There have been numerous reports in the media of cats being able to ‘smell’ certain cancers and health issues. Anecdotally, many cat owners also report their feline companions becoming more clingy or attentive when they’re feeling unwell, whether due to illness, stress or emotional distress.

While it's true that cats have heightened olfactory receptors (up to 200 million) compared to humans, there is currently no substantial scientific evidence to suggest that they can detect serious illness through smell alone.

However, your feline isn’t totally unaware of your feelings: a study revealed that cats have developed a unique set of social skills that can pick up on visual and auditory clues from their owners, understanding the difference between happiness and anger.

Whether it's a tickle under the chin or being given an extra treat, our cats show their contentment through purring. But are there cat-purring health benefits we should know about?

Some articles have claimed that the frequency of cat purr vibrations – which range from 20Hz up to 150Hz – can promote bone growth in humans, with bones hardening in response to the auditory pressure.

However, this healing effect has only been observed in cats themselves, and there’s currently no peer-reviewed evidence to suggest that purring helps humans to recover from bone, muscle or tendon injuries.

That said, most cat owners would agree that hearing our pets purr and trill with pleasure can have a profound effect on our psychological health, calming and pleasing us at the same time.

To fully understand the benefits of cats for mental health, it’s important to consider how our bodies and minds respond to our pets.

Studies have found that spending time with cats stimulates the release of feel-good hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin, all of which contribute to positive emotions and wellbeing.

Oxytocin, in particular, plays a key role in bonding and stress reduction, while also promoting physical benefits like a lower heart rate and calmer breathing.

At the same time, levels of cortisol – the hormone linked to stress – tend to drop when people interact with cats. A study of college students who spent as little as 10 minutes per day petting a cat felt happier, calmer and had decreased levels of stress.

When it comes to cats and human health, studies have found a positive link between feline companionship and healthy blood pressure; a marker which can lower your risk of serious health problems, including heart attack and strokes.

Correlating with this research, one study found that people with cats were less likely to die of serious cardiovascular diseases, such as a heart attack. Meanwhile, additional research discovered that owning a cat – rather than a dog – was closely associated with a reduced risk of dying from heart disease and stroke, especially among women. Scientists concluded that it was likely down to the stress-relieving effects of feline companionship.

Although some adults are allergic to cat fur and dander, owning a cat early in childhood could actually reduce the risk of allergies and breathing difficulties down the line. Previous research noted early exposure to pets strengthens the development of a child's immune system, making them less likely to react to cat fur in the future, while having a protective effect on respiratory health.

Here’s one area where cat owners may struggle. A Swedish study found that cat owners are, on average, more likely to fail at achieving the recommended duration of seven hours of sleep per day, compared with people who don’t own a pet.

The study didn’t delve into the reasons why cat owners got less sleep, however, previous research has found that a proportion of people find sleeping with their pets physically disruptive.

Whether this means owning a cat is a risk factor for short sleep duration, the study authors couldn’t say. However, it’s an interesting area of research that requires further study in the future.

If your cat is overly disruptive during the night, customers with Petplan cat insurance can receive expert advice via our Pet Expert Chat. Simply log into your My Petplan account to access.