This is a sponsored article in association with Battersea.

Is there anything better than the feeling of giddy euphoria you get when you meet a new pet for the first time?

No-one will ever be happier to see you than your dog is when you open that front door at the end of a long day, and the chances are you'll struggle to find a more loyal companion, too. And if it's a more demure, but equally comforting presence you're after, then the precious moments of affection you get from a cat go a long way, too.

So really, what could be a more rewarding and fulfilling experience than to rehome a rescue dog or cat and give them the safe, happy home they deserve?

Here are 7 reasons why rehoming a cat or dog could prove an extremely gratifying experience.

1. Help to support rescue animals

By rehoming a rescue animal, you'll help spread the word and raise awareness of just how great an experience it can be. This will help rescue centres to continue providing support for animals in their care, before finding them with a forever home they can be happy in.

2. There will be pets of all shapes and sizes

It's important to focus on a pet's character and personality rather than get fixated on a specific breed. Rescues like Battersea care for a wide range of animals who just need a family to care for them: you might be surprised at just how many dogs and cats of all different shapes and sizes there are!

3. Help to stop supporting bad breeding practices

Buying pets online from unlicensed breeders can support irresponsible - or ‘backstreet’ - breeding, at the expense of animal welfare.

4. Unconditional love

Want a companion who is buzzing for you in your happiest moments and there for you at your lowest? Your rescue pet is bound to be there by your side. There’s nothing quite like the joy of sharing your day with a loyal companion, and the love you give back to them in the form of a happy home and a safe future.

5. Support the organization

Everyone who chooses to rehome through a local charity or organization not only gets a pet to love, they are also helping to support the lives of those pets in their care who are still waiting for their forever home.

6. It will not cost you the world

The rehoming fees you'll pay - which help to cover the costs of looking after the health of rescue pets - are far less than the amount you would pay to buy a pet from a for-profit business.

When you rescue from Battersea, your new pet will already have been vaccinated and neutered, and comes with a month’s worth of free pet insurance.

7. Many animals will already be well trained

Of course, it's not always the case, but many animals at shelters have previously been house trained, or know other commands and training, particularly if they are older.

To find out more about why rescue animals make the best pets, visit the Battersea website, or join the rescue movement by using #RescueIsMyFavouriteBreed.

Your new best friend is closer than you think!

There's plenty to love about dogs. Unless you're allergic to them or have had a particularly bad experience, I believe almost anyone can be converted into a dog lover as long as they're in the company of one long enough.

Coming home from a long day at work to a companion that over the moon to see you is certainly good for your mental health, but it turns out that owning a dog can be beneficial to your physical health too.

Researchers from the University of Liverpool - in collaboration with Lancaster University, Liverpool John Moores University and the University of Western Australia - recently conducted a study that backed up this notion. Dr. Carri Westgarth and colleagues analysed the physical activity of 385 households in West Cheshire, including 191 dog owners, 455 without a dog, and 46 children.

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The study found that people in the UK would be considerably less active if it wasn't for dogs. The NHS recommends around 150 minutes of exercise a week - and the study revealed that 87.3% of dog owners hit this target, while only 62.7% of those without dogs did.

Dog owners reportedly walk their pets a median average of seven times and 220 minutes per week, and were also found to jog and run on their own more often.

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“Our findings provide support for the role of pet dogs in promoting and maintaining positive health behaviours such as walking," Dr. Westgarth said. "Without dogs, it is likely that population physical activity levels would be much lower."

"Our findings provide support for the role of pet dogs in promoting and maintaining positive health behaviours such as walking. Without dogs, it is likely that population physical activity levels would be much lower.

"The health benefits of dog ownership should be recognised and facilitated through the provision of dog-supportive walking environments and pet-friendly housing; failure of planning and policy makers to provide these may significantly damage population levels of physical activity."

In addition to this, Westgarth pointed out that this wasn't a recommendation for people to become dog owners purely for this reason, as "dog welfare needs must be carefully considered".

The effects documented in this study are far greater in the UK than similar studies in both the United States and Australia. A recent study revealed that 64% of dog owners in the UK reported that they walked with their dogs for at least 150 minutes each week. Meanwhile, only 27% of dog walkers in the United States  reached this same target.

