Por generations, cats have spanned human history, from ancient Egyptian temples to viral TikToks, leaving a trail of affection, fascination and a few mild obsessions. But Now science may have figured out what cat owners have always suspected: Our feline companions may be creating a real chemical dependency.
Cats, our “pushers”: purring and rubbing are addictive (science says so!)
New research suggests that domestic cats not only influence our emotions, but can alter our brain chemistry through a cocktail of sensory signals. The implication is not just sentimental. It’s neurochemistry.
The simple act of petting a cat or basking in its purr can trigger the release of oxytocin, the same hormone responsible for maternal bonding and romantic attachment.
A 2023 study from Tokyo Agricultural University explored how cats influence human physiology and emotional states in real-world settings. Conducted entirely in participants’ homes, the study asked 32 cat owners to interact with their pets as they normally would—stroking, petting, talking—while researchers remotely monitored heart rate, salivary hormones, and emotional changes.
If dogs calm us, cats excite us: but it is “eustress”
While interacting with the cats, participants showed an increase in heart rate and a decrease in parasympathetic activity, typically signs of greater excitement rather than calm. However, salivary cortisol – the main stress hormone – has been found to be positively correlated with oxytocin, suggesting that the stimulation was not negative stress, but “eustress”: a productive and energizing form of emotional engagement often linked to learning or creative flow.
While most past research on pet ownership has focused on dogs and their calming effects, cats may behave differently. They seem to trigger more complex physiological states – which merge emotional intimacy and excitement – rather than simple relaxation.
Unpredictable feline affection creates emotional dependence
But cats could do more. Their interactions, while seemingly random, activate reward pathways in the brain associated with the release of dopamine and oxytocin. Their affection is something rare and unpredictable, which is why it seems irresistible to us. The pattern reflects what behavioral psychology calls intermittent reinforcement, known to be one of the most powerful mechanisms for generating emotional dependence.
Emotional dependence but with consent
The 2025 follow-up study then looked specifically at the oxytocin increases, noting that they only occurred when the cat initiated contact, such as voluntarily sitting on your lap, rubbing its head against a paw, or making mutual eye contact. When owners forced the interaction, hormone levels in both species stabilized or decreased.
This finding parallels the bond between humans: trust and autonomy are important. The researchers also noted that cats with “safe” personalities – those that actively seek and enjoy human attention – elicited more marked physiological changes in their owners than avoidant or anxious cats. In essence, the bond is negotiated, not imposed.
An evolutionary advantage
So, while dogs were domesticated for specific tasks such as hunting or guarding, the cats that had an evolutionary advantage were those capable of eliciting affectionate responses. They got food, nutrition and a roof over their heads. The ability to trigger the release of oxytocin in humans would therefore be a powerful evolutionary trait, ensuring survival… and without overt submission or work.