According to a study, the pandemic has made cats more affectionate

According to a study

« get used to the pandemic, or rather to our new lifestyle, more homely and less worldly. A scientific study confirms the impression of many cat owners who found themselves sharing much more time during lockdowns: according to more than two out of three people, felines changed during and after the first wave of coronavirus, becoming more attached and attached to us. The survey, published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, confirms that even our 4-legged friends are habitual and modify their behavior based on changes, like us. One more proof that it will be necessary to get them used to new rhythms and, immediately, to better organize their holidays too, not leaving them too alone.

How mood changes in the pandemic

Researchers from the universities of York and Lincoln in the UK asked themselves one of the questions cat lovers have been wondering for some time. With the lockdown and restrictions, the pandemic has kept us much more often at home, in contact with pets. How has their behavior changed? And how have they adapted to our increased presence? These questions were addressed to a sample of more than 5,000 pet owners.

According to the data, about 67% of the interviewees observed a change in the behavior of the animals during the first lockdown, the most severe one. We talk more often about positive changes in the mood and attitudes of pets: owners who have reported improvements are three times more than those who indicate a worsening. 15-20% of all pet owners indicate their pet was more energetic and playful, and 20-30% report a more relaxed state.

More cats happy and affectionate

Even for cats - even more than for dogs - this period has often been beneficial, as it is full of attention and constant presence. On the contrary, dogs are the pets that have suffered the most. This is probably also due to the differences and their different habits. Even before the pandemic, the dog is much more involved in daily activities, even outdoors, while the cat is often a very solitary animal.

In general, moreover, the impact of the lockdown was less negative for those animals whose mental health (measured by specific scores) was already lower before the pandemic. In other words, an animal that is not happy and satisfied enough has benefited more from the blocking of activities with the consequent company of the owner. In this case, therefore, there have been changes and for the good.

The other side of the coin

But there is a downside. Now that we get back to moving, more and more (hopefully), cats will have to get used to the new change and cope with this difficulty. In other words, they will have to adapt - as they did with the pandemic - to respond to a daily life in which they will be more alone again. The advice of the experts is to gradually accompany them in this new reality.


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20% Of Women Trying To Conceive Are Cigarette Smokers, According To Study

Women need more information about how poor lifestyle choices during pregnancy affects their ability to be able to conceive.

Twenty percent of women trying to conceive are cigarette smokers, according to a new study. As such, researchers found that many expecting women are not receiving the message that harmful substances during pregnancy can not only put themselves but their unborn babies at risk for a multitude of complications during pregnancy.

Researchers from King's College London and pregnancy charity, Tommy's, found that when some women were trying to conceive, they did not change their lifestyles. And some of these lifestyles, according to Medical Xpress, included smoking, using recreational drugs, drinking alcohol, and consuming caffeine.

The study, which was published in the journal, BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth found that one in five women were actively smoking while trying to conceive and 3.7 percent were using illicit drugs.

Women who were under the age of 25 and had a body mass index of 18.5 or less were more likely than other women to be engaging in these activities, with 31 percent reportedly smoking and five percent taking illegal drugs while trying to conceive.

RELATED: Anti-Smoking Campaigns Necessary For Women After Pregnancy

According to the Centers for Disease Control, women who smoke during pregnancy are at a higher risk for their babies being born with low birth weight, born prematurely, have underdeveloped lungs and brain, and a whole host of birth defects.

Further still, babies who were exposed to cigarette smoke in utero are at a higher risk of falling victim to sudden infant death syndrome during their first year of life.

For those who use illicit drugs during pregnancy, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, babies are at risk for going into withdrawals upon being born which can last up to 14 days.

The symptoms of withdrawal include seizure, inability to feed properly, excessive sweating, constant crying, inability to sleep, rapid breathing, and several more problematic symptoms, according to the organization.

After surviving the withdrawal process, babies are not yet out of the woods. They are also at higher risk for sudden infant death syndrome, birth defects, and the like.

To determine that many women are not aware that their lifestyle choices before and during pregnancy can have grave effects on their unborn babies, researchers used Tommy's Pregnancy Planning tool to receive answers from childbearing age women. And over 131,000 women answered the questionnaire, according to King's College London.

While there were some bright spots in the answers received from the women, such as 53 percent of women ate five fruits or vegetables per day and 43 percent exercised at least 150 minutes per week according to the study, there were more concerns raised regarding the lack of information the participants seems to be privy to based upon their daily lifestyle choices.

According to Medical Xpress, 60 percent of women who had pregnancy complications in the past or had problems conceiving had not had a proper appointment with their doctor to discuss strategies to help conceive. As such, they had been trying to conceive for over a year without success but had not spoken to anyone for help.

More concerning still was the fact that women did not decrease their alcohol intake while trying to conceive. And because the study found that these women were also consuming caffeine, they were inhibiting their abilities to get pregnant without even knowing it.

As a result of this study, researchers found that more education needs to be provided to women trying to conceive by their doctors so that they can be made aware of the complications that will occur as a result of their lifestyle choices. By doing this, healthier pregnancies will abound and fewer babies will be at risk with healthier choices being made.

NEXT: How To Effectively Quit Smoking When Trying To Conceive

Source: Medical Xpress, King's College London, BMC Pregnancy & Childbirth, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute on Drug Abuse

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About The AuthorJessica Tucker (1461 Articles Published)

Jessica is a writer based out of California. She is a mom to two fiercely independent, fun-loving girls and wife to a man who helps her find balance in life. Jessica is an avid runner, consumer of really great cups of coffee, and enjoys adventuring off the beaten path whenever possible. Family is number one to Jessica and is what makes living this crazy, hectic, beautiful life worthwhile.

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