Progress in the treatment of cancer in cats and dogs is likely to benefit humans, scientists said yesterday. Forms of bone cancerinvariably fatal in young men and women are now being successfully treated in animals (Our Science Correspondent writes). The researchers are using an anti-cancer compound, PTMC, which in some cases has enabled dogs, cats and horses suffering from bone tumours to live for up to two years after diagnosis, according to Mr Brian Singleton, director of the Animal Health Trust, which funds the research into the diseases.

1. Feral cats can minimize rodent problems. While cats cannot hunt rats and mice into extinction, they can keep their populations in check and discourage new rodents from moving into the area. Often feral cats fill in a gap in the current ecosystem. For example bob cats or lynx used to live up and down the East Coast but were hunted ruthlessly and driven away by development. Feral cats are similar in size and behavior to these native feline predators and help to control the same species of small prey animals. 2. Many people enjoy watching feral cats and observing animals has been shown to lower blood pressure in medical studies. 3. People who help to care for feral cats by feeding them and taking them to the vet enjoy many benefits. Often cat caretakers are elderly and live alone, a population at risk for depression, loneliness, and isolation. Cats relieve these conditions and often bring a sense of happiness and purpose to people who help them. Just as companion animals have been shown extend life expectancies, lower blood pressure, and relieve stress, caring for feral cats improves the health of their caretakers. 4. Individuals who cannot take on the full time commitment of adopting a companion animal can participate in programs to help feral cats. This provides a viable alternative to irresponsibly purchasing an animal one is not prepared to care for. 5. An established, stable, vaccinated, and sterilized colony of feral cats will deter other stray and feral cats from moving into the area. This actually decreases the risk that residents will encounter an unvaccinated cat, and will virtually eliminate problem behaviors like fighting and spraying.

Good for body Some of the studies show that owning a pet can have very real physical benefits for their owners. These include: * Pet owners have lower blood pressure. It has long been known that the act of stroking a pet can reduce blood pressure. But a study at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that the beneficial effects continue even when the pet is not present. The study, which looked at a group of stockbrokers with hypertension, concluded that just owning a pet can help lower blood pressure -and keep it lower, even in stressful settings. * Pet owners have lower blood cholesterol levels. A study of more than 5,400 people conducted by Australia's Baker Medical Research Institute found that pet owners had not only lower blood pressure, but also lower levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides in comparison to the non-pet owners, reducing the risk of heart disease. * Pet owners have a higher survival rate after serious illness. Two studies have found that heart attack patients who owned the pets were significantly more likely to be alive a year after they were discharged from the hospital than those who didn't. What's more, a study conducted at City Hospital in New York found that the presence of a pet affected survival rate even more than having a spouse or friends. Patients in hospitals or nursing homes who have regular visits from their pets have shown to be more receptive to treatment. The need to care for their pet gives them reason to recover and the will to live. * Pet owners have fewer doctors' visits. Studies conducted by Cambridge University in England and at the University of California at Los Angeles have found that pet ownership corresponds to overall improved health and fewer medical care visits. A study of Medicare patients also found that seniors who own dogs go to the doctor less than those who do not. Even the most highly-stressed older dog owners in the study had 21 % fewer physician's visits than non-dog ow

I have always talked to my cats. I say their name when I see them, when I pet them and when I feed them. They know their names and come when called. The human voice is calming to a cat. Some cats will respond when talked to, others just look at me, but at least I have their attention. I've had other cats that would answer every question with different sounds. Since I don't speak "cat" it was impossible to understand, though. Cats can remember us by our voices as well. One of our cats named "Graceful Mowser" was sold to some friends of ours and a year and a half later had kittens. They called her "Mouse". We were invited to see the kittens, but the momma kept standing over them so we couldn't see them. I talked to her, "Hi Gracie, what beautiful babies" and she stood back as if she was proud and looked at me intently. I always called her "Gracie". When other people came to see the kittens she still tried to cover them. Later, whenever we stopped by, Gracie would come to greet us as soon as she heard my voice. Otherwise she was naturally shy and would hide whenever anyone came in the house.

