How do your animals help you with depression?

@JanahisHere

My pets also aren't support animals, but just them being around helps significantly.

We live in a small, old house with a garden outside, there isn't a lot of space, but atleast it's private.
I have two outdoor kittens(used to have another older cat, but she disappeared months ago and never came back home sadly), they're just common street kittens we adopted after their momcat kept coming back for food. One is dark gray with stripes called Monya, she is quite shy and gentle, and the other is a calico, Munya, who can't seem to understand that she shouldn't steal food or climb tables :))

Aside from simply being adorable bundles of joy to cuddle and play with everyday, these cats are the only reason I ever walk out of the house into the garden, I haven't spent this much time outside, even if it's within my house's territory, for several years. I'm glad to have a reason to just walk out and sit down on a bench to pet my cats.
The calico kitty, Munya, pretty much does what she wants and likes climbing into places she shouldn't be in, though troublesome, there is a good side to that behavior. You see, I have a very hard time waking up, I can sleep up to 12 hours, and if I do, I get awful headaches and feel gross all day. But now (almost) every morning Munya comes into my room and confidently dances on my face until I wake up. Honestly there's nothing better than waking up to fluff and purring all over your head. ^^

I've heard of special support animals before and I never thought that they could be of much help, but having these two ordinary cats around has changed my mind on that matter. They really help brighten up my days.
(Bah, I rambled out a freaking novel welp)

This thread is great! And I love what your family has done for the kitty. Both sound adorable. Take care of yourself!

@JanahisHere

My little bitty dog Max is my best friend companion. He weighs 8 pounds he is a Chihuahua that believes hes a Doberman. He is so fearless. He does not let anyone get to close to me, he is very protective of me. He is always close by me. He can't talk but he understands me well.I Love my Companion

Although they're not as interactive as larger animals like dogs, I had a pet hamster when I was living away from my loved ones. Perhaps it was because she was so small and jittery in the beginning that spending time with her to tame her and teach her how to be calm sort of helped me focus on being calm myself. Seeing her progress and caring for her happiness (yes, hamsters can have happy or sad lives too) reminded me to care for myself as well.

Do they even have depression?