The key facts
- Owners of cats with high oxytocin have lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone (journal iScience).
- Sample: 19 owners (16 women) and 29 cats; closeness was measured with Bluetooth tags on collars.
- The authors acknowledge limitations: small sample, exploratory analyses, causality not established.
Hormonal connection between cats and owners
Scientists at Kyoto University have found that cats and their owners may be connected at the hormonal level. According to a study published in the journal iScience, owners of cats with high levels of oxytocin — the so-called 'bonding hormone' — show lower levels of cortisol, the stress hormone.
How the study was conducted
The study involved 19 owners and 29 cats, with 16 of the 19 owners being women. The researchers measured oxytocin and cortisol in the participants' urine, and the closeness between cat and human was assessed using Bluetooth tags on collars. Owners also filled out a mood questionnaire.
Main findings
It turned out that owners with higher oxytocin also had cats with higher oxytocin. The higher the cat's oxytocin, the lower the owner's cortisol turned out to be. Owners of such cats less often reported anger, confusion, anxiety and depression; however, after adjusting for cohabitation, only the associations with confusion and anxiety remained statistically robust. Those who generally stayed closer to their pet reported more energy and vigor. In an additional test, cats with higher oxytocin were more willing to approach a human.
Interpretation and limitations
'I think the reason is that oxytocin rises in both the owner and the cat at the same time,' explained the study's lead researcher, Saho Takagi. The authors honestly acknowledge the limitations: the sample is small, some analyses were exploratory, and a causal relationship cannot be established. 'To speak of causation, hormones need to be measured at several moments — before and after petting,' Takagi noted.
Significance of the study
Despite the limitations, the study adds to a growing body of evidence that the bond between humans and their pets may have a measurable biological basis, not merely an emotional one.
