If you’ve watched enough TV or movies, you’ve probably seen the familiar trope of the older adult with a loyal pet—whether it’s the eccentric cat lady or the cheerful retiree walking his big, friendly dog. Stereotypes aside, the idea persists for a reason: pets really do enrich life, especially in our later years, several studies show. If you’re debating whether to get a pet, here are some compelling reasons it might be one of the best choices you can make.
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Old Age and Pet Ownership: By the Numbers
Pet ownership in the U.S. is at an all-time high, with 94 million households—about 71% of the population—having at least one pet.
Among older adults, a University of Michigan poll of adults ages 50 to 80 found that 55% had a pet, and more than half of those owners had multiple pets. While senior pet ownership is common, it declines with age. Those 50 to 64 are more likely to have pets than those 65 to 80. And despite the stereotype of older adults caring for pets alone, only 1 in 5 actually do.
Why do older adults choose pets? The top reasons include helping them, according to the University of Michigan study:
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enjoy life (88%)
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feel loved (86%)
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reduce stress (79%)
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feel a sense of purpose (73%)
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connect with other people (65%)
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stick to a routine (62%)
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cope with physical or emotional symptoms (60%)
It’s clear that pets meet many emotional and daily-life needs, benefits that may matter even more with age.
Encourages Physical Activity
Pets, particularly dogs, give older adults a reason to move more, whether through playful indoor movement or daily walks.
In the Michigan poll, 63% of owners got a pet to be more physically active; among dog owners, the number climbed to 78%.
A UK study found that 64% of dog owners met physical activity guidelines from walking their dog alone. Another study focusing on older adults found that dog owners walked 22 more minutes a day, added roughly 2,760 steps, and had fewer prolonged sedentary periods.
Cats and smaller pets require less intensive activity, but they still promote movement through play, cleaning, feeding, and care.
Better Heart Health
Regular activity is good for seniors’ heart health. According to an American Heart Association scientific statement, studies link pet ownership—especially dog ownership—to several cardiovascular benefits, including:
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Lower blood pressure
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Healthier lipid levels
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More physical activity
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Reduced obesity risk, often tied to increased walking and social support
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Calmer heart rate and blood-pressure responses to stress, with faster recovery afterward
Better Routine Adherence
Pets thrive on routine like feeding, playtime, walks, and cleaning, and older adults often thrive right along with them. Their care gives many older adults a sense of purpose and helps them stick to daily habits, including medical routines. One study found that pet owners were more likely to complete a 12-week cardiac rehabilitation program than non-owners. Pets keep you anchored, moving and engaged.
Promotes Emotional Well-being
Pets offer companionship, unconditional love and a constant emotional presence. Owning one is tied to reduced loneliness, depression, and improved well-being among older adults.
In the Michigan poll, 52% of pet owners said companionship was their main reason for getting a pet. This emotional support has real physical effects. A study of older adults found that those who were strongly attached to their pets had better protection against dips in mood or anxiety and were less likely to feel physically unwell during stressful periods.
Another study found that pet owners stayed physically stronger with age, with better mobility, faster walking speed, and improved cardiac fitness. And interestingly, it wasn’t because they walked their dogs more, suggesting the benefits of pet ownership go beyond exercise—possibly something deeper, like the emotional support, routine, or connection that pets bring.
In the poll, some older adults even reported getting pets to “take their mind off pain”—especially those living alone or in poorer health, another proof that emotional comfort from pets can promote physical well-being.
Boosts Cognitive Health
Pets may help keep the brain sharp. A long-running study of older adults found that spending time with pets—whether you owned one or just interacted with them regularly—was linked to sharper thinking and memory. Cat owners, in particular, performed even better.
Another 2022 study reported similar benefits: older adults with pets, especially dogs, had larger brain structures and stronger cognitive skills, including faster processing speed, better attention, and stronger memory. They also reported something striking: pet owners’ brains appeared up to 15 years younger, with the biggest boost seen in people who had multiple pets. Researchers think part of this protection comes from how pets help buffer stress. Chronic stress raises cortisol, disrupts sleep, increases inflammation, and can gradually wear down brain regions involved in memory and learning. Pets provide comfort, routine, and steady companionship—softening the body’s stress response and making daily challenges easier to handle.
Strengthens Social Connections
Companion animals fulfill key attachment needs, such as feeling recognized, appreciated, and loved. This is why many older adults consider their pets family members.
Loneliness and social isolation are major health risks in older adulthood. Pets help counter that. Their constant presence reduces perceived loneliness and provides emotional support—sometimes with just a warm nudge or brush against the leg. Pet owners are also less likely to feel socially isolated. In one survey, one in four empty nesters filled the quiet with a new pet, and more than half reported improved happiness and mental well-being afterward. Offering companionship is one thing, but pets do more: they often encourage conversation, help people connect with neighbors, and support social ties that are vital for healthy aging.
The Best Caregiver May Come With Paws
Aging comes with plenty of changes—slower movement, shifting routines, and sometimes a shrinking social circle. Pets can ease that transition. Whether it’s a dog that gets you out the door each morning or a cat that curls up beside you on quiet nights, pets offer a kind of holistic support that touches nearly every part of health: physical, emotional, social, and cognitive. The structure, purpose, comfort, and unconditional love they bring into the home may just be what you need to live your later years with greater joy, connection, and purpose.
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