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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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019t been exactly proved wrong yet, because, at the time of this writing, she is still very much alive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s favorite human is unavailable, so a cat becomes the best candidate for the job.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s personality. Socks is most decidedly a super-snuggler, while Digby would tolerate a bit before whacking you a good one if you didn\u2019t pick up on a subtler hint to lay off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
And even though I don\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\u2019s worth it for us both.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sources:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The 3 Biggest Advantages of Human Touch May Surprise You – PlushCare<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n How to Cuddle a Cat: The Ultimate Guide | BeChewy<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n