate shedding of their plush coats
The Ideal Cat for Severe Depression
For those with more severe depression or extremely low motivation and activity levels, the rag doll breed tends to be the very best option. Here’s an overview of why:
- Extremely docile and relaxed temperament
- Love to be held for long periods
- Affectionate and attentive to owners
- Lower maintenance grooming
- Live long lifespans of 15-20 years
- Eager to please and easily trained
- Quiet meows and vocalizations
Ragdolls seem almost designed to be comforting companions for those needing emotional support during bouts of depression or chronic low moods. Their laid-back personality helps create a soothing, hypnotic environment ideal for de-stressing.
Cats vs. Other Pets for Depression
How do cats compare to dogs and other pets in regards to helping with depression? Here’s an overview:
| Pet | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Cat | Lower maintenance care | Less enthusiastic greetings |
| Dog | Eager to please owners | Require more exercise |
| Rabbit | Soft, calming to stroke | Need space to roam |
| Bird | Beautiful songs and colors | Require specialized care |
As seen, cats are generally lower maintenance than dogs in terms of required activity levels and care. Their relaxed vibe and soft fur makes them ideal for stroking and lap sitting to provide comfort. Dogs can potentially get a person up and moving a bit more with exercise, but cats are less demanding overall. Small pets like rabbits and birds have appeal, but more complicated habitat and care needs.
Preparing Your Home for a Cat
If you decide to get a cat to help with depression symptoms, be sure your home is prepared with everything your new feline friend will need! Essential items include:
- Spacious cat condo with scratching posts
- Cozy cat beds in multiple rooms
- Litter boxes and shovel
- Water and food bowls
- Variety of interactive cat toys
- Scratching boards and pads
- Cat treats for positive reinforcement
- Grooming tools like brushes and nail clippers
Having all gear set up in advance helps your new cat adjust quickly and happily in their new home with you!
Caring for Your Cat’s Health
While caring for a cat can lift your spirits, it’s vital to keep up with your cat’s health needs as well. Be sure to:
- Feed high quality food on a consistent schedule
- Keep litter boxes extremely clean
- Brush cats with long fur regularly to prevent matting
- Trim nails every 2-3 weeks
- Schedule annual vet checkups and vaccines
- Use flea and tick prevention medications
- Spay/neuter at an appropriate age
- Keep emergency contact info handy
Staying on top of these care tasks keeps your beloved cat happy and healthy for many years of companionship and cuddles!
Choosing the Right Breeder or Rescue
When obtaining your cat, be very selective in choosing only ethical, responsible breeders or rescues. Warning signs of bad breeders include:
- Keeping cats in overcrowded, dirty conditions
- Breeding cats at every heat cycle for maximum profits
- Selling cats without health checks or records
- Pressuring buyers to take kittens too young
- Can’t provide info on parents’ health or pedigree
Quality breeders do health testing, carefully plan litters, socialize kittens, and vet potential owners. Adopting from rescues also saves a needy cat! Avoid pet stores that source cats unethically.
Introducing Your New Cat Slowly
When bringing your new cat home, introduce them to the environment gradually to reduce anxiety:
- Set them up in a small room at first, with food, bedding, litter box
- Spend time in the room chatting softly and playing with string toys
- After a few days, allow access to another room
- Gradually give access to the full home over 2-3 weeks
- Keep introductions to children or other pets very slow and supervised
Taking it slowly helps your cat gain confidence and bond strongly with you.
Understanding Cat Communication
Cats communicate in many subtle, non-verbal ways. Knowing how to interpret your cat’s body language and vocalizations helps strengthen your bond:
- Slow blinking shows contentment and trust
- Purring signals happiness and comfort
- Ears back indicates anger or agitation
- Swishing tail can mean annoyance
- Kneading is a sign of contentment
- Chirping is an excited greeting
- Yowling or growling means something is wrong
Understanding these cues allows you to respond appropriately to your cat’s needs and emotions.
Providing Proper Cat Stimulation
In addition to affection, be sure to provide your cat with proper stimulation and enrichment:
- Regular play sessions with interactive toys
- Teaching tricks like high fives or sitting
- Cat towers near sunny windows for lounging
- Food puzzles or mazes for mental stimulation
- Changing up toys to prevent boredom
- Catnip or cat grass for sensory stimulation
- Positive reinforcement with treats
Adequate physical and mental stimulation prevents unwanted behaviors like scratching furniture.
Involving Your Cat in Your Self-Care Routine
Here are some great tips for involving your cat in daily self-care routines to lift your mood:
- Schedule cuddle sessions at the same relaxing time daily, like before bed
- Brush your cat for 5 minutes while practicing mindful breathing
- Have your cat sit with you while journaling or having tea
- Toss toys for light exercise together
- Sit outside with your cat to get fresh air and sunshine
- Take soothing cat naps together
Integrating your cat into relaxation routines creates special bonding time.
Signs Your Cat Is Helping Your Mental Health
Notice if any of the following signs emerge indicating your cat is having a positive impact:
- Having more motivation and energy
- Feeling calmer and less anxious day-to-day
- Experiencing less episodes of depression
- Getting better sleep at night
- Eating meals more regularly
- Going out more and being social
- Having an easier time concentrating
- Feeling less lonely and isolated
Seeing improvements like these highlights the benefits of cat companionship. Keep notes in a journal to track your progress.
When to Seek Additional Help
While adopting a cat can significantly help improve depression, anxiety and overall mental health, kitties should not replace professional mental health support and treatment. If your symptoms are severe or you experience any suicidal thoughts, immediately reach out to a doctor, therapist or crisis line for help. Ongoing talk therapy, medication and healthy lifestyle changes are also critical parts of managing more serious depression along with your furry friend’s unconditional love and snuggles.
Conclusion
Cats can be wonderful emotional support animals providing comfort, routine and companionship that ease depression. Breeds like the Ragdoll are ideal for their exceptionally affectionate, calm temperaments. Preparing your home, slowly introducing your new cat, learning communication cues, providing proper care and stimulation, and involving your feline in self-care routines creates a strong bond. While cats can improve mood and motivation, ongoing professional mental health treatment is still needed for severe depression. With the right cat by your side providing daily doses of furry love, you’ll be well on your way to brighter days ahead.