Many pet owners turn to their furry friends for comfort after a stressful day, but recent research reveals that while both cats and dogs can provide a brief mood boost, cats might actually increase owner stress in the moment.
- Interacting with cats or dogs raises short-term happiness.
- Cats may increase owner stress, unlike dogs.
- Pet personalities and interaction quality affect outcomes.
What happened
Researchers from Coventry University and colleagues conducted a study monitoring pet owners over five days, using an app to check their mood and stress levels when interacting with their cats or dogs. Participants received multiple daily notifications asking about their current feelings and if they were engaging with their pet at that moment.
The findings published in Frontiers in Psychology showed that both cats and dogs helped improve owners' mood temporarily. However, only cats appeared to correlate with an increase in owner stress levels, while dogs did not have this negative effect. The study's sample had more dog owners than cat owners, and this imbalance alongside limited data means the conclusions are tentative.
Why it feels good
Interacting with pets often provides emotional comfort and companionship, which can brighten one's mood even during difficult times. Dogs, especially, have been selectively bred to cooperate closely with humans, making their bonding behaviors generally straightforward and openly affectionate.
Cats, on the other hand, retain traits from their wild ancestors, which makes their social cues more subtle and sometimes ambiguous for owners. This difference can complicate interactions, where a cat's aloof or reactive behavior may be misinterpreted, adding to the owner's stress rather than alleviating it.
What to enjoy or watch next
For pet owners looking to optimize their wellbeing, paying close attention to the quality and type of interaction with their pets is key. Gentle, affectionate moments such as a cat curling on your lap can be calming, but forcing contact when a cat is unreceptive might lead to more frustration.
Future research may explore how multi-pet households influence stress and mood differently, and whether specific activities with pets can better reduce stress. Meanwhile, mindfulness about pet behavior and recognizing their moods can enhance the mutual bond and emotional benefits.