Cat and dog ownership can provoke consumers into shopping more and spending more money

Retail therapy can come from pet companionship wellbeing. 

Retail therapy can come from human wellbeing gained through cat and/or dog companionship. - MikeB interpretation of the study

The finding as stated in the title to this article, comes from a Japanese study. The basic process, as I understand it, is that when you live with a pet, a companion animal, it enhances your life and so you feel better and when you feel better it can induce the desire to spend money in the form of retail therapy which makes you feel better as well. 

It seems to me that this is a triggering process. When you feel better because of your companion animal's presence, you seek more pleasure. And you achieve that by buying something in a shop.

pet ownership—subjective well-being—impulsive purchases.

In the words of the study authors led by Yahui Liu, "Pet ownership evokes consumers to shop more, buy more products, and spend more money" and "The pet ownership effect is induced by individuals’ enhanced subjective well-being associated with owning a pet, further increasing pet owners’ impulsive hedonic purchases."

They concluded that the emotional support provided through pet ownership - and we mean cats and dogs - "positively affects consumers' subjective well-being, thus leading to more increased purchases".

I think it's a kind of mild addiction. Addiction to feeling good. We all want to feel good and we cuddle our cat or play with our dog and we feel good. In feeling good you want to find other ways to feel good so you decide to go and buy something in a shop which gives you instant gratification. 

That's my interpretation reading the highlights to the study is published on the Science Direct website; specifically the Journal of Business Research. This is the link to the study: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusres.2024.114838

The objective of the study was to "estimate the effect of pet ownership on consumers' purchases". And, as mentioned, they found "that pet ownership increases purchases". The effect is "induced by enhanced subjective well-being". This boosts "impulsive hedonic purchases".

They say they are the first to "empirically examine how pet ownership affects consumer purchases". I can agree with that because I've never read a study or a report which connects pet ownership with retail therapy as I would call it.

Retail therapy is very common in the world. The desire to spend money to possess a new item to give a short term increase in pleasure. It's very similar to pleasure eating. Another potential form of addiction.

The study summary says that their findings "offer valuable implications for retailers are incorporating pets into marketing". That's a good point. I believe what they're saying there is that you can include companion animals into advertising of products to enhance the advert.

I also believe that the presence of shops' cats encourages purchases. And that's a very good point. There are some people who say that cats in shops and public houses are bad for health reasons. They argue they transmit disease to people. That's rubbish I'm afraid. Recently I wrote about a pub in England where the administrators decided to get rid of two cats who liked to stay in the pub all the time.

These cats were popular with customers and enhanced the business. It is just silly senior management who get it consistently wrong. 😊😎

Think of Bodega cats in New York. They are famous and very good for business.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

Domestic cats benefit children's development. Here's how.

The words are not mine but those of a AI computer which has searched the internet and come up with some reasons why domestic cats benefit children's development. I am happy to use AI as the bot searches the internet more thoroughly than me. It is a very politically correct text. I'd be more down to earth and less polite but perhaps readers like super-polite, politically correct articles.

This excellent picture was also created by AI. Superb isn't it?!

Cats can have a remarkable impact on children’s development. Let’s explore some of the ways in which our feline friends contribute to young minds:

1. Promoting Responsibility: Convincing a cat to participate in human schemes, like wearing a hat, involves negotiation skills not even diplomats possess. Children learn responsibility by caring for their feline companions, feeding them, and ensuring they receive playtime and exercise.

2. Emotional Intelligence: Cats don’t hide their feelings, especially when displeased. Observing their moods and understanding their cues helps children develop emotional intelligence. The soothing purrs and calming presence of a cat can also alleviate stress and anxiety.

3. Stress Reduction: Ever tried to stay stressed while a cat purrs on your lap? It’s nearly impossible! The gentle vibrations of a cat’s purr can be incredibly soothing and comforting for children, reducing stress levels.

4. Empathy and Social Skills: Caring for a pet teaches children empathy and compassion. They learn to recognize and respond to their feline companions’ needs, fostering emotional bonds and understanding that someone else’s perspective might be different from their own.

5. Physical Health: Growing up with pets may help build a child’s immune system. Studies suggest that kids who share their lives with animals are less likely to develop allergies or asthma as they grow older.

So, whether it’s cuddling with a purring cat or learning to scoop out the litter box, these experiences shape children’s development in meaningful ways. Cats provide companionship, emotional support, and valuable life lessons for kids of all ages. 🐾🌟

What about dogs? Do they have similar benefits?

