Do Cats Like To Be Hugged?

By: Faith P.

Do Cats like to be hugged? Many cat owners love to snuggle up with their furry friends; they are a source of comfort for many people. We show them our love and affection for them all the time with pets, belly rubs, food, and hugs! When we hug our cats, we show love and kindness, just like when we hug other people, but do cats see it the same way we do?

When we hug our furry friends, it’s more often for our enjoyment rather than theirs. There are many gestures that your pet would prefer much more than hugging, like scratches, pets, and kisses. However, is there any evidence that tells us that cats don’t like being hugged? Not really.

Some Science(Not Really):

The scientific studies that people reference that cats or any pet, for that matter, don’t like to be hugged are actually not studies at all! These “studies” were an opinion piece done by Dr. Stanley Coren, and it was about dogs. He looked at images of dogs being hugged online and picked out signs of stress, which led to his conclusion that dogs don’t like to be embraced. Since this is not a scientific study, there are many areas where you can poke holes in his idea; there are too many variables and no control group to compare the results.

This spun into a web of assumptions on the internet, and Dr. Coren’s opinion piece was taken as fact then spread to other pets such as cats. In reality, there are no studies (that I could find) that will conclusively tell you cats don’t like to be hugged. However, that doesn’t mean that all cats like to be hugged either.

Cat Truths:

Cats generally don’t like being restrained, which may be a factor that could explain why they may not enjoy hugs. When you hug your cat, they may feel cornered and feel like they may be in danger. They would rather there be a way to escape from your grasp. However, your cat may also ask you for cuddles, hugs, and kisses because they like the affection. 

It is important to know and establish your cat’s boundaries; this is especially important if your cat is around kids. It would be best to teach the kids how to show affection for your cat without causing it stress. Children often don’t know better and may appear threatening to your cat; tell the kids to let your cat approach them and not stare them in the eye. Doing these things will prevent unwanted injuries and stress on you, the kids, and your cat.

To Hug or Not to Hug:

Overall, you need to get to know your cat and its personality. If you look for a definitive answer to the question “Do cats like to be hugged?” you’ll likely not be able to find one. The fact is that it really depends on your cat and what they like. As you may know, all cats have their own personality, and they won’t all act the same. Like people, each one will have different preferences. It’s mainly up to you, as the owner, to figure out their boundaries and preferences. Once established you can show affection in a way that works for both you and your cat. Does your cat like hugs? Share your stories with us in the comments below

 

Links:

https://www.embracepetinsurance.com/waterbowl/article/hugging-pets 

https://www.vetcentermorriscounty.com/storage/app/media/stress-triggers-for-cats.pdf 

https://www.greatplainsspca.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/kidscats.pdf