Why owning dogs, cats is good for your mental health
06 Jul 2025

A new study has shown that owning a dog or cat could help preserve some brain functions as we age.

The research found that having these pets is linked to slower cognitive decline in humans.

However, not all pets provide the same benefits—fish and birds were not associated with any significant impact on cognitive health.

Different pets offer different benefits
Pet impact

The study found dog owners tend to have better memory, both immediate and delayed. Meanwhile, cat owners experience a slower decline in verbal fluency. These findings highlight the different ways these two popular pets can benefit their owners' cognitive health as they age.

A look at the study
Research details

The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, was led by Adriana Rostekova from the University of Geneva.

It analyzed the data from eight waves of the Survey of Health and Retirement in Europe over an 18-year period.

The research specifically looked at how owning different types of pets—dogs, cats, birds, and fish—affected cognitive decline among adults aged 50 years or older.

Not all pets provide same benefits
Pet comparison

Rostekova's research found significant differences between the species when it comes to their impact on cognitive health.

She speculated that the overall pattern of pet ownership may be driven mainly by having a cat or dog, as fish and birds had no meaningful link to changes in cognitive decline.

This suggests that not all pets provide the same level of benefit for brain health as we age.

Why dogs, cats are more beneficial
Cognitive links

Rostekova also suggested that the short lifespan of fish or birds may limit the emotional connection one can develop with these pets.

She further speculated that the interaction with dogs and cats could offer unique cognitive stimulation, which may not be as pronounced in other, less demanding pets.

This could explain why dog or cat ownership is more strongly linked to slower cognitive decline than bird or fish ownership.