The Power of Pet Cuddles
- rosiepose147
- May 3
- 1 min read
Updated: Nov 2
Power of Pet Cuddles
There’s nothing like a warm snuggle from a furry friend! Whether it's a cat curling up on your lap or a dog rolling over to let you pet its belly, pet cuddles aren’t just cute, they’re also powerful! Science has shown that spending time cuddling with pets can bring benefits to both humans and animals:
Cuddling a pet signals a release of neurotransmitters such as oxytocin (the “love” hormone), and dopamine into our bodies. This release increases feelings of bonding and connection, as well as reducing stress and lowering blood pressure. Some research even indicates that spending time with pets can release endorphins, associated with healing, and reduce cortisol (the “stress” hormone) levels. Time with your furry friends can improve many components of your well-being: mental, emotional and physical!
Cats also crave physical touch and attention, meaning that your cuddles make them feel more loved, secure and connected to you. The same hormones (like oxytocin) are released in cats, making the physical benefits of the human-animal bond a two-way street!
For those in long-term care, loneliness is very common. Because animals like cats give humans a sense of comfort and happiness, animal therapy is used in many assisted living and rehabilitation centers to uplift the people in their care and make the healing process easier.
The connection between humans and animals is very strong – capable of improving the health and wellbeing of both people and their furry friends. In fact, the number of animal videos and memes on the internet is increasing, showing how comforting even the mere sight of an adorable cat is!
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