A cat ’s sense of well-being is chemically linked to that of its owner, with feline bonding hormones directly mirroring human emotional states, according to groundbreaking new research.

In a month-long study published in iScience , scientists examining the connections between humans and pet cats found a positive hormonal link centred on oxytocin – the “love hormone” associated with social bonding, happiness, and affection.

The findings provide the first objective proof of a shared physiological bond between cats and their owners, challenging long-held assumptions that domestic felines are emotionally detached compared to dogs .

“Cats serve not merely as passive companions, but as active social partners,” capable of participating in emotional interactions with humans,” noted lead author Dr Saho Takagi, a animal behaviour researcher at Kyoto University .

Levels of “love hormone,” oxytocin are linked in humans and cats, the research finds (AFP/Getty)

While physiological connections between humans and dogs…