So you love playing with dogs, but you don't own one. I feel you. Maybe your landlord has an evil "no dogs" policy, or maybe you can't afford the additional expenses, or maybe you have a rock star lifestyle and just aren't ready for the responsibility. Whatever the reason, you're lonely. Whenever you pass a dog-walker on the sidewalk, you take a moment to pet the puppy, but it never lasts long enough. Well, I've got some great news: There's a new app called "Bark N' Borrow," which is essentially Tinder for dogs: a matchmaking service for canine companions that fulfills everyone's needs. If you don't own a dog, you can find one to sit, or just play with for while. If you own a dog, you can find a lonely soul who would be all-too thrilled to watch over your pooch. (Or you find another other dog-owner to have playdate.) And if you're a dog, all of this sounds great to you because you desperately crave love and attention. Who's a good boy? You're a good boy! Yes, you are! But the app isn't just for borrowers. If you're looking for a long-term relationship, you can connect with animal shelters to find a dog to adopt. When you're swiping, you can see each canine's availability - adopt or borrow - and contact a a representative to set up a meeting and see if you're a perfect match. (And unlike Twitter, your match probably won't flake out or stand you up.) It's an efficient way to pick out a pooch that's arriving at the perfect time: According to Bark 'N' Borrow, 85% of people say they'll get their first dog or next dog at a shelter. The goal is to create a community of dog lovers, and so far it's been a wild success, attracting over 50,000 users. In a press release, the founder of Bark 'N' Borrow, Liam Berkeley emphasized the importance of working with shelters like NKLA (No-Kill Los Angeles): "There are nearly 4 million homeless dogs in shelters across the U.S. who are in desperate need of care and a permanent home. We're excited to work with NKLA to bring more attention to their adoptable dogs and to offer our users the ability to meet these incredible animals with the goal of long-term adoptions.... A lot of our users are currently waiting to find the right kind of dog to adopt, and in the meantime are excited to borrow to see which breed suits their lifestyle." If you're concerned about leaving your dog with a total stranger, don't worry. This app contains a rating system similar to Uber and Airbnb, so you can find reputable users. Also, the company takes great pains to verify people through their social media and public information. There's even an actual human who reviews every account. So, congratulations! Now all of your doggy dreams can come true, and you'll never be lonely again. They were going to start an app like this for cats, but cats were like "NO. F--k that noise. Go away."

There are two types of people in this world: Dog people and cat people.

Now, dog people love their canine companions like family, and understand that when they welcome a pooch into their home, they become part of their wolf pack. Yes, dogs are perhaps the most loyal and loving partners us humans will ever have, which is why I truly believe they are "man's best friend".

And then there are cat people... who do things like this.

Yes, despite the fact cats expect their owners to wait on them hand and foot - all for little more than a purr - some feline fanatics are now purchasing little IKEA beds intended for children to use with their dolls, and are instead using them for their cats.

IKEA's £13 (roughly $15 USD) DUKTIG Doll's Bed is currently being sold with the intention of "[encouraging] make-believe play" for young children and their toys. Look, there's even a picture of a child playing with his doll on the website:

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However, some cat owners have decided to use the mini-bed for another purpose entirely, and are instead using them for their cats.

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And it's not just cats who are getting involved in the fun. There are even some rabbits getting treated to their own IKEA bed:

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The DUKTIG beds are also available on Amazon, where the customer reviews section has become my favorite part of the internet.

One five-star reviewer writes: "I use this for my rabbit she loves it! Although getting her up in the mornings from the bed is nearly impossible she hates leaving it lol. fantastic all you rabbit owners this is perfect"

And another happy customer writes: "I bought this cat bed from Ikea, she *loves* it. Good quality and safe (no sharp edges), raises her off the floor out of any draft. She even prefers it to the settee. We did put a plush cushion on it for her though, for comfort. Very easy to assemble. One of our best buys for her."

If you're looking to treat your small furry friends, you can buy your own DUKTIG bed from IKEA by clicking HERE.

They were worshipped as gods back in Ancient Egypt, but in modern times, cats get somewhat of a bad rep. All over the internet, people are quick to sing the praises of dogs, and while they are great, it is cats who are unfairly branded as jerks.

But I don't think that's true at all; all the cats I know well are lovely, and a new study says that if a cat is a jerk, it's probably a good idea to take a look at its owner.

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That's according to a new study published in the journal Plos One, which explains that cats, previously thought to be independent to the point of indifference, actually tend to mimic the traits of the human closest to them, including traits like extraversion, agreeableness, emotional stability, and openness to new experiences.

This cat got far too excited about being on live TV:

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To make this incredible discovery, scientists surveyed over 3,000 cat owners, asking them a number of questions relating to the Big Five of personality traits; agreeableness, extraversion, openness to new experiences, conscientiousness (a measure of carefulness and diligence) and neuroticism (a measure of emotional instability).

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They found - weirdly enough - that the traits pronounced in the cat owners were also pronounced in their cats. So if a cat owner was not very extraverted but neurotic and generally open to new experiences, then their cats tended to be more introverted and emotionally unstable, but open to new experiences in the same fashion.

"This study provides the best evidence to date of the relationship between owner personality and cat behaviour, welfare and lifestyle parameters, showing for the first time clear parallels with the parent-child relationship and the associated wellbeing outcomes for children," the study explained, but warned that there was plenty of research left to be conducted to understand why this happened.

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Further steps would be taken to ascertain ideas like "if and how owner personality influences the selection of cats with more health and behavioural problems and certain personality attributes," added the study.