Small study links average oxytocin levels in pet cats and owners
SCIENCEUnverifiedUpdated:
A small observational study reportedly links average oxytocin levels in cats and owners. It measures a hormone involved in social bonding without showing synchronized changes or causation.
Distinguishing average-level associations from synchronization
Researchers recruited 19 owners and 29 pet cats. The hormone comparison used urine data from 24 cats and 17 owners, with three samples averaged for each individual. Higher feline oxytocin was also associated with some owner mood measures; after accounting for households with multiple cats, links with confusion and anxiety remained statistically supported.
The researchers state that earlier studies had not measured oxytocin in both pet cats and their owners.
The study reports an association between average oxytocin concentrations in cats and their owners. It does not establish hormone synchrony, a behavioral mechanism, or causation.
The finding examines a physiological dimension of cat–owner relationships that the researchers say has been less explored. Its small sample, household confounding, timing differences in sample collection, and observational design limit what can be inferred.
Sources
- ScienceAlertCats And Their Owners Seem to Share A Weird, Hormonal ConnectionRead source →