This is how having a cat as a pet impacts our brain

Cats may have a reputation for being independent, but recent research suggests we share a unique connection with them, driven by brain chemistry.

The main substance involved is oxytocin, nicknamed the "love hormone." It's the same neurochemical released when a mother cradles her baby or when friends hug, fostering trust and affection. And now studies show that this neurotransmitter is also important for the bond between cats and humans.

Oxytocin plays a key role in social bonding, trust, and stress regulation in many animals, including humans. A 2005 experiment showed that it made human volunteers much more willing to trust others when they played financial games.

It also has calming effects on humans and animals , as it suppresses the stress hormone cortisol and activates the parasympathetic nervous system (the rest and digest system) to help the body relax.

Scientists have long known that friendly interactions trigger the release of oxytocin in both dogs and their owners, creating a vicious cycle of bonding. However, until recently, little was known about its effect on cats.

Cats are more subtle when it comes to showing affection. However, their owners often report the same warm feelings of companionship and stress relief as dog owners, and studies increasingly support these claims. Researchers in Japan, for example, reported in 2021 that brief petting sessions with their cats increased oxytocin levels in many owners.

In that study, women interacted with their pets for a few minutes while scientists measured the owners' hormone levels. The results suggested that friendly contact (stroking the cat, speaking to it in a soft tone) was linked to an increase in oxytocin in the humans' saliva, compared to a period of quiet rest without their cat.

Many people find it relaxing to pet a purring kitty, and research indicates it's not just because of their soft fur. The act of petting and even the sound of purring can trigger the release of oxytocin in our brains. A 2002 study found that this release caused by gentle contact with a cat helps reduce cortisol (our stress hormone), which in turn can reduce blood pressure and even pain.

Research is identifying specific moments that trigger the release of this hormone in our interspecies friendships. Gentle physical contact appears to be a primary trigger for cats.

A February 2025 study found that when owners petted, hugged, or rocked their cats in a relaxed manner, the owners' oxytocin tended to increase, as did the cats', as long as the interaction wasn't forced on the animal.

Researchers monitored the hormone levels in cats during 15 minutes of play and cuddles at home with their owners. Securely bonded felines that initiated contact—for example, by sitting on a cat's lap or nuzzling—showed an increase in oxytocin. The more time they spent near their humans, the greater the increase.

What about less affectionate felines ? The same study observed different patterns in cats with more anxious or distant attachment styles. Avoidant cats (those who kept their distance) showed no significant changes in oxytocin, while anxious cats (those who constantly sought out their owner but were easily overwhelmed by handling) had high oxytocin levels from the start.

The oxytocin levels of avoidant and anxious cats were found to decrease after a forced hug. When interactions respect the animal's comfort, the bonding hormone flows, but when a cat feels cornered, it becomes elusive.

Perhaps humans could learn something from their feline friends about managing attachment styles. The key to bonding with a cat is understanding how they communicate.

Unlike dogs, cats don't rely on prolonged eye contact to bond. Instead, they use more subtle signals. The most well-known is the slow blink, a feline smile that conveys confidence and trust.

Purring also plays an important role in creating connections with people. The low purr has been linked not only to healing in cats themselves, but also to calming effects in humans. Listening to this distinctive sound can reduce heart rate and blood pressure, and oxytocin mediates these benefits.

The company of a cat, reinforced by all those little oxytocin boosts from daily interactions, can serve as a buffer against anxiety and depression, in some cases providing comfort comparable to human social support.

It's true that studies often find stronger oxytocin responses in dog-human interactions. In a much-discussed 2016 experiment, scientists measured oxytocin in pets and owners before and after ten minutes of play. Dogs showed an average 57% increase in oxytocin levels after play, while cats showed an increase of about 12%.

In humans, oxytocin levels increase during meaningful social interactions. Studies show that contact with a loved one produces stronger oxytocin responses than contact with strangers. Therefore, a dog's joyful greeting is similar to the excitement felt when seeing a child or partner.

Dogs, being pack animals domesticated for the constant company of humans, are almost hardwired to seek eye contact, petting, and approval from people, behavior that stimulates the release of oxytocin in both partners. Cats, however, evolved from solitary hunters who didn't need overt social gestures to survive. Therefore, they may not display oxytocin-driven behavior as readily or consistently. Instead, cats may reserve their oxytocin-releasing behavior for when they feel truly safe.

A cat's trust isn't automatic; it must be earned. But once granted, it's reinforced by the same chemical bond that bonds human parents, partners, and friends.

So, the next time your cat glances up at you from across the couch or climbs into your lap to snuggle and purr, keep in mind that something invisible is also happening: oxytocin is rising in both brains, deepening trust and easing the stress of everyday life. Cats, in their own way, have tapped into the ancient biology of love.

Article published in The Conversation

Laura Elin Pigott. Senior Lecturer in Neurosciences and Neurorehabilitation, Course Leader in the College of Health and Life Sciences, London South Bank University