May 30th is International Hug Your Cat Day. If there was ever a time when we need to hug kitties, it’s now. The past few months have been extremely stressful, to say the least. Our feline friends are great at providing comfort and love in times like this. Read on as a Greater Cincinnati vet lists some reasons to hug Fluffy.
When you hug your feline pal, a special hormone is released in both of you. This hormone, oxytocin, is also known as the Cuddle hormone or the Love hormone. It’s released when mothers snuggle with their babies. It promotes feelings of love, safety, happiness, and bonding, which are things we all need this year!
Did you know that hugging cats is actually good for us? Studies have shown that cuddling with a furry friend can actually lower your blood pressure. Plus, hugging Fluffy is very soothing, which can be very helpful to anyone dealing with fear, sickness, trauma, depression, and/or anxiety. It’s amazing how big of a comfort our feline buddies can be!
Our furry pals pretend that they are cold and aloof, but many of them are really quite snuggly. If you have a kitten, you’ll need to cuddle your tiny furball often. This will help socialize her, so she grows up friendly and polite. It will also help Little Fluffy start thinking of you as her pet parent. (Eventually, she’ll decide that you are actually her servant, but that’s beside the point.)
Sadly, there are plenty of sweet kitties out there who want nothing more than for people to love them and hug them. If you are able, consider adopting a cat. If this isn’t a good time for that, look into fostering. Or, donate money or supplies to a local charity. That helps, too!
In our book, hugging a purring cat is one of the best things you can do to soothe yourself on bad days. Fluffy doesn’t care what’s going on outside her domain: she just wants to snuggle. In times of isolation, pets can truly be a lifeline. No matter what the headlines say, your furball will just keep on being as cute and amusing as ever.
Please contact us, your Greater Cincinnati vet clinic, for all of your pet’s veterinary care needs. We’re here to help!
