The secret to a happier society could be hiding in plain sight—and it may have four paws, whiskers and a fondness for naps.
Researchers have examined the links between national wealth, cat populations and exposure to Toxoplasma gondii, a widespread parasite associated with felines.
Their findings, published in the journal Plos One, suggest that countries with more cats per person also tend to report higher levels of happiness.
One possible reason is that cats offer companionship and emotional comfort, both of which may contribute to improved well-being.
Co-author Dr Indrikis Krams, from the University of Latvia, told Our News Outlet: ‘Our research found that nations with more cats per 10,000 residents generally reported greater happiness.
‘The relationship was relatively strong, and cat density remained positively linked with national happiness after we accounted for several other variables in our statistical analysis.’
A study suggests that countries with more cats per person tend to have happier populations (illustrated)
Economists have previously identified clear connections between national happiness and socioeconomic measures, including income, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and healthcare spending.
Wanting to explore whether less obvious influences might also play a role, the team investigated whether cat ownership could be connected to how satisfied people feel with their lives.
The researchers compiled national statistics from 93 countries, among them the UK, US, Australia, Canada, China and Russia.
They found a ‘strong’ association between the number of cats per 10,000 people and reported happiness levels.
According to the researchers, one explanation is that cats deliver social and emotional benefits that can lift happiness across a population.
Earlier research has found that pets can ease loneliness, provide companionship, reduce stress and help improve mood.
But the number of cats in a country could also reflect other conditions that are the real drivers of greater happiness, rather than causing it directly.
Researchers also found that greater exposure to Toxoplasma gondii, a common parasite spread by cats (labelled IgM), was linked to lower happiness levels
‘Communities with the financial resources and living conditions needed to keep companion animals may already possess qualities linked to higher well-being,’ Dr Krams said.
‘Cats could therefore play a part in making people happier, while cat density may also serve as a broader marker of social and economic circumstances. Our study cannot determine which of these explanations is responsible.’
The analysis, however, came with an important complication.
Although larger cat populations were associated with higher happiness, countries where people had greater exposure to parasites carried by cats tended to report lower overall well-being.
Toxoplasma gondii is extremely common, with an estimated 10 to 30 per cent of people worldwide infected—often without realizing it.
However, cats are the only species in which the parasite can complete its lifecycle, and the infection is most commonly spread through their faeces.
The researchers discovered that the more people in a country were infected by the parasite, the lower the national level of happiness became.
While this doesn’t prove that Toxoplasma gondii causes unhappiness, the researchers suggest that there could be a biological mechanism working behind the scenes.
Dr Krams says: ‘Previous research has linked T. gondii infection with changes in mood, cognition and behaviour, and with several neuropsychiatric conditions.’
A growing body of research suggests that latent infection could be associated with the development of conditions including schizophrenia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, autism spectrum disorders, anxiety disorders, depression, and personality disorders.
‘Possible mechanisms include immune and inflammatory responses and effects on neurotransmitter systems and neural circuits involved in mood and emotional regulation,’ says Dr Krams.
Scientists think that cats could improve happiness by alleviating loneliness, reducing stress, and improving mood. However, their study cannot show whether this is a case of causation or correlation (stock image)
Surprisingly, the research also found that countries with more cats didn’t have higher levels of parasite infections.
In fact, cat density was associated with lower overall rates of Toxoplasma gondii exposure.
The researchers suggest this may be because countries with higher cat density tend to be wealthier than those with fewer cats per capita.
Co-author Dr Markus Rantala, of the University of Turku, told Our News Outlet: ‘Our study suggests that this apparent paradox may be explained by differences in how cats are kept.
‘In wealthier countries, where cat density tends to be high, cats are more likely to live indoors, eat commercially prepared food, and receive veterinary care. These conditions reduce their chances of becoming infected and shedding T. gondii oocysts.’
This suggests that the most important factor may be the way that cats are kept, rather than the sheer number of felines on the streets.
HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW YOUR CAT? THE SECRET SIGNALS FELINES GIVE THEIR OWNERS
Cats are often branded aloof and solitary creatures who spend their days plotting their human owner’s demise, but such characterisations could not be further from the truth.
In fact, our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language.
In her eye-opening new book Kitty Language: An Illustrated Guide to Understanding Your Cat, author Lili Chin – with the help of animal behaviourists – explains how to interpret your pet’s movements.
Below are some of the most common behaviours and what they could signal.
Our feline friends constantly communicate their feelings of affection to us, whether it be through their whiskers, tail, face or body language
