According to The Anxiety and Depression Association of America, more than three million Americans are diagnosed with depression and other mental illness. A National Center for Biotechnology informational study found that spending time with a pet increases the hormone oxytocin, often called the “cuddle chemical”. Increased oxycotin causes a person to feel more of a sense of well being. Additionally, being with your pet serotonin and dopamine levels, chemicals that play a significant role in regulating mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. While many people will argue that dogs are better for mental health than cats, in the last years many people have been favoring cats over dogs as therapy animals due to their calming and independent
