Cat Proximity Linked to Owner Happiness in New Study

A recent study from Kyoto University examined how the closeness between cats and their owners affects human mood. Researchers followed 29 cats and 19 owners for one month, using small Bluetooth beacons on the cats’ collars to track how often the animals stayed near their humans. The data showed that owners who spent more time physically close to their cats reported more positive moods, while the length of time an owner had owned a cat did not show the same association.

Hormonal analysis revealed that cats and their owners had correlated oxytocin levels, a hormone linked to social bonding. Higher oxytocin in cats was also associated with lower cortisol levels and fewer negative feelings in their owners. Interestingly, a cat’s oxytocin level was more closely tied to the owner’s negative moods than the owner’s own oxytocin level.

The researchers caution that the findings are correlational; they do not prove that proximity causes happiness or that happier people simply spend more time near their cats. The study, published in iScience, involved a small sample, so further research is needed to determine how broadly these results apply.

Key takeaways

• Owners who are physically closer to their cats tend to feel happier.
• Cats and owners show correlated oxytocin levels.
• Higher cat oxytocin links to lower owner cortisol and fewer negative feelings.
• The study is correlational and based on a small sample.
• More research is needed to confirm these associations across larger groups.

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Originally reported by iHeartCats. Read the full article.

Cover photo by Engin Akyurt via Pexels.