If you have a pet, you know how much light they can bring into your life. And that leads into some other great benefits.

If you have a dog, they’ll need exercise and you probably need to get out of the house. Walking your dog means that you get exercise too. We all know that more exercise is a good thing in life. Not only for your health, but also your frame of mind.

On the other hand, there’s something to be said for a relaxing evening at home with your pet cuddled up your lap. Petting cats and dogs is soothing. One study showed that people actually draw more support from their pets than from their favorite humans. So, go ahead and tell your cat about your awful day. It will make you feel better.

Pet parents tend to have lower blood pressure, heart rate and heart-disease risk, than those who don’t (according to this TIME article). It’s probably due to that exercise we just talked about and from having a completely loyal best friend. It’s great to have a furry best friend who meets you at the door every night or who loves to cuddle anytime you sit on the couch.

Spend some extra time with your pet. We bet that they will love your attention and you’ll get a whole lot of love right back.