Petting an animal

There's a tangible rush of peace in running a hand over an animal. A dog offers its head with expectant joy; a cat becomes the resident zamindar with each stroke. Even a horse radiates gentleness beneath your palm.

Part of the pleasure is that nothing needs explaining. Animals don't require anecdotes, opinions or updates. The hand moves; fur or skin moves beneath it; breathing slows. For a few minutes, two creatures agree that this is sufficient.

Friendly interaction with animals has been associated with increases in oxytocin, a hormone involved in social bonding. Studies have also found reductions in cortisol, a marker of stress. Touch itself can engage sensory and nervous-system pathways associated with calm. Heart rate and blood pressure may ease. The body, apparently, understands petting before the mind has finished worrying.


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But this quiet joy exceeds chemistry. To pet an animal is to communicate without the exhausting apparatus of language. For once, nobody is trying to improve anybody. You are simply touching another living thing, and it is allowing you to stay.