This morning, I woke up wearing a furry feline hat. No, I have not gone into the business of turning pets into designer fashion. What I mean is I woke up to find my beloved, twenty-something cat Socks wrapped around my head, claws lightly gripping my forehead. My perimeter-breach alarm was just beginning to chime, which is why I woke up.

There have been a few times in the last couple of years when my husband and I have started to think that this is the beginning of the end for Socks. She has stopped eating for a few days at a time, has crept weakly around the house like a winter wasp (more on that some other time), and been found staring into empty space, yowling dolefully. My working theory is the more I cuddle her the longer she will live. And while my study is decidedly unscientific, I haven’t been exactly proved wrong yet, because, at the time of this writing, she is still very much alive.

I did some in depth research (meaning I read the first article that popped up on my search, and I liked what it said, so I stopped looking) says, of humans, that snuggling can lead to happier thoughts, a more trusting attitude, an easing of anxiety and stress, and can even strengthen the immune system and lead to lower blood pressure! Sometimes, however, one’s favorite human is unavailable, so a cat becomes the best candidate for the job.

I even found a website on how to cuddle a cat! Having had only three cats as an adult, two of whom are/were very long-lived, I can say that different cats have different druthers, so take heed to the advice that you must adjust your cuddling technique to fit your cat’s personality. Socks is most decidedly a super-snuggler, while Digby would tolerate a bit before whacking you a good one if you didn’t pick up on a subtler hint to lay off.  

And even though I don’t pursue this topic in a scientific manner, there are some who have. One study (at least one, that is; as I mentioned, I found an article that matches my preconceived notions, so I went with it) says that cuddling does indeed keep cats healthy.

So, I let dear old Socks do her worst. My sleep with her around is a bit of catch-as-catch-can, but I figure it’s worth it for us both.

Sources:

The 3 Biggest Advantages of Human Touch May Surprise You – PlushCare

How to Cuddle a Cat: The Ultimate Guide | BeChewy

Why Do Cats Like To Cuddle? | Cuteness