Certainly! Dogs also offer a wealth of benefits for children’s development. Let’s explore how our canine companions positively impact young minds:

1. Companionship and Unconditional Love: Dogs are loyal friends who provide unwavering companionship. Their unconditional love and acceptance can boost a child’s self-esteem and emotional well-being.

2. Physical Activity: Dogs encourage physical activity. Whether it’s playing fetch, going for walks, or simply running around the yard, kids stay active and healthy while bonding with their furry pals.

3. Responsibility and Routine: Caring for a dog involves feeding, grooming, and regular exercise. Children learn responsibility, time management, and the importance of consistency.

4. Social Skills: Walking a dog often leads to interactions with other dog owners and neighbors. Kids learn social skills, empathy, and how to communicate effectively.

5. Reducing Stress and Anxiety: Petting a dog can lower stress hormones and elevate mood. The rhythmic motion of stroking a dog’s fur has a calming effect.

6. Learning Empathy: Understanding a dog’s needs and emotions fosters empathy. Children learn to recognize non-verbal cues and respond appropriately.

7. Safety and Security: Dogs provide a sense of security. Their protective instincts can make children feel safer at home.

In summary, both cats and dogs contribute significantly to a child’s development. Whether it’s a playful kitten or a loyal dog, these furry companions enrich kids’ lives in countless ways. 🐾❤️

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins.

For a moment it's just you, your dog, a sunset and some peace

We all have a need, on occasion, to remove ourselves from the human world to find some peace. To stop the clamouring of human activity around us. To stop the demands upon us. To walk away from the complexities of human life. And you can temporarily achieve some calm and some distance from humans by sitting on the beach with your dog as we see in the video. They look out towards the sunset. It is just them and the nature, the healer.

The man is with nature. Nature in the form of his dog and the sunset represents the universe.

A lot of people like to take up sailing so that they can be alone in the almost unimaginable amount of space the oceans offer. It is the sense of space that people sometimes crave; I do. And often they have to live in urban environments where there is a lack of space; I do. Where sometimes things just close in on you.

I think people buy houses by the seaside so they can look out towards the sea where there are no people. It provides an inner peace through visual space without interference of humans.

And this dude on the beach with his dog is temporarily enjoying such a moment. He is sitting with a great friend, perhaps his best friend and that feeling is mutual. The dog looks up to their caregiver as the alpha leader. They trust their human caregiver implicitly. They expect their human to behave like a benevolent alpha leader who guides and who is concerned for their welfare.

For a human to breach that trust is a terrible thing. It happens to often. And the cat looks up to their caregiver as their surrogate mother. It is very similar but with a slight difference.

We hardly ever see a cat sitting with a man or a woman on a beach looking out towards the sunset. But don't believe that it is impossible. You will see some wonderfully leash trained cats on the Internet who have learnt to behave like dogs on a lead and who are not frightened when a lot is happening around them.

Perhaps that should be the goal of millions of people today who keep their cats inside full-time. This training allows the owner to provide their cat with outdoor stimulation safely. That is one of the duties of a caregiver and it is expected of them by their domestic cat companion!

4 reasons why cats love to sit on laptops

3 reasons why cats love to sit on laptops. But do you want to!? Image in public domain.

I am not sure we need to discuss this in any detail because over the years a lot has been said on this topic on the internet and cat owners have learned a lot from the internet. And arguably the reasons are common sense. Here goes. The 4 reasons why cats love to sit on laptops are:

1. They are with their human companion and caregiver. People can sit at laptops for a long time! Me for one 😃😒. And as your cat wants to be with their human from time to time for common sense reasons, they have to be with them while they are at their laptops.
2. They seek attention and sometimes want to stop you using the laptop and pay attention to them instead.
3. Third reason: when a cat arrives at their human who's at their laptop, they often receive a reward; their caregiver pets them and says nice things to them. The owner informally trains their cat to come to them at the laptop. This does not always happen as I am sure that sometimes cat owners tell their cat to go somewhere else as it can be almost impossible to work productively and accurately at a laptop with your cat draped all over you. But in general, the reward is the normal human response. This is positive reinforcement training.
4. Fourthly, the obvious: a laptop emits heat. We see a lot of cats lying on laptop keyboards as a bit of heat is given off by the computer. Domestic cats love heat as it is in their DNA; inherited from their wildcat ancestor the North African wildcat which lives in arid, dry and hot conditions.

