A hormonal link found between cats and their owners

For a month, researchers observed 19 owners and 29 domestic cats. They measured levels of oxytocin — the so-called "love hormone" associated with social attachment and feelings of closeness — as well as cortisol, the main stress hormone, in urine. In addition, scientists studied how often people interacted with their pets.

It was found that higher oxytocin levels in cats were associated with increased levels of this hormone in their owners. When the animals' oxytocin concentration increased, owners reported less anxiety, depressive symptoms, tension, and mood disturbances.

At the same time, the study found a link between owners' stress and the hormonal state of cats. In people with higher cortisol levels, their pets had less oxytocin. This may indicate that human stress is associated with a decrease in the level of the hormone involved in forming social bonds.

Scientists also found that the time spent with a cat is related to the owner's well-being. Bluetooth beacons on the animals' collars were used to track their movements. It turned out that people who spent more time with their pets had higher indicators of energy and vitality. The cat's lifespan in the family did not affect these indicators.

The lead researcher, animal behavior researcher Dr. Saho Takagi from Kyoto University, explained that direct physical proximity to a cat, which may include petting, playing, and other forms of contact, is associated with a more positive emotional state in humans.

To determine whether hormone levels were related to animal behavior, the researchers conducted additional tests. Cats with higher oxytocin levels more often approached both their owners and strangers. Animals with higher stress levels, on the contrary, less often approached strangers.

According to Saho Takagi, the results show that cats are not just passive human companions but are capable of actively participating in emotional interactions with people.

Previously, the physiological connection between humans and dogs had been studied much more extensively. The new study provides objective evidence that similar hormonal interconnections may also exist between humans and cats, who are traditionally considered more emotionally independent than dogs. However, the discovered links themselves do not yet prove that changes in hormone levels directly cause corresponding changes in mood or behavior.

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