Is a cat better than a partner? Research showing how much furry friends can boost people's mood has led some to question whether getting married is worthwhile.
Pets ‘just as good as a marriage’
Kitten love: The UK's 68 million people own approximately 11 million cats and 13 million dogs. Glossary
Pedigree - Pure-bred.
Samoyed - A medium-sized herding dog with thick, white fur. They were bred in Siberia.
Hormone - Chemicals carried in the bloodstream that alter the way your body's systems act.
Blood pressure - The beating of our hearts keeps our blood at a certain pressure. This pressure can rise when we are stressed, as the heart beats faster.
Depression - Low mood that affects someone's daily life, and can last for weeks or months.
Cardiovascular - Relating to the heart and blood vessels.
Incentives - Reasons for or benefits of doing something.
Warped - Twisted out of a natural or normal shape.
Monotonous - The same all the time.
Tail docking - The practice of surgically removing all or most of an animal's tail.
Profoundly - Deeply.