People's feelings of affection for cats can be strong. In times of loneliness, a feline friend is a singularly trustworthy confidant for many. But are such close relationships healthy on a psychological or physical level?
Psychologists, geneticists, experts on infectious diseases, and psychologists, among others, have proposed a number of hypotheses regarding the nature of the relationship between felines and human health and why some people are so drawn to them.
An ancient connection According to DNA tests, the African wildcat Felis silvestris lybica, which lived in the Fertile Crescent, which is where ancient Mesopotamia, Egypt, the Levant, and Persia meet, was the ancestor of the domestic cat we know today.
The earliest evidence of a mutual relationship between cats was found on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus, according to some research. This suggests that our relationship with cats began approximately 9,500 years ago.
Famously, Egyptians believed that their feline companions possessed divine power.
Dr. Eva-Maria Geigl is the head of the Epigenomics and Paleogenomics group at the Institut Jacques Monod in Paris, France. She is also the research director at the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS). She indicated to Medical News Today:
"As commensals, cats were domesticated: Because there was food—concentrated rodents that thrived on grain accumulations—they approached human settlements. They were able to adapt to this particular human environment, which was advantageous to their evolution. The presence of cats piqued the real interest of humans. They were content just to watch the cats devour the rodents who had destroyed their cereal.
According to one study, there were at least 13 genes in cats that indicated when they went "from feral to friendly." The genes may have improved felines' ability to learn from food rewards and feel less afraid of people because they are related to cognition and behavior.
Dr. Geigl was the principal investigator on a study called "Trusted Source" that found that cats probably followed Neolithic farmers as they moved from one area to another. During the Classical period, from 1775 to 1825, they spread widely.
According to estimates from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), there are approximately 85 million cats in the United States. Additionally, there are approximately 70 million unowned wild and feral cats in the country.
Cats are adored by humans, according to Washington State University researcher Patricia Pendry. She has done research that says the bond between people who are very emotional and their cats is especially strong.
MNT received a hypothesis from Dr. Pendry that the discriminating behavior of felines may make humans rebuff it:
“When a cat does respond to us, the subtle and somewhat erratic responses they give us give us the impression that we have been chosen, or that we are seen as "special." We are also captivated by a desire to know what the cat will do because the response typically takes a little bit more time to emerge, according to me.
Dr. Pendry stated, "And because the nature and timing of their actions are less predictable, we may remain captivated, almost addictively — you can't rip yourself away because that special rub may be just around the corner."
Some research also suggests that we can't help but find felines adorable due to similarities between their features and those of human infants. We instinctively respond to the playful behavior and big eyes, an evolutionary benefit that has helped us care for our children.
No discussion of cats' appeal can be complete without mentioning how funny and funny they can be. Particularly, kittens put a lot of unrestrained effort and much less planning into their play. Even mature cats can be hilarious and funny.
Is there a reason why there are nine hair ties hidden under one's office rug? Sometimes it's fast-paced fun, other times it's adorablely weird.
"Reading" a cat Cats have a bad reputation for being mysterious and distant because of the unique and sometimes subtle ways they express their emotions.
Although a cat's face may appear attractive or grumpy, it is actually fixed and largely expressionless. They also don't wag their tails to show excitement or pleasure. According to recent research from Trusted Source, their personalities may still be closer to those of eager-to-please dogs than most people are aware.
Similarly, there are numerous cat vocalizations, including meows, hisses, nick-nacking at birds through a window, and the blood-curdling, deep yowls that hint at a fight.
Meowing at breakfast, for instance, is clearly designed to communicate with humans. However, most cats appear to "talk" or utter nothing.
However, felines can express their emotions in a variety of other ways.
Cats will frequently offer to head-bumper outstretched fingers or a pant leg for people they care for or are interested in. Bunting is a way of acting that accomplishes two things.
To begin, they are identifying you by leaving behind pheromones that are released by glands on their cheeks. Second, if they decide you are worthy of investigation, they are gathering olfactory information about your interactions with other animals, particularly in the case of pant legs.
A purr is not always a sure sign of pure happiness, contrary to popular belief. Cats in trouble might also purr. According to some experts, a cat may use the soothing sound to soothe themselves during difficult times.
A purr has even been hypothesized to have healing properties.
On both inhalation and exhalation, purring occurs, resulting in a thrumming hum between 20 and 150 Herz. It's still not clear how exactly they do it.
Staying close is often the best way to tell a cat that it likes you, especially if the cat is shy. A feline will avoid someone they are not interested in or who makes them feel anxious.
Eyes Feline eyes are always fairly large, but when they get very big and sometimes have their irises dilated, they may indicate a state of extreme excitement or a threat that they perceive.
What some cat lovers had suspected for a long time has recently been confirmed by researchers via Trusted Source: Give a cat a slow blink to make them feel better. It's like saying, "You should feel the same way because I feel safe enough with you."
Whiskers Although they are composed of the same substance as hair—keratin—the whiskers of cats are much more than that. Each whisker contains between 100 and 200 nerve cells, making it a specialized touch organ that gives the cat information about everything it comes into contact with.
A cat's mood can also be indicated by its whiskers. A cat will protrude from the side of their face when they are relaxed. When a cat is happy or excited, like when it is being gently petted, they make a tight little arc of pleasure and point forward. When a cat is scared, its whiskers move back against its face.
How cats affect owners' health Researchers have found that, provided you are not allergic to cats, living with a cat has physical and especially psychological health benefits.
For instance, a 2009 study by Trusted Source found that compared to people who had never owned a cat, people who had owned a cat had a lower risk of dying from a heart attack.
93.7 percent of respondents to a survey that was conducted in 2011 by the UK-based cat welfare organization Cats Protection stated that owning a cat has improved their mental health.
Additionally, a study demonstrated that children who live with multiple pets, including cats, are less likely to develop allergies.
Toxoplasma gondii, a single-celled, microscopic parasite that is frequently found in cat feces, has been linked to a potential zoonotic infection of cat owners.
T. gondii has even been suggested as a possible cause of schizophrenia by some.
In 2016, the relationship between T. gondii and schizophrenia, major depression, personality, poor impulse control (including suicidal ideation and criminal behavior), and neurocognitive performance was fact-checked. They discovered that there was insufficient evidence to link T. gondii to any of these problems.
Positive psychological effects According to Dr. Pendry, cats "give us attention, relieve our loneliness, provide comfort, fun, and play, affection, and special unique permission to stroke/pet them and keep them on our laps, which we know releases oxytocin, which in turn suppresses the production of cortisol, a stress hormone." They also "provide us with comfort, fun, and play," he says.
She continued, "And I believe the benefits are mutual." They receive similar comforts and a sense of belonging from us as long as our affection is welcomed.
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