Household pets are a part of the family for millions of people across the globe. They provide companionship, love, and sometimes even security in a home. Whether it's a cat, dog, or even a hamster, there are some interesting facts that you may not have known about pets.

1. Pets Can Harbor Pests and Parasites

One of the first things that may come to mind when you think about your pets is that they're great for pest control. However, some pests and parasites can live on or inside our furry little friends as well as in our homes. These include fleas, mites, ticks, and various types of worms such as roundworms.

2. Pets Can Transmit Parasites to Their Owners

You're probably aware that pets can be infested with pests and parasites, but did you know that they can also transmit them to us? This is known as zoonosis, which means being infected by an animal, usually through contact, ingestion, or inhalation of parasites. Some examples of zoonotic diseases are toxoplasmosis, roundworms, plague, and rabies. Again, pest insects, such as ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes, can spread fatal illnesses to people such as plague, malaria, Lyme Disease, and West Nile Virus. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, nearly 3% of adults are allergic to insects that sting. This results in almost 100 deaths per year.

3. Pets Can Help Their Owners Live Longer

Numerous studies prove that having household pets can benefit your health in many ways. Having a pet means you get more exercise, which in turn boosts your immune system and ultimately helps you live longer. Pets can also reduce stress, anxiety, and loneliness.

4. Pets Can Help You Become More Active and Social

Dogs can make us feel like we need to take a walk every day, and the same with cats and their scratching posts. Pets require some form of attention from their owners, usually daily. Dogs also need exercise, which means it is beneficial to find friends or family members who own dogs to take a walk with you and your furry friend. This encourages more social interaction.

5. Pets Can Help Those with Special Needs

We've all seen those stories about people who adopted an animal, and this action improved the person's life in one way or another. Some of these animals are trained to help people with special needs such as physical disabilities, hearing impairments, and emotional distress.

Pets are a part of our families for a good reason. They're cute, cuddly, and they need us just as much as we need them. That is why we need to treat them well and care for them by providing proper food and shelter and other essentials such as pest control.