It seems that it wasn’t every one of the animals was happy about being at home 24/7 at the beginning of the COVID-19 epidemic.
An investigation by James Cook University researchers in Australia found that the lockdowns in the country caused “many cats to be put out or disoriented because of” their owners being at home every day. The study’s researcher, psychologist, Jessica Olivia, told ABC News (in Australia but in contrast to that of the U.S. network) that around half of the owners in the study felt that their cats were upset.
“We received some feedback that cats were being put out while their owners were at home 24/7 and occupying their space,” she explained to the news website.
Although it’s understandable, that wasn’t the case for all cats. Some seemed more content to have their owners present and were even playful. Some were more demanding and demanding. In the end, most pet owners decided that their dogs were happy to be in their homes and with their owners, she explained.
Researchers conducted a survey of over 400 cat and dog owners for the study, in an attempt to determine how pets’ presence impacted Australians’ “lockdown” experiences, and whether it affected their owners’ loneliness, mindfulness, or depression.
It may seem simple, but the researchers discovered that pets do help to combat loneliness. The study states that those who participated in the survey said that cats and dogs provided them with a person to hug and talk to. The dogs in particular were helpful in battling loneliness. Another benefit of owning a pet!
However, the researcher’s belief that pet owners are more attentive–and have the ability to pay an eye to what’s taking place–wasn’t confirmed by the study.
Our final thought? Allow your pet to be who they are! If your dog or cat appears to be agitated because of your presence, don’t be offended if they wander away or don’t pay attention. They’ll be back in no time. After all, you are the only one who has opposable thumbs. That’s the ability to eat and other treats.
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