I have lived with several Zen masters—all of them cats.


~Eckhart Tolle


cat purrs, they discovered these reso- nate at 25 and 50 Hertz (Hz), the two low frequencies that best promote bone growth and fracture healing. Purrs also have a strong harmonic near 100 Hz, a level some orthopedic doctors and physi- cal therapists use for ultrasound therapy. A child under a year old living with


a cat is only half as likely to develop al- lergies to pets, ragweed, grass and dust mites, much as inoculations guard against disease and boost immune systems. Te study, published in Clinical & Experi- mental Allergy, followed children from infancy to age 18. French researchers discovered


autistic children age 5 and older that had a cat were more willing to share, offer comfort to others and show empathy.


Sharing cat responsibilities tight- ened family bonds. Cats like routine, especially


for meals, making them good pets for Alzheimer’s patients that may lose track of time. Many people like the


added warmth of a nearby


sleeping cat at night. Fiſteen minutes of exercise, followed by a snack, will put kitty on the owner’s sleep schedule.


Cats are Low-Maintenance Overall, cats are self-sufficient animals, requiring only love, food and a spot- less litter box. Self-cleaning, most cats don’t require regular trips to the groomer for haircuts and a bath. Scratching posts keep nails short. A snack, play- time or welcoming puddle of sunshine persuades kitty that it’s naptime. “In rescue, we say dogs are


toddlers and cats are teenagers.


Cats live without constant oversight,” says jme Tomas, co-founder of Motley Zoo Animal Rescue, in Redmond, Washington. “Tey’re good pets for busy people. Adopt two at the same time so they bond and aren’t lonely.”


Cats are Eco-Friendly A New Zealand study reports that cats have a lower carbon footprint than dogs, comparing dogs to a Hummer and cats to a Volkswagen Golf. Dogs eat more beef, incurring red meat’s huge footprint. “Because cats eat less than most dogs overall, it saves money, too,” says Gilbreath. Everyone needs someone to


care for and love. With about 77 million cats living in U.S. house-


holds and more in shelters or rescues, there’s plenty of people- and planet- friendly love to be found.


Connect with freelance writer Sandra Murphy at StLouis


FreelanceWriter@mindspring.com.


May 2018 35


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