What does owning a cat do to your brain (and theirs) and how does it relate to oxytocin?

New research shows that the love hormone, oxytocin, not only strengthens social bonds between humans – but also deepens the connection with cats, with the key being gentle touch and mutual trust.

By Laura Elin Pigott – Senior Lecturer in Neuroscience and Neurological Rehabilitation, Course Leader at the College of Health and Life Sciences, London South Bank University

Cats may have a reputation for being independent animals, but new research shows we have a unique bond with them – a bond driven by brain chemistry.

The main chemical involved is oxytocin, often called the “love hormone.” It’s the same neurochemical that surges when a mother cradles her baby or when friends hug, and it fosters trust and affection. Now research shows that oxytocin is also important for the bond between a cat and its owner.

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

Oxytocin also has calming effects because 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 reciprocal feedback loop. However, until recently, little was known about its effects on cats.

Cats are more subtle in their displays of affection. However, their owners often report the same warm feelings of companionship and stress relief as dog owners—and research increasingly backs up these reports. For example, researchers in Japan reported in 2021 that brief petting sessions with cats increased oxytocin levels in many owners.

In this study, women petted and talked to their cats for a few minutes while scientists measured their hormone levels. It was found that friendly touch was associated with an increase in salivary oxytocin, compared to quiet rest without the cat.

Many people find petting a purring cat soothing, and it's not just because of its soft fur. The act of petting and the sound itself can trigger the release of oxytocin in the brain. A 2002 study showed that gentle contact with a cat increases oxytocin, reduces cortisol, and can thus lower blood pressure and even pain.

When is oxytocin released between cats and humans?

Studies point to certain moments that trigger the release of this hormone in friendship between the sexes. Gentle physical contact is the main trigger.

A February 2025 study found that when owners calmly petted, hugged, or cradled their cats, the owners' oxytocin levels increased, as did the cats', if the interaction was not forced.

Well-connected cats who initiated contact—such as sitting on a lap or nuzzling—showed increased oxytocin levels. The more time they spent close to their owners, the greater the increase.

In contrast, cats with anxious or avoidant attachment styles showed different patterns. Avoidant cats showed no significant change, while anxious cats had high levels to begin with, which decreased after a forced hug.

How do cats communicate trust?

Unlike dogs, cats don't rely on prolonged eye contact. They use more subtle signals, like the "slow blink"—a feline smile that signals confidence.

Purring also plays a role in bonding: it's been linked to healing in cats and calming effects in humans. Listening to purring can lower heart rate and blood pressure, with oxytocin mediating the effect.

Companionship with a cat – reinforced by daily oxytocin boosts – can act as a buffer against anxiety and depression, and in some cases, a substitute for human social support.

Read more: Is Your Cat Loud or Quiet? The Explanation May Be in Their Genes

Are cats simply less loving than dogs?

In general, studies show stronger oxytocin responses with dogs. A 2016 study found that dogs had a 57% increase in oxytocin after play, compared to about 12% in cats.

Humans show stronger reactions to contact with a loved one than a stranger. Thus, greeting a happy dog ​​is similar to meeting a child or a spouse.

Dogs, as pack animals domesticated to live with humans, seek eye contact, petting, and affirmation—behavior that increases oxytocin release. Cats, as solitary hunters, have no need for such gestures. So they save them for moments when they truly feel safe.

A cat's trust is not taken for granted, but is built slowly. But once it is given, it is reinforced by the same chemical that bonds parents, partners, and friends.

So, the next time your cat slowly blinks or climbs onto your lap purring – you’ll know that something invisible is happening: Oxytocin is surging in both of your brains, deepening trust and easing tension. Cats, in their own way, have tapped into the ancient biology of love.

For the article on The Convesrsartion website https://doi.org/10.64628/AB.kss7jfvqh

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