Cat friendly jobs are already a reality
In order to improve the working day of the employees, at the Ferray Corporation of Tokyo, nine cats, who were free to move around the company offices, “worked” indefinitely. Aiming at what? To improve work life. In Japan this news has been on the front page of some newspapers for days and days, and since the four-legged newcomers have been left free to run among their desks, the stress level of employees seems to have decreased considerably, while productivity has increased significantly.
Also in Italy the cats have landed at the workplace: at the editorial office of the Galileo newspaper and in the Classense Library of Ravenna for example. It is true, there are places where only the elegance of a cat can fit like a glove, adding mystery and charm where history and time have already played their part. The structure in fact hosts three fantastic cats found at 15 days of life and weaned by the same employees of the library. Cats, now perfectly inserted in this context, in unusual environments, in outstanding places, rich in culture, where we would not be used to seeing and meeting them, allow people to interact with each other, to get to know each other and to socialize.
The beneficial effects of cohabitation with the cat are proven by science
It is also known that caressing a cat lowers blood pressure. This was demonstrated by a group of researchers from the University of Minnesota, in a study presented at the congress of the American Stroke association in New Orleans.
According to the study carried out on a sample of about 4500 adults between 30 and 75 years, owning a cat reduces the risk of fatal heart attack and stroke by as much as 40%. The effects of stress and anxiety on cardiovascular damage are known, and pets offer many benefits in fighting them. Research has been conducted on cats, but scholars believe it may also be extended to dogs.
Humans are sensitive to the sound vibrations that cats emit during the “swelling” noise, which is the common sign of feline relaxation. The purring, therefore, would be perceived not only at the hearing level, but also from the sensory point of view: particular receptors located on our skin would be able to perceive the low frequencies, between 20 and 50 Hz, and to transmit positive sensations to the brain of well-being and relaxation. These extraordinary feline properties are jokingly called “purring therapy“.
Photo by Andrii Ganzevych on Unsplash
