If you’ve ever come home to a happy tail wag or a soft purr, you probably already know pets have magical mood-lifting powers. Many studies have proven this over and over that pets help with mental health. But what if we tell you that your pet gives you joy worth ₹80,00,000 every year? You won’t believe us but a new study proves this.

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What’s the price of happiness?

The research comes from Dr Adelina Gschwandtner (University of Kent) and Dr Michael Gmeiner (London School of Economics), who analysed data from approximately 2,500 UK households using the “life satisfaction approach”, which basically measures how certain life changes (like getting a pet) affect your overall happiness. And they found that owning a pet gives your well-being a serious boost.
According to the numbers, pet ownership increases life satisfaction by the same amount as being married or regularly meeting your loved ones. In fact, the happiness increase and reduction in loneliness and stress are comparable to an extra £70,000 a year. That’s about ₹80,00,000 in emotional value if you’re keeping score.

Beyond the obvious cuddles and companionship, pets help in all kinds of less obvious ways. They reduce stress, ease loneliness, and even lower your blood pressure (yes, science says so). Dog owners, in particular, tend to get more exercise and have more social interaction with daily walks and dog park chit-chat. This daily movement can reduce the risk of breast, prostate, lung, colon and kidney cancers.
However, the study is limited to only dogs and cats as of now. It also found personality differences between cat people and dog people. Dog owners, it turns out, are more extroverted and emotionally steady, while cat owners score higher on openness and curiosity. So, whether you’re Team Dog or Team Cat, your pet will help with your mental health.

Pets for your mental health

This study isn’t just a quirky bit of trivia, it’s actually got some serious implications. Dr Gschwandtner suggests that if pets add this much value to our lives, it’s time for society to make it easier for people to own them. Think fewer “no pets allowed” rules in rented homes, more pet-friendly public spaces, and even support for therapy animals. In an age where mental health struggles and loneliness are so widespread, maybe part of the solution is getting a pet.

So next time you’re tripping over your dog’s chew toy or apologising to your cat for blinking at them the wrong way, remember this little fluffball might just be doing more for your well-being than any fancy job title or pay rise ever could.

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