

Ep 345: Pets Boost Wellbeing More Than Partners
6 snips May 18, 2025
This week, the hosts dive into a study claiming that pets can boost well-being as much as romantic partners! They hilariously dissect the research's questionable math while sharing personal anecdotes about pet companionship. The conversation shifts to the emotional and economic benefits of pets, and they ponder the complexities of measuring love. Expect laughs over quirky pet stories, such as a lizard at a gender reveal party, and reflections on the joys and challenges of cat care. It's a playful yet insightful look at the pets in our lives!
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Pets Boost Life Satisfaction Similarly
- Research suggests having a pet boosts life satisfaction as much as having a spouse or meeting friends and family regularly.
- This finding challenges common assumptions about social relationships and wellbeing measurement.
Methodology for Causation in Study
- Economists used a complex instrumental variables approach to show a causal link between pet ownership and life satisfaction.
- They controlled for personality and other factors to isolate pet companionship's effect on happiness.
Handling Difficult Cat Grooming
- When trimming a cat's nails, consider using specialized nail trimming bags or sedation if the cat is highly distressed.
- Explore different brushing tools to find one your cat tolerates to maintain grooming without stress.