Many people will find that owning a pet helps them to overcome feelings of social isolation. People who live on their own, for example, will find that owning a pet and caring for it helps them to feel needed and less lonely as a result. These days, there are numerous schemes for using animals in care settings to help people overcome their sense of aloneness. Although the vast majority of these pet therapy animals are dogs, other animals, such as cats, guinea pigs and even llamas, are used in certain settings to help treat lonely people. There have been several studies into pet ownership that go beyond mere companionship, however. Some of these have shown that enjoying the company of an animal can help to lower blood pressure and also provide a beneficial effect with things like cholesterol build up.