Pets reduce stress - studies have shown that simply petting your cat or dog can lower your heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure and cholesterol levels, a great benefit of pet ownership. Companion pets help safeguard against loneliness and depression - Who can resist returning the affection you receive from a pet. They love you unconditionally; well, at least dogs do! They are always happy to see you and make you feel good even when you've had a bad day. More benefits of having a pet are... Pets encourage us to get out and exercise - What better way to get exercise than to share a walk with your dog or a play outing to the park. If you have a cat or an older small dog, you can still take them for a walk in a pet stroller. Another benefit of owning a pet is... Helping us meet people - Almost everyone loves animals and many people may want to meet your dog or cat during your outings with your pet. Those times give us an opportunity to increase our circle of friends. The next benefit of a pet is... A dog or cat will help children's self esteem and social development - pets are accepting and give positive reinforcement to children. Having a pet will benefit your child's development as it promotes learning how to be responsible. They will listen to all your stories without fail - even if your human friends get tired from time to time of what you have to say, your pet will always think you "look great", will never argue with you, and will never tell you they are too tired to talk. This is one of the greatest benefits of pets that people don't recognize! Pets will make you laugh, the best stress reliever in the world - your new family pet will provide many hours of amusement for your family as you "explore" your world together. What a wonderful benefit of having a pet in your home! Another benefit of pet ownership is they help older people feel less isolated - They lessen loss for older people who are on their own and help to

Cat owners "appeared to have a lower rate of dying from heart attacks" over 10 years of follow-up compared to feline-free folk, Qureshi said. Cat owners "appeared to have a lower rate of dying from heart attacks" over 10 years of follow-up compared to feline-free folk, Qureshi said.

Owning cat can provide psychological and physical health benefits, particularly for children, seniors, and those with medical conditions or disabilities. Cat ownership helps children to learn responsibility and develop a greater capacity for empathy at an early age. In addition, pets provide unconditional love and acceptance, which can help children through difficult times. Cats also offer protection against certain physical conditions. If adopted before or shortly after a child is born, owning a cat reduces the risk of developing animal allergies, asthma, and possibly other illnesses as well. One study found that children living with pets were 13-18% less likely to miss school due to illness than children without pets. Researchers who measured the salivary immunologobulin levels of young pet owners found that their immune function was less likely to be in the sub-normal range than that of non-pet-owners. Additionally, cats can provide particular therapeutic benefits for children with conditions such as autism, especially those who suffer from motor coordination problems. and cat owners tend to have lower triglycerides, which reduces their risk of developing and dying from cardiovascular disease. Pet ownership has also been shown to boost the levels of mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin. As such, pets can reduce feelings of loneliness, anxiety, depression, and other negative states. Elderly people are particularly likely to benefit from the health-protective effects of cat ownership. Those with cats are less inclined to suffer heart attacks, their blood pressure is lower on average, they report less tension and stress, and they live longer overall. A University of Minnesota study of 4,435 people found that those who did not own cats were 30-40% more likely to die of cardiovascular disease, even if they owned dogs.

Owning a cat could reduce your risk of a heart attack by nearly one third, researchers told delegates of the American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference in New Orleans last week. The finding provoked a mixed reaction from heart experts and veterinarians.

Cats love to chase (and sometimes kill) mice. That's a given, and something that most people do not find too alarming. In fact, people in many countries still utilize "barn cats" to dispatch unwanted rodents - a win-win situation for all parties (except the rodents). The cats have plenty of food available, and the farmer is assured of grain bins undisturbed by hungry mice.

Cats provide many benefits to humans. They comfort us and they give us companionship.

Does your cat seem tense and stiff? Maybe even a little crabby? If so, consider giving him a massage. A properly performed massage can help release pent up stress and negative energy, resulting in a calm and more peaceful pet. The sensation of simple touch of the fur (skin) to the manipulation of muscles has shown to enhance the human animal bond, and sometimes even establish it. For the inactive and older pet, as well for the young or active pet, the owner can provide a gentle comforting touch. This helps provide security and calmness and will aid in relieving stress. Be aware that at home massage is different than the massage done by a certified massage therapist. These trained people can provide a more thorough massage, incorporating a variety of techniques.

