Whether they’re curly, hairless, or wobbly-eyed, our pets occupy a special place in our hearts. But did you know they may also keep your heart healthy?

Over the years, many institutions have studied the mysterious link between our four-legged friends and our cardiovascular health. In 1992, the Baker Medical Research Institute in Melbourne found a connection between pet ownership and lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Then, in 1995, the American Journal of Cardiology reported that men and women without dogs were less likely to recover from heart attacks. And just recently, researchers at Japan’s Kitasato University examined the link between pet ownership and heart rate variability.

High heart rate variability (i.e. our heart’s ability to speed up or slow down in order to accommodate our body’s needs) is a key component of good cardiovascular health. Low heart rate variability is associated with heart disease.

The Japanese study monitored the hearts of 191 people over the course of 24 hours. All participants dealt with some form of blood pressure or cholesterol problem. About half of the volunteers owned pets, and researchers found that those who did had twice the heart rate variability of the non-pet owners.

Though the reason for this phenomenon is unclear, evidence continues to suggest that it’s worth exploring. As UCLA’s Dr. Judith Siegel told Reuters, “I don’t think anyone has a good handle yet on why these discrepancies exist… My guess is that pets are a form of social support, hence stress reduction, and they can satisfy some but not all social companionship needs.”

So the next time you come home to a scene like this, put down the newspaper and thank Whiskers & Co. for helping you keep the old ticker in shape!