I’ve well documented my love of weird, random holidays, and today might just be my favorite one of all. 

It’s National Kitten Day — and I intend to celebrate by showering my own cat with lots of attention and trying to convince everyone I know to adopt one of their own.

When you adopt an animal, you are not only saving its life. You are providing yourself with a great protector of mental and physical wellbeing. Studies have shown that owning a pet can aid individuals suffering depression, anxiety and loneliness.

An example of this is a study conducted by the Mental Health Foundation that surveyed more than 600 cat owners and non-cat owners. The study showed that 87 percent of people who owned cats saw a positive impact on their wellbeing, while 76 percent said they could cope better with everyday life thanks to the company of their feline friends.

Additionally, individual studies have shown that bonding with an animal can slow heart rate, lower blood pressure and relax muscle tension, according to Psychology Today.

Though it is National Kitten Day, I’ll spread the love out to dogs, too. Dogs, in addition to all the above benefits, also can incentivize people to exercise and can also benefit socialization by bringing owners into situations and places, such as dog parks, that encourage social interaction, according to the Mental Health Foundation.

While some of these benefits of pet ownership might seem far-fetched, I have experienced many of them first hand. Anyone that knows me well knows that I am obsessed with my cat, a white ball of fluff that leaves me perpetually covered in fur. I adopted her to save her from being euthanized, and though it is super cheesy to say, she has made my life better, too.

I adopted my cat not long after moving to a new area and apartment, where I was alone more often than I had ever been before in my life. Owning a pet not only gave me companionship but gave me a personal responsibility to take ownership of and feel good about.

With so many potential benefits on the table, I have to recommend that anyone who can adopt a furry friend. Our good friends at Cass County Animal Control, Berrien County Animal Control and other local shelters would be happy to help you find the perfect companion to fit your household and needs.

Also, be sure to check out Thursday’s papers for our weekly Pet of the Week segment where we feature dogs and cats from local shelters that are looking for their forever home — one of them might just be right for you.