For a long time, cats have been a familiar pet for humans. We love these animals not only because they are adorable but also because they help alleviate loneliness and provide companionship.
Cats are a favorite pet for many people, and they are often considered an indispensable member of the family. Cats act as a confidant and a reliable support when you feel lonely. However, does this relationship offer any mental or physical benefits?
Geneticists, infectious disease specialists, and psychologists have proposed several hypotheses about why cats are close to certain people and the impact of cat ownership on human health.
Living with pets, including cats, brings many health benefits. (Photo: ameblo.jp).
Ancient Connections
According to DNA analyses, the ancestors of today’s domestic cats are the African wildcat, Felis silvestris lybica, which lived in the Fertile Crescent, the crossroads of ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, and Persia.
Although our connection with cats seems to have begun around 9,500 years ago in the Near East, the earliest evidence of a mutual relationship between cats and humans appeared only 5,300 years ago in the agricultural village of Quanhucun, China.
The Egyptians were famous for believing that cats were embodiments of the divine.
Cats and humans have had a long-standing connection. (Photo: Shutterstock).
Dr. Eva-Maria Geigl, director of the French National Scientific Research Center at the Jacques Monod Institute of Epigenomics and a paleobiology team in Paris, shared with Medical News Today (MNT): “Cats were domesticated to become symbiotic creatures with humans. Human settlements had food, which made them attractive to rodents. Cats approached human dwellings and adapted to the environment because this gave them an evolutionary advantage. Humans were also happy for cats to come to their settlements because they would eat the rodents that destroyed their food supplies.”
A study published in PNAS in 2014 found at least 13 genes in cats that show signs of the transition from wildcats to domestic cats. These genes are related to cognition and behavior, and they may enhance cats’ learning abilities based on food rewards, helping them feel less fearful of humans.
According to a study for which Dr. Geigl is the lead author, the widespread geographical development of cats may have occurred during the Middle Ages.
The National Institutes of Health (U.S.) estimates that there are about 85 million cats living in the United States. Additionally, around 70 million stray and feral cats exist in the country.
Emotional Bonds Between Humans and Cats
Dr. Patricia Pendry from Washington State University is researching human-animal interactions. She has published studies describing the particularly strong bond between emotionally rich individuals and their cats.
Dr. Pendry told MNT that the discriminatory behavior of cats makes them irresistible to humans. She stated: “The subtle and somewhat unpredictable responses of cats give us a sense of being ‘chosen’ or considered ‘special.’ I also think that since cats take time to respond, we become even more curious about what they will do next.”
Dr. Pendry explained that the nature and timing of a cat’s actions are more unpredictable than those of other animals, which draws us in, almost like an addiction. We find it hard to take our eyes off them when we hear their purr or feel them rubbing against us.
Some studies suggest that we find cats cute because they share certain features with infants. Instinctively, we react strongly to their wide eyes and playful antics. This is an evolutionary advantageous reaction to ensure we care for and protect our offspring.
One reason humans love cats is that they have some baby-like features. (Photo: 500px).
We also cannot overlook the entertainment value of cats. When playing, kittens appear energetic and clumsy, while adult cats can be humorous and captivating when they suddenly sprint or behave oddly.
Understanding Cat Behavior
Cats are known for being mysterious and aloof due to their unique and subtle ways of expressing emotions. Their faces may seem appealing or rough, but largely, they appear indifferent. Unlike dogs, cats do not wag their tails to signal excitement or happiness.
Recent research in Current Biology shows that cats are much friendlier than many people think. The sounds that cats make vary greatly in tone and meaning, from meows to hisses to deep growls signaling a potential fight.
Some vocalizations indicate that a cat wants to communicate with humans—such as the meow at breakfast time. However, most cats seem to only “talk” or mumble to themselves. Despite this, cats have many ways to express their feelings.
Head Butting
For those whom a cat is interested in or fond of, they often head butt against their fingers or feet. This behavior leaves pheromones released from the cat’s cheek glands, marking you as their own. When a cat bumps its head against your leg, it means they are gathering information about your interactions with other animals through smell.
Head butting against their owner’s leg is not only a way for cats to show affection but also a way for them to gather scent information. (Photo: Animalhearted).
Purring
People often assume that purring is a sign of a cat’s happiness, but this is not always the case. Cats can purr when they are distressed as well. Some experts suggest that cats use this soothing sound to comfort themselves during tough times. Others hypothesize that the purring sound may even have healing properties.
Purring occurs when a cat inhales and exhales, creating a sound with a frequency of 20-150 Hertz. Researchers are still unclear about the exact reasons why cats produce this sound.
Being Near You
Typically, a cat’s presence is the best signal that it likes you, which is especially true for shy cats. A cat will avoid someone it is not interested in or feels anxious around.
The Eyes
Cats have relatively large eyes, but when their eyes become very wide and their pupils dilate, this may signal that the cat is overly excited or perceiving a nearby threat.
Recent research confirms what many cat lovers have long suspected: to bond with a cat, slow blink at them. This action conveys a message: “I feel safe enough to close my eyes around you, and you will feel safe around me too.”
Whiskers
Although cat whiskers are made of keratin, like fur, they serve many more purposes. Whiskers are specialized sensory organs, each containing 100-200 nerve cells that provide information to cats about everything they brush against.
Cat whiskers are sensitive organs that help express a cat’s mood. (Photo: Schertzanimalhospital).
Whiskers can also indicate a cat’s mood. When a cat is relaxed, its whiskers extend outward from one side of its face. When a cat is happy or excited, such as when being gently petted, the whiskers may curve slightly forward. Whiskers pull back towards the cat’s face when they see something alarming.
How Cats Affect Their Owners’ Health
Researchers have found that living with cats provides physical health benefits and particularly psychological benefits, assuming you are not allergic to cats.
For example, a 2009 study found that people who had owned cats had a lower risk of dying from heart disease than those who had never owned a cat.
In a 2011 survey conducted by a cat protection charity in the UK, 93.7% of respondents reported that owning a cat benefited their mental health.
Owning a cat brings benefits to both physical and mental health. (Photo: Petsreporter).
A study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States indicates that living with multiple pets, including cats, may reduce the likelihood of children developing allergies. However, some people express concerns about the risk of infection from Toxoplasma gondii, a tiny single-celled parasite commonly found in cat feces. Some even suggest that T. gondii could be a contributing factor to mental health disorders such as schizophrenia.
In 2016, researchers examined the link between T. gondii and schizophrenia, severe depression, personality traits, cognitive performance, and poor impulse control, including suicidal behavior and criminal activity. They found very little evidence to support any connection between T. gondii and these issues.
Positive Psychological Effects
According to Dr. Pendry, cats provide us with attention, alleviate feelings of loneliness, and offer comfort. They play joyfully, show affection, and particularly allow their owners to pet and cuddle them. These actions release oxytocin, a hormone that inhibits the production of stress-related cortisol.
She added: “I believe that both cats and their owners benefit from this relationship as long as both parties reciprocate affection. Cats receive comfort and a sense of familiarity from their owners.”
