Cow Cuddling Near Orlando

Some people unwind with yoga. Others go and lean on a cow. Cow cuddling has gone from a quirky farm activity to a full-blown travel trend, and Highland cows, with their soft coats and calm personalities, have become the face of it. If you are visiting Orlando and want to try it, here is what to know.

What Is Cow Cuddling?

Cow cuddling started in the Netherlands, where it is called koe knuffelen, roughly "cow hugging." Farmers began inviting visitors to spend slow, quiet time with their cattle as a way to reconnect with nature, and the idea spread to farms across Europe and the United States.

A typical session is simple. You approach calmly, let the cow get used to you, and then spend time scratching, petting and leaning into a warm, relaxed animal. Cows are big, slow-moving and have a steady heartbeat, and many people describe the experience as surprisingly soothing.

Does Cow Cuddling Really Reduce Stress?

Here is the honest answer: there is not much research on cow cuddling specifically, and some of the bigger claims you see online go beyond the evidence. But there are good reasons to think it helps.

• Petting animals lowers stress hormones. In a 2019 randomized study at Washington State University, students who spent just 10 minutes petting cats and dogs had lower cortisol, a major stress hormone, than students who only watched or looked at photos.
• Cows seem to enjoy it too. Researchers in Austria found that cows stroked on the neck relaxed noticeably, stretching out their necks and letting their ears droop, with lower heart rates.
• It slows you down. You cannot rush a cow. Simply being outside, moving slowly and paying attention to an animal is a break most of us could use.

Why Highland Cows Are Perfect For Cuddling

Highlands are known for being calm and docile, and their long, soft coats make them especially huggable. Mini Highlands are shorter, so kids can reach them easily and adults do not feel dwarfed. Read more about Highland cow temperament and safety.

What Cow Cuddling Is Like At Mini Moo Land

At Mini Moo Land, cuddling is part of a guided, hands-on visit with our Highland herd, not a solo session in a field. Here is what is included with general admission:

• Pet and cuddle the herd. Get up close with those famously shaggy coats while our team shows you where the cows like to be scratched.
• Hand-feed the cows. Offer approved cow feed and meet the personalities behind all that hair.
• Photos under the oaks. The setting is shady and green, and the cows are very photogenic.

Want the cutest version? The VIP Bottle Feeding Experience lets you hold the bottle for one of our baby Highland calves. It is $65 per guest, includes admission, and runs daily at 10:00 AM, 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM.

Tips For Your First Cow Cuddle

1. Wear clothes you do not mind getting dirty and closed-toe shoes. Cows are clean animals, but this is a farm.
2. Move slowly and stay quiet. Calm energy makes for a calm cow.
3. Approach from the front or side, never from behind.
4. Scratch the neck and shoulders. That is where many cows like it most.
5. Mind the horns and keep your face out of their swing range.
6. Visit in the morning on hot days. It is cooler for you and the herd.

Make It A Boggy Creek Day

Mini Moo Land is one stop inside Boggy Creek Airboat Adventures, a Tripadvisor Travelers' Choice park with more than 9,000 reviews. After you meet the herd, the rest of the park is right there:

• Ride an airboat through the headwaters of the Everglades and look for wild alligators, turtles and wading birds. Choose a one-hour tour, a sunset tour or a night tour under the stars.
• Dig for gems at the 70-foot Prospector Gem Mine, where kids sift for semi-precious stones, fossils and crystals.
• Walk through Lily's Butterfly Garden and its native butterflies and plants.
• Visit the Gator Pond.
• Eat lakeside at Boggy Bottom BBQ.

The easiest way to do it all is the 1-hour airboat ride and Mini Moo Land combo, which costs $10 less than booking both separately.

Planning more of your trip? See our list of things to do in Kissimmee with kids.