5 Reasons why we should all spend more time with animals

For many of us, life can be a struggle just to put food on the table. Why, then, do millions of us continue to fork out money to keep and look after pets? At first it does not seem so obvious, but company in the presence of animals can vastly improve our quality of life, making the economic sting worth it. Here are five reasons why we should all spend more time with animals:

My furry friends

Animals reveal a little about our selves

Philosophers have always wondered about the human connection with animals, but it wasn’t until the late twentieth century that a new branch of evolutionary biology—called ‘evolutionary genealogy’ emerged to really shine a light on our understanding.

By analysing DNA, we can tell how closely related certain organisms are to us, or how distant they are. For example: a chimpanzee, our closest living relative, is only 2 per cent different in its DNA to humans. That means that, for everything that makes humans so special, it is all there in that 2 per cent difference.

In short, the picture of evolutionary genealogy has allowed us to “paint a picture” so to speak, on our place in the natural world with the animals. Such an understanding humbles us and makes us feel relaxed.

Animals help our mothering instinct

It is often thought that women have a natural affinity for some of the more dependent animals as a way of testing the waters into motherhood. The pets that we keep that require our constant affection, feeding; nurturing; and love, are often great “test trials” for the mothering instinct. After all, if someone cannot look after an animal, what could possibly make them capable of looking after an infant child?

We see ourselves in animals

Human beings are ‘mammals’; that means we share biological factors with other mammals that make us all, together, unique, such as mammary glands.

When we look at other mammals, we can often ‘relate’ to them more than other animals—this is known as the ‘mammalian connection’. Mammals, especially young mammals, have characteristics we can see in ourselves and our own children. Factors like playfulness, curiosity, vulnerability, and even clumsiness.

These factors often bring us immense joy; much like with the first point mentioned above, this joy ‘reminds us of who we are’ and humbles us more.

Is it a coincidence that we find mammals cute and cuddly, and less so with crocodiles, and even disgust with insects? No—the further we move away from those ‘related’ to us, the less familiarity we have with them. 

There is no ‘emotional baggage’ with animals

It is an unfortunate reality that humans can judge each other: we can be jealous, vindictive, aggressive, and spiteful. With animals, this emotional baggage is gone. Instead, we are allowed to “escape” into the presence of our pets and animals, knowing they do not operate to the same social conventions as our peers.

Animals ask nothing except for our company

Spending with animals delivers immense psychological benefits including stress reduction and increased levels of happiness. In fact, 90 per cent of pet owners believe their pets improve their overall quality of life—perhaps, precisely because they do not ask for anything apart from our company.

Pets often love us unconditionally. As a result we should all make a little more time to be with animals; it might just make all the difference.

For a more visual presentation of the information that you’ve just read, take a look at this handy infographic.