Cat owners who spend plenty of time with their furry friends could be getting more than cuddles in return, with new research suggesting their pets may be linked to higher levels of the "love hormone".
Japanese scientists found that oxytocin levels in cats and their owners were correlated, while higher oxytocin levels in cats were linked to lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their owners.
The study, published in iScience, suggests that the quality of the relationship between a cat and its owner could matter more than simply having a feline at home.
Researchers at Kyoto University followed 29 cats and 19 owners for a month, collecting urine samples to analyse hormone levels.
The cats also wore Bluetooth trackers on their collars so researchers could measure how much time they spent physically close to their owners.
Owners completed questionnaires about their moods, while researchers monitored the cats’ behaviour around both their owners and unfamiliar people.
The results showed a positive correlation between oxytocin levels in cats and their owners.
Higher oxytocin levels in cats were associated with lower cortisol levels and fewer negative feelings among their owners.
The researchers also found that owners’ positive moods were linked more closely to physical proximity with their cats than to how long they had owned them.
Dr Saho Takagi, the study’s corresponding author, said: "I think many cat owners are familiar with the sense of comfort and peace they feel when their cat climbs onto their lap seeking affection, they start to pet it, and the cat begins purring contentedly."
She added: "Our findings suggest that this feeling may be partly reflected in the hormonal connection between cats and their owners, particularly through oxytocin, a hormone involved in the formation of parent-child bonds and social relationships."
Dr Takagi said the research could also help explain why previous studies into the health benefits of cat ownership have produced mixed results.
She said: "This study helps to explain why previous inquiries into the health benefits of cat ownership have produced inconsistent results by demonstrating that the quality of the relationship between human and cat matters more than simply owning a cat."
However, the researchers stressed that the findings only show associations and cannot prove that spending time with a cat directly causes hormonal or mood changes.
The team now hopes to investigate more closely how cats and their owners influence each other through their everyday interactions.