People usually start searching this topic when they’re weighing up a pet for their own wellbeing, or trying to understand why a dog, cat, bird or even a quiet fish tank seems to steady the nerves after a hard day. Sometimes it’s loneliness. Sometimes it’s anxiety that won’t switch off. Sometimes it’s the simple question: does this comfort have any real evidence behind it?
Pets can support mental health, but they are not a treatment on their own, and the effects are not identical for everyone. The strongest benefits tend to come from ordinary, repeatable things—touch, routine, gentle distraction, movement, and the way an animal can pull a person back into the present—balanced against the real demands of cost, time and responsibility.4, 5, 6
The human–animal bond (why it can feel so stabilising)
Living with animals is not new. What is new is the language we use for it: attachment, social support, co-regulation, stress physiology. These are clinical terms for something most people recognise at home—the quiet sense that another living creature is nearby, responsive, and part of the daily landscape.
In psychology, attachment theory helps explain why some people experience a pet as a steady “safe base”, especially during stress. Social support theory adds another layer: pets can offer companionship without the social effort that humans sometimes require, and they can make it easier to keep to small routines that anchor the day.5, 7
Mental health benefits: what the evidence suggests (and what it doesn’t)
Stress and anxiety: small physiological shifts, felt as calm
Studies of human–animal interaction often find changes in stress-related measures (such as cortisol, heart rate and blood pressure), alongside self-reported reductions in anxiety in some settings. The findings are not universal, but the pattern is consistent enough to be clinically interesting—particularly for brief interactions like patting a dog, sitting with a cat, or structured animal-assisted sessions.7
Mood, routine and behavioural “friction” (getting through the day)
Pets add structure in a plain way: feeding times, walks, litter trays, cleaning, veterinary visits. For some people, this gentle obligation reduces the mental load of decision-making and helps the day keep moving. The benefit is practical, not magical, and it depends on the person’s capacity and circumstances at the time.5
Loneliness: companionship and social connection, but not a guarantee
Loneliness is common in Australia—AIHW estimates that 15% of Australians were experiencing loneliness in 2023 (using HILDA survey data).1
Some research suggests that acquiring a dog can reduce loneliness for new owners, at least in the months after getting the dog, with effects that may persist across the study period. Other studies, including research during COVID-era lockdowns, have found mixed or neutral results once other life factors are accounted for.8, 9
The most honest summary is this: pets can buffer loneliness for some people, and for others they don’t shift it much—especially if wider stressors (housing, money, illness, grief, relationship strain) are doing most of the damage.5, 9
Physical health links (and why they matter for mental wellbeing)
Movement is one of the most reliable, non-pharmaceutical supports for mood and anxiety, and dogs in particular can create a reason to walk. Evidence reviews on pet ownership and cardiovascular health suggest dog ownership is probably associated with reduced cardiovascular risk, but experts also caution against getting a pet primarily for heart-health benefits.2, 5
Notably, an Australian study comparing different companion-animal owners found dog owners tended to do more physical activity, but the mental health links were not as simple as “get a dog, feel better”. It’s a reminder that pets can support healthy habits, but they don’t replace the foundations (sleep, housing security, income, social connection, clinical care when needed).10
Different pets, different kinds of support
Dogs
Dogs tend to pull life outward: walks, parks, neighbours, the steady rhythm of daily care. For people who are able to meet the needs of a dog, that outward motion can support mood and reduce isolation. But a dog also brings the highest day-to-day demand—training, exercise, noise management, and the reality that you can’t “skip” care when you’re unwell.5, 10
Cats
Cats often fit a quieter home rhythm. For some people, the soothing routine of feeding, the presence of an animal nearby, and brief moments of touch are enough to soften stress. Cats can be lower-maintenance than dogs in some respects, but they still require daily care, enrichment, and veterinary support.5
Birds and small mammals
Birds and small mammals can be engaging companions, particularly for people who want interaction but may not have the space or time for a dog. They also have specialised welfare needs (housing, temperature, enrichment, diet), and a mismatch here can quickly become stressful for both person and animal.5
Fish and aquariums
There is growing research interest in the calming effect of watching fish in aquariums. Some studies report improvements in relaxation and anxiety, with less consistent changes in physiological measures. The experience is often described as quietly absorbing: movement, pattern, light, and the soft passage of time.6
Pets in therapy: the important differences between therapy animals and assistance animals
In Australia, the terms get blurred in everyday conversation, but in practice they mean different things.
- Assistance animals are specially trained to help a person because of disability, and are not the same as pets or companion animals.3
- Animal-assisted therapy is a structured, goal-directed service delivered by a therapist who includes an animal as part of treatment. The animal usually belongs to the therapist or therapy organisation and does not live with the client.4
This distinction matters because expectations can quietly drift. A beloved pet can be supportive, but it is not automatically a therapy program, and it is not automatically trained or suitable for high-stress environments like hospitals, schools, or aged care.4, 5
Challenges and considerations before getting a pet
The mental health benefits of pet ownership are easiest to feel when basic care is manageable. When care is not manageable, a pet can become another source of pressure.
Quick checks that prevent regret
- Energy and time: can you reliably meet daily care on your worst weeks, not just your best ones?
- Money: food, registration, parasite prevention, grooming, and veterinary costs are ongoing—plan for emergencies as well.
- Housing: pets can limit rental options; check rules before you commit.
- Support network: who can help if you’re in hospital, travelling, or unwell?
- Fit: match the animal’s needs to your actual routine (not the routine you hope to have later).
If you’re struggling right now
If your mental health is fragile, a pet may still help—but it works best alongside support that doesn’t depend on you being “on” every day. For some people, fostering, pet-sitting, or volunteering can offer the benefits of contact with animals without the full weight of long-term responsibility.
Final thoughts
Pets can be quietly powerful companions. They can ease moments of stress, add a simple routine, and soften loneliness, especially when life has narrowed. The effect is real for many people, but it is not guaranteed, and it isn’t a substitute for care that addresses the bigger drivers of mental health.
The best choice is the one that protects both sides of the bond: an animal whose needs you can meet, and a life where their presence makes the days steadier rather than heavier.
References
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) — Social isolation and loneliness
- American Heart Association — Pet ownership and cardiovascular risk (Scientific Statement, Circulation, 2013)
- NDIS — Assistance animals (guideline)
- NDIS — Therapy animals and animal-assisted therapy (guideline)
- RSPCA Knowledgebase — Benefits of companion animals to human health
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health — Observing live fish and effects on mood, relaxation and anxiety (2019)
- Beetz et al. — Psychosocial and psychophysiological effects of human–animal interactions and the possible role of oxytocin (Frontiers in Psychology, 2012)
- The University of Sydney — PAWS trial summary: dog ownership could reduce loneliness (2019)
- Applebaum et al. — Pet ownership and mental health during COVID-19 lockdown in Victoria (COLLATE study, 2021; PubMed record)
- BMC Psychology — Dog ownership, physical activity, loneliness and mental health in Australian companion animal owners (2024)
Veterinary Advisor, Veterinarian London Area, United Kingdom