So, those are the 4 reasons why cats love to site on laptops. How to stop it? One way would be to place a pet warm pad (available on Amazon) next to you. Place your cat on it when he comes to you. He may get the message in due course.

Don't reward your cat for jumping up and onto your computer. You can't stop your computer giving off heat so there is no cure for that.

If and when they do it, gently lift them off and place them nearby on the warm pad! Yes, I am repeating myself. And pet them nicely at the same time with warm words.

Here is an infographic on the topic prepared by me:

Philosophical question: do you really want to stop you cat doing this? Cats rarely lie on the computer. They just want to be near you. Let them. It makes them happy. It is the caregiver's duty to make their cat happy at all times!

The solution is a compromise: allow your cat to be near you while you are on the laptop but not in a way which prevents you using it with ease. My cat lies on my legs behind the computer as I work in bed! Bed is the best place as I have a Tempur mattress which is kind on my bum. That's enough of the personal detail.

Nicolas Cage's best friend is his cat Merlin

Nicolas Cage, the iconic American actor who has made some super films and many flops 😒 says that his cat Merlin loves him and is very affectionate. Merlin loves contact and jumps into bed with Nick and hugs him and he thinks it is his wife but 'Nope, it's Merlin!'

Cage and Merlin. Is this really Merlin. The cat in the video looks like a blue purebred British Shorthair but 'Merlin' is a 4-year-old Maine Coon. The cat in the video is not a Maine Coon. Image: Screenshot.

Merlin shows Nick Cage a lot of affectionate energy and he calls him a 'real sweetheart'. And he means it. And I am sure all of us who have been loved by their cat companion know what he means. 

When a cat loves you and shows it in their behaviour it is special. We are privileged to experience cat love 😊💓✔️.

Note: This is an embedded video from another website. Sometimes they are deleted at source, or the video is turned into a link which would stop it working here. I have no control over this.

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What I positively don't like about the video is the stupid video editing which, for me, dilutes the genuine affection that Cage has for Merlin and vice versa. 

And the cat is a Maine Coon while Merlin is a Maine Coon. So, the video maker got that entirely wrong. I can't find a reliable photo of Merlin at the present time.

The video takes the piss out of the relationship, and I believe that it is a genuinely loving relationship. You don't take the piss out of that. I am being too serious perhaps but that's how I see it. Maybe it is Cage who's taking the piss out of the relationship, but I don't see that happening as he is a known cat lover.

P.S. Initially I misspelled his first name which was unforgivably careless of me. And as I dictate these posts his surname was also misspelled, and I missed them both! Horrible. Sorry. Doing things too fast.

When a robotic cat can give joy and companionship as well as the real thing

This is a story about a woman who found joy in a robotic cat after the loss of her cat companion. And I think it points to some situations when robotic cats can perform a function which is superior to the real thing. The truth is that people can become attached to robotic pets that are sufficiently lifelike particularly if the person involved perhaps has intellectual disabilities or perhaps a head injury or they might be autistic or simply elderly with dementia of some kind.

RELATED: Reason why robotic cats and dogs are so successful with the right person.

Linda Williams with her robotic cat which pleases her. Image: WIS 10.

Tri-Development Centre of Aiken County runs a program with a mission to provide, promote and coordinate community services in that county for individuals with "autism, head and spinal cord injuries and intellectual disabilities". South Carolina Department of Ageing runs a program to help people who are socially isolated. 

RELATED: Heartwarming story on how lifelike robotic cats help elderly patients.

Linda Williams has been provided with a robotic cat by the organisers of the Tri-Development Center. 

Linda said:

"She makes me feel good. I’m going to hold you up so they can see you."

The lead residential service provider in this program, Precious Green, said that she was happy that Linda Williams is happy with her robotic cat. Obviously, it is much easier for the organisers to take care of a robotic cat. 

There's none of the usual issues such as dealing with cat litter and feeding a cat. There is no possibility of cat scratching or biting. There is an instant connection between person and robotic cat which can be quite different to the real thing because it takes time for them to get used to strangers sometimes.

And under these circumstances it can work beautifully as Linda Williams loves her cat companion. There is, I feel, a place for these sorts of devices which provide companionship. 

It's a device on which a person can off load their need to love somebody or even something. It's a recipient of love and if the device makes the right sounds and is reasonably accurate in terms of appearance then it works. It should not be laughed at as some sort of ridiculous concept.