7. Pain Relief
You wouldn’t think a dog or cat would have a whole lot in common with a bottle of aspirin, but looks can be deceiving. It has been shown that physical contact with pets can cause the release of those “feel good” hormones called endorphins. Caring for and interacting with a pet can also simply serve as a much-needed distraction for people in pain, and allow them to focus on something else important other than their pain.