Kyoto University study finds hormonal link between cats and owners

Researchers at Kyoto University have identified a measurable hormonal connection between cats and their owners. The study, which involved 19 owners and 29 cats, monitored levels of oxytocin, associated with social bonding, and cortisol, associated with stress, through urine analysis.

Using Bluetooth devices attached to cat collars to track proximity, the team found that owners with higher oxytocin levels also had cats with higher oxytocin levels. Notably, higher oxytocin levels in cats were linked to lower cortisol levels in their owners. Owners of these cats reported feeling less anger, confusion, anxiety, and depression, and often described themselves as more energetic and alert.

Lead researcher Saho Takagi suggested that physical interaction, such as petting, may drive these rising oxytocin levels in both species. While the study demonstrates a correlation between daily proximity and positive mood, researchers noted it does not definitively prove that cats directly reduce human stress, suggesting instead that people in better moods may simply spend more time near their pets.