All cats love to play, and playing is an important part of any kittens development. Playing is how cats learn the important lessons of attack and defense. They may look cute when attacking a ball or piece of metal foil, but they are actually learning or practicing the art of stalking, chasing and pouncing. Cats need to play all through their lives, so don't stop playing with him just because he reaches adulthood. A cat that is played with regularly is more likely to be happy, content and healthy and less likely to suffer from behavioural and weight problems. Just like humans, a cat who remains ative in mind and body can remain healthy and alert well into their old age.

Older people often lack social networks and recreational opportunities, and having a cat on their laps can be an immense boost to their health and happiness. Studies show that pets not only foster feelings of love and security but can also help lower a person's blood pressure, heart rate, and stress level. For seniors, these little benefits add up to an impressive advantage. A Canadian study of nearly 1,000 adults age 65 and over found that pet owners were more physically fit and less likely to suffer a decline in health in the course of a year. The trend held up even after researchers adjusted for the fact that pet owners tended to be younger and more active than non owners. Interestingly, cat owners enjoyed the same rewards as dog owners, strong evidence that pets can improve your health even if they aren't constantly begging for walks.

Pets are affected by secondhand smoke. Your cat could get cancer from breathing through the haze of cigarette smoke.

# Senior citizens who own pets actually need less medical attention than those that do not. # Pet owners typically have lower blood pressure than non-pet owners, and one study actually proved that with as little as 10 minutes with a pet can lower blood pressure significantly. # Pet owners have lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels than non-owners. # Pet owners have overall better physical health due to exercise with their pets. 70 percent of families surveyed reported an increase in family happiness and fun after acquiring a pet. # Children exposed to pets during their first year of life have a lower frequency of some allergies and asthma. # Children who suffer from autism have more pro social behaviors if they own a pet. # Owning a pet - especially a dog - helps children in families better adjust to the serious illness or death of a parent. # Pets decrease feelings of loneliness and isolation in their owners. # Having a pet may decrease heart attack mortality rates by 3 percent, which translates into 30,000 lives saved annually. # Positive self-esteem in children is enhanced if the child owns a pet. # Children owning pets are more likely to be involved in sports, hobbies, clubs or even chores. # Victims of AIDS who own a pet report less depression and reduced stress levels. # Many groups take therapy pets to visit residents of nursing homes, and the experience has shown to be a very positive one for both the pet and the individual. # The reverse is also true - the life of a pet is usually enhanced if its owner cares for it properly.

Many articles present pet ownership as a key to heart health, social support, and long life. In one study last year, researchers at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that married couples who owned pets had a lower heart rate and blood pressure whether at rest or when undergoing stressful tests than those without pets.

Children can learn a great deal from owning a cat, but only if an adult models responsible behavior for the child.

Cats, too, have been useful models for research on aging. Their relatively long life span compared with mice and rats makes it possible to observe the slower and more subtle effects of aging. Cats are very important subjects in cancer research. Leukemia is perhaps the most infamous of the diseases shared by cats and people. In cats, it is caused by an AIDS-like retrovirus. A recently discovered vaccine against feline leukemia may act as a model for an AIDS vaccine. Mammary cancer is also common in the cat, and many features of feline mammary cancer resemble the human breast cancer which, among the human cancers, is the greatest killer of women.

# Among human cardiac patients, having a pet is correlated with increased likelihood of one-year survival. # Interacting with pets helps improve blood flow patterns in humans with heart failure. # Pet visits in a hospital setting cause patients to report less pain. # Hospitalized children report that animal-assisted therapy motivates them to get better.

Researchers, acting as "genetic paleontologists," recently discovered that the X and Y chromosomes of cats and humans are remarkably alike The order of these genes on the sex chromosomes of cats more closely resembles that of humans than of any other mammal studied so far, the team reports in a recent issue of Genome Research. Genes on X chromosomes of cats and people are lined up in the same way.