How much does pet ownership actually lower your cardiovascular risk?
The size of the benefit varies by pet type and your age, but the numbers are meaningful. A large 2023 study of over 6,600 US adults found that cat owners had a 44% lower odds of having cardiovascular disease compared to non-owners (odds ratio 0.56) [3]. The effect was even stronger for people aged 40-64 with only a cat: they had a 60% lower risk (odds ratio 0.40) [3]. For dog owners, the same study found no significant benefit (odds ratio 1.17), meaning dogs did not lower risk in that analysis [3].
Looking at specific conditions, a 2020 analysis of over 10,000 people from a national US survey found that pet owners (cat or dog) had a 33% lower prevalence of high blood pressure (odds ratio 0.67) [6]. Another study of adults over 50 without major illness found that cat owners had a 38% lower risk of dying from any cardiovascular cause (hazard ratio 0.62) and a striking 78% lower risk of dying from stroke (hazard ratio 0.22) compared to non-cat owners [7]. Dog owners in that study did not show a significant reduction [7].
Does your age or the type of pet you own change the benefit?
Yes, age is a major factor. The 2023 study found that for people 65 and older, having both a cat and a dog was linked to the lowest cardiovascular risk, while those over 65 with no pets had nearly four times the risk (odds ratio 3.85) [3]. For middle-aged adults (40-64), owning only a cat was best, cutting risk by 60% [3]. This suggests the ideal pet may shift as you get older.
Not all pets are helpful. A 2022 study of over 23,000 European adults aged 50+ found that bird ownership was linked to a 22% higher risk of death from all causes in women (hazard ratio 1.22), and a 37% higher risk for women living alone [1]. This was not seen with cats or dogs [1]. So while cats and dogs may help, birds may actually harm health in older women, possibly due to stress or infection risks.
How do pets actually improve your heart health?
The main mechanism appears to be stress reduction and calming the nervous system. A 2022 review concluded that one of the most important cardioprotective effects of pet ownership is reducing activity of the sympathetic nervous system (the 'fight or flight' response), which lowers blood pressure and heart strain [4]. A 2025 study of 150 adults in Indonesia found that people who owned or regularly interacted with cats and dogs had significantly lower stress levels and better blood pressure readings [5].
There may also be a gut health link. A 2021 study of 162 heart disease patients found that pet owners had a 54% lower risk of metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions that raise heart disease risk) and a 48% lower risk of obesity [2]. The study also found that pet owners had different gut bacteria—more of the genera Serratia and Coprococcus—which may help protect against metabolic disorders [2]. This suggests pets might influence heart health through the gut microbiome, not just through exercise or companionship.
Sources used in this answer
Pet ownership and survival of European older adults
Bird ownership was linked to a 22% higher risk of all-cause death in older women (hazard ratio 1.22), especially those living alone; no significant benefit or harm from cats or dogs.
Owning a Pet Is Associated with Changes in the Composition of Gut Microbiota and Could Influence the Risk of Metabolic Disorders in Humans
Pet owners with heart disease had a 54% lower odds of metabolic syndrome and a 48% lower odds of obesity, linked to differences in gut bacteria.
Age modifies the association between pet ownership and cardiovascular disease
Cat ownership was associated with a 44% lower risk of cardiovascular disease overall; for ages 40-64 with only a cat, risk was 60% lower.
Pet Ownership and the Risk of Arterial Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease
Pet ownership reduces sympathetic nervous system activity, which lowers blood pressure and cardiovascular risk; it may also improve outcomes after heart attack or stroke.
PETS AS THERAPY: THE ROLE OF CATS AND DOGS IN REDUCING STRESS AND BLOOD PRESSURE
Adults who owned or regularly interacted with cats and dogs had significantly lower stress levels and better blood pressure readings.
Pet Ownership and Cardiovascular Health in the US General Population.
Pet owners had a 33% lower prevalence of high blood pressure (odds ratio 0.67) in a large US national sample, but no significant link to heart failure or diabetes.
Pet Ownership and the Risk of Dying from Cardiovascular Disease Among Adults Without Major Chronic Medical Conditions.
Cat owners over 50 had a 38% lower risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and a 78% lower risk of dying from stroke; dog owners showed no significant benefit.