Hug Your Cat Day 2020: The benefits of cat ownership
It’s Hug Your Cat Day! While nobody is really sure where the unofficial holiday came from, we can all agree that cuddling our pets is a huge stress reliever.
Cats are notorious for being independent, but even the most nonchalant r cat loves to snuggle up and cuddle! Even if your cat isn’t particularly affectionate, there are so many benefits to having a furry companion.
Improving your wellbeing
You might have seen a rise in ‘puppy therapy’ in recent years. For example, universities would host sessions where stressed out students could interact with dogs in a safe and calm environment as a way to relax. Dogs have a great reputation as being a best friend, but what about cats? Our feline friends love human company – you might find that even the most distant cat will occasionally sneak up for a snuggle! – and stroking your cat can help you feel more relaxed too.
Oxytocin is released when you cuddle your cat. In fact, it’s known as the ‘cuddle hormone’ and can help you and your pet relax and unwind. It can also help lower blood pressure – win win!
In fact, a US study found that cat owners are less likely to experience a stroke or heart attack.
Companionship
Our cats are there when we wake up in the morning and when we go to bed at night. They make us laugh, cheer us up when we’re feeling under the weather and offer support – even if they don’t know it! Your cat never judges, and they can be relied on to offer a helpful ‘meow’ when we need it.
Our pets are often our best friends too. Whether you live alone or with others, your cat offers unrivalled companionship each and every day and can prevent loneliness – particularly if they’re our sole companion.
Owning a cat can give a sense of purpose and routine, for the good days and the bad. They don’t even know how incredibly important they are!
A positive role model
These days, it’s easy to turn to social media for inspiration. But in reality, we have little role models right next to us each and every day! Cats are active, give themselves time to sleep and play, and have a balanced diet. So it’s no surprise that our pets can be a source of inspiration when it comes to living a healthy and happy life.
We want the best for our pets, and this can encourage us to be the best to ourselves too, so we can look after them as well as we can. Taking it a step further, pets have long been muses and idols throughout history. So while we might not worship our cats like the Egyptians once did, we can admire them and enjoy their company – especially on Hug Your Cat Day.
So show your cat some extra love on Hug Your Cat Day, and maybe give them an extra treat or two to say thanks for being the perfect companion.