Hug Your Cat Day

There’s a special holiday coming up, one that we can all really appreciate. May 30th is International Hug Your Cat Day! It’s probably safe to say that many kitties have been getting lots of hugs over the past few months. Cuddling cats is extremely soothing, and a great stress reliever. Read on as a Jefferson, IA area vet lists a few purrfect reasons to hug your cat.

Love

Cats and humans both need to feel loved to be happy. When
you and Fluffy snuggle, a special hormone is released in both of you. This hormone, Oxytocin, is also called the ‘Love hormone’ or the ‘Cuddle hormone.’ It reinforces feelings of affection, happiness, love, and safety.

Bonding

Kitties can form very special bonds with their human pals. In fact, many of them think of their humans as ‘parents.’ (We suspect that some of our feline friends think of us as servants, but that’s another topic.) When you hold your cat or let her snooze on her lap, she will feel safe and cared for. This will help strengthen that special friendship.

Relaxing

We probably don’t have to tell you how relaxing it can be to snuggle up with a kitty. In fact, a purring cat makes a great sleep aid. Settling in with your cute pet on your lap is a great way to relax after a hard or stressful day. That’s especially important in times like this!

Health Benefits

Did you know that hugging cats is actually good for us? Studies have shown that snuggling up with your furry friend helps lower your blood pressure. And, as mentioned above, it’s also great stress relief. Fluffy is a wonderful source of comfort. Hugging kitties can really help people who are struggling with anxiety, grief, depression, and loneliness. 

Kitties Deserve Hugs

Fluffy certainly is a wonderful little pet. Your feline pal doesn’t care how much money you make, what you wear, or what sort of car you drive. She just wants to be fed, loved, and cuddled! That’s a pretty good bargain in our book.

Tips

While hugging cats is wonderful, there are a few things to keep in mind. Never hug a cat that doesn’t want to be hugged! Also, when Fluffy is done, just let her go.

Do you have questions about your cat’s health or care? Contact us, your Jefferson, IA area vet clinic, today!