We’re all about connecting people with the right products that can increase their health. But, there’s one item we don’t carry that can do wonders for you: owning a pet. Since June is Adopt a Cat Month, we thought we would take time in today’s blog to cover the health benefits of owning a furry friend:

• Lower Cardiovascular Disease Risk

Studies have shown that those who owned cats were 30 to 40 percent less likely to die of cardiovascular disease. This might be because cats have been shown to lower stress and help their owners become more relaxed. The same studies weren’t able to find a correlation between dog ownership and lowered heart risk.

• You’ll have a better night’s sleep

That’s right, a cat can actually help you sleep better! Polls have shown that 41 percent of people sleep better because of their cats, while only 20 percent reported that cats cause them a disturbance.

• Fewer allergies

While a cat won’t suddenly cure your hay fever, they can do wonders for newborns. A National Institute of Health study has found that when children were exposed to cats early on, they were far less likely to develop allergies. And it wasn’t just allergies around pets—they were also less likely to develop other types of allergies as well.

• They’re great companions

While we may joke about the single friend who’s going to end up as a “crazy cat lady” they truth is, cats have been proven to lower feelings of loneliness. They’re especially a boon to Older Americans, who often experience feelings of loneliness as their children leave home or their friends die or move away for retirement.

• They can lower anxiety and depression

Some people have even been known to engage cats as “service animals” just for this reason. They’ve been proven to mitigate the effects of both conditions.

Remember, while cats are one item we don’t carry in our online catalog, we do have a number of others that can help you live a better life, including products to help you age in-home or sleep better.

Boom! Crack! Pow! Chances are, you’re already hearing these noises from your neighbor as everyone gears up for the Fourth of July celebrations. But, while these colorful displays are great for showing off your patriotic spirit, they were responsible for 11,400 injuries in 2013 and 8 deaths. If you do decide to take part in this particular festivity, follow these safety tips:

• Don’t hold Roman Candles. Missing fingers, burns and other injuries are just a few of the things that can occur. Use a holder to set these fireworks off.
• Don’t allow small children to handle fireworks, and older children should only do so under adult supervision.
• Always wear protective eyewear when setting off fireworks.
• Never light fireworks inside of a building. This should go without saying, as fireworks are the cause of many home fires this time of year.
• If you’re in a drought, don’t set off fireworks at all. You will risk setting the brush, grass or trees on fire. The best time to set off fireworks is right after a good, hard rain.
• Don’t point fireworks at other people, and don’t light a bottle rocket and throw it at someone. It’s most common to see teenagers do this sort of thing, but even some adults have been known to engage in “fireworks wars.”
• Keep water close at hand in case a small fire does occur. Whether it’s a bucket, a hose or even a powerful squirt gun, make sure it’s nearby.
• If it’s a dud, don’t pick it up or try to light it again. Instead, spray it down with water before discarding.
• Douse all used fireworks in water before discarding, and never throw away unused fireworks before soaking them.
• When you light a firework, make sure you back up a safe distance before it goes off.

Remember, the best thing to do is to leave fireworks displays to the professionals. But, if you do experience an injury as a result of fireworks, we can help. We carry products in our online catalog that can help speed along your recovery.