According to the American Pet Products Association, more than 90.5 million households across the country—roughly 70 percent of all households—have a pet. From cats to dogs to fish to hamsters, these wonderful creatures often become vital members of our families. We create bonds with them, showing them affection and love just as they do for us. And this attachment isn’t superficial: it actually provides many physical and mental benefits for both you and your animal friend. To help you connect deeper with and take better care of your pet, take a closer look at this mutually beneficial relationship.

Pets provide companionship

There’s nothing quite like coming home after a long day of work and being greeted at the door by your pet. The joy on their face is often undeniable, just as it may be on yours. Phil Tedeschi, cofounder of the Institute for Human-Animal Connection (IHAC), says this type of companionship can go a long way toward fighting loneliness and isolation by providing pet owners with much-needed social support. That’s because interactions with your pet increase the oxytocin levels in your body while decreasing the levels of cortisol and lowering your blood pressure, all of which improve your physical and psychological health. The decrease in cortisol, for example, can help lower stress levels and promote better heart health, thus improving your long-term well-being.

As for oxytocin, Tedeschi explains that while this hormone is generally understood to improve the bond between humans, “in the presence of a safe animal, these same neurobiological circumstances are also occurring.” When you interact with your pet, your brain releases oxytocin, which further helps you connect with them and feel comfortable and relaxed when you’re with them. And once that connection is built, you’ve got a friend for life. After all, animals don’t see humans through the same lenses we do—they simply treat us as we treat them.

Pets support mental health

Pets often accept people in ways that other humans don’t or simply can’t, showing a level of love that can ultimately have a positive influence on our mental health. According to Steve Feldman, president of the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), “pets can be considered main sources of support for the long-term management of mental health conditions,” including mood disorders, depression, and anxiety. In fact, a 2021 HABRI survey found that 87 percent of pet owners noted improvements in their mental health after adopting a pet, and of the 2,000 pet owners surveyed, one in five actually had a pet recommended to them by their doctor or therapist as a means of helping them have a healthier life. “Our message is getting through when so many medical professionals are acknowledging the human-animal bond,” says Feldman.

Pets keep you young at heart

While the human-animal connection provides health benefits at every stage of life, the bond, in many ways, supports a healthier aging process. “As we get older, we are socialized to stop playing like children, yet with our animals, we still play in similar carefree ways,” Tedeschi says. Your pet’s natural liveliness demands that you break away from those social norms, enticing you to play like you would when you were a kid, whether you compete in games of tug of war, throw toys for them, or run around the backyard. This not only keeps you active but also provides humor, joy, and laughter that you might not have in other areas of your life, which can lead to a whole host of benefits. Such play can combat the loneliness that an older adult living alone may otherwise feel, lower a pet owner’s overall stress levels to promote better heart health, and help in the treatment of patients with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Pets depend on you

Just as you can physically and mentally benefit from a human-animal bond, your pet can also have a healthier life because of it. “It works at both ends of the leash,” says Feldman. “When we understand how good our pets are for us, we can take better care of them. People and their pets develop a mutually beneficial relationship that helps them achieve healthy and happy lives together.”

While taking proper care of any pet means providing food and shelter, making regular visits to the vet, and spending time with them, different animal species and breeds have specific needs you’ll have to meet. A dog, for instance, typically requires a lot of attention and daily activity. But a cat may be happiest when they’re left alone. It’s important to understand these unique requirements so you can give your animal friend the best care possible.

However, according to Tedeschi, what each animal needs to flourish in their human-animal connection will depend not only on their species but also on their unique personality. Animals are individuals with specific preferences that may not fit into your expectations for their breed or species. For instance, some dogs may actually prefer solitude while some cats may require more physical affection. Learning what your pet wants will require paying attention to how they’re communicating with you. Animals can’t talk to us as we might talk to another human, but they’ll show us what they want and need if we simply take to the time to observe them and commit to caring for them the best we can. As Tedeschi notes, “It’s only then that we can have a much more valuable connection.”