Hi Everyone,
I’m so happy to be here today talking about my favorite things. It took me only about three seconds to come up with a topic, and I’m not kidding. One of my closest friends recently told me that she couldn’t imagine me without a pet in my home. She’s right. I don’t ever see myself without a four-footed best buddy, or two or three.
At times in my life, I’ve had dozens. Not all in the house, of course. Some lived in the barn or freely roamed the property like my 200-pound potbelly pig named Queenie. I’m what my mom called a critter person, and getting cuddles from those critters is absolutely one of my favorite things.
And you don’t have to limit yourself to cats and dogs. Why not an alpaca? Or an elephant? Or a parrot? Snakes? Maybe not for me, but to each their own, right?
Seriously, though. Not only is critter cuddling fun, it’s actually really good for your health, both physical and mental. Here are just some of the astounding benefits:
Benefits of cuddling animals
Lowers blood pressure
Lowers cholesterol and triglyceride levels
Reduces risk of heart attacks
Increases cognitive function
Mood elevator
Helps combat feelings of loneliness and depression
Relieves anxiety
Reduces stress
A coping mechanism for PTSD
Alleviates fear
But best of all, petting your pet, or any animal, puts a smile on your face and gives you a warm, cozy feeling. That’s what makes it a favorite thing of mine ?
Cathy McDavid has been penning Westerns for Harlequin since 2005. With over 55 titles in print and 1.6 million-plus books sold, Cathy is also a member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America’s Honor Roll. This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins is married to her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world seven years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about good looking cowboys riding the range, busting broncs, and sweeping gals off their feet — oops, no. Make that winning the hearts of feisty, independent women who give the cowboys a run for their money. It a tough job, but she’s willing to make the sacrifice.
I’ve always been an animal lover too. I can’t remember a time growing up when I didn’t have a pet — dogs, cats, calves, rabbits, turtles, fish, a flying squirrel, etc. When I put a bat in a cage, and he got out that night, my parents almost had a “hissy fit,” both that I’d picked up the thing and that it got out of the cage in the house. I can understand their displeasure now, but we never saw it again, and I was young — around eight at the time. It was one of those stupid things children can do.
I love the bat story, Janice. I think having a pet bat would be so cool 🙂
It’s a good memory now, but Dad warned me bats carry rabies. It didn’t bite me, though.
There is nothing like reading a book with a purring cat next to you.
I couldn’t agree more!
Yes I can remember back to my 3rd birthday and there has always been a dog in the house, cats outside in the barn along with horses, cows, sheep, llamas, pigs, goats, chickens but that is a farmer’s life! I do miss my cockatiel who passed in 2021 at 25 years old! I too have always loved on them and received it as well!
I’ve never owned a bird, Teresa, but have thought it would be interesting. My cat would, too 🙂
If I liked cleaning litter boxes, I’d have a cat. However, I don’t like cleaning litter boxes, and I’m definitely NOT a person who wants a dog in the house! I like dogs, just not in my house, partly because I like bigger dogs, and I have a smallish house, and partly because I’m in Florida, and we’re miserably hot for much of the year!
Yes, when you have animals, you have to clean up after them. One way or another 🙂 Same with my husband!
We don’t have any critters because of my allergies, so I’ve been cuddling my new granddaughter.
Awww….. No doubt has the same health benefits.
I love dogs, but at this time in my life I don’t want to have the responsibility of a four-legged baby. Maybe down the road.
Yes, they are a responsibility. We like to travel, and making arrangement for the pets can be challenging.
I would give anything to have a fox! I also want a rabbit, but I can’t have them at the same time! Ha!
No, that wouldn’t be good. But I’ve heard of people having foxes for pets!
Welcome. I so a agree with you. God gave us animals for many reasons. The first nine years of my life I lived in Pasadena, CA. We had multiple fresh and salt water fish, birds, cats, dogs, a duck, a rat (Max walked onto our property and walked right up to mom in the back yard) and an owl (a hoot owl). The vet would constantly call my mom and say, “hello Pattie, we have _______ that someone dropped off. Would you and your family like to come see it?” Well mom was not one to let an animal pass. And us five kids were all about animals. LOL In fact our friends called us the “Dimmick Zoo” and the name stuck. Thank we moved to Apple Valley, CA onto a farm. Well we brought our animals with us and extended the numbers and the kinds. Four of us kids went into 4-H and of course it was with animals. I had a Palomino horse named Goldie, a Shorthorn heifer called Burgandy Rose and a pig (from a litter where he was a runt, I raised him in the house) called Squeak (long story). It was fabulous.
I think I would like your mom. If I could, I would take in all kinds of animals. Thanks for sharing stories of your wonderful critters 🙂
I love dogs. Our youngest son’s dog, Ziva, always puts a smile on our face with her silliness.
That’s wonderful, Barbara 🙂
I love the critters, but because of my severe allergies, I’m relegated to admiring them from afar. I do like to read about them for sure!
Well, I like writing about them, for sure 🙂
I love animals , growing up we always had a pet or 2. We have a 12 year old half Schnauzer and he makes me day a much better day every day, he makes me laugh and he always puts a smile on my face. They love us unconditionally and they know just how we are feeling every single day. I loved reading your post and thank you for sharing your awesome photos, they are so sweet.
Thanks for stopping by, Alicia 🙂
We have a dog and 2 cats. The dog prefers my husband, but the cats prefer me. Usually I have 1 cat sitting with me. One of them likes to lay on my shoulder.
Both my cat and dog prefer me 🙂
I love cuddling with critters. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Animals are great to have around. We have had quite a few come through this household. All the usual cats, dogs, and variety of rodents as well as my ball python. We also had ferrets, emus, llamas, and a variety of farm animals who reside at our daughter’s house. They can be a calming influence, but we currently are taking care of our son’s 5 month old puppy. We are definitely not suited for the puppy phase anymore. Between her and the traumatized rescue we have, we are spending a lot of time cleaning the floor.