from goerie.com :

MINNEAPOLIS — Here, kitty kitty….

A new study suggests cat owners are less likely to die of a heart attack or stroke than people who, well, don’t own cats.

And no, dogs don’t do the same trick.

The study, by researchers at the University of Minnesota, found that feline-less people were 30 to 40 percent more likely to die of cardiovascular disease than those with cats.

Yet dog owners had the same rate as nonowners. “No protective effect of dogs as domestic pets was observed,” said the study, which was presented Thursday at the International Stroke Conference in New Orleans.

Dr. Adnan Qureshi, a stroke expert at the university, said he decided to raise the question because other studies have suggested pets can help reduce stress.

But the cat-dog differential came as a surprise. “We don’t understand this completely,” he said, but “it’s probably not a coincidence.”

An estimated 90 million cats are owned in the United States, and an estimated 74.8 million dogs, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

the above picture is of my cat ponce. i just fed him some new “oceanfish” catfood, played with him for 15 minutes, then pet him while he sat on my lap as i listened to some drum and bass on itunes radio. now he’s sitting on my light blue ikea chair looking semi-enthusiastically toward the window.

thanks, ponce. you will help me not die.