Maine Coon Blog

Cats and Their Owners Share a Bonding Hormone Link, Study Finds

Maria
October 27, 2026

If you share your home with a Maine Coon, you already know the feeling. You walk to the kitchen, and there they are. You sit down at your desk, and a big fluffy shadow settles in next to you. Now a new study from Japan suggests the cat and owner bond may show up in more than just behavior. It may show up in hormones, too.

Researchers found that cats and their people had levels of oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone,” that tended to rise and fall together. Here is what they did, what they found, and just as important, what the study does not tell us yet.

What the Researchers Did

The study was led by Dr. Saho Takagi with a team from Kyoto University and Azabu University in Japan. It was published on October 13, 2026 in the science journal iScience, under the title “Cats and humans show correlated affiliative physiological states.”

The team followed 19 cat owners and their 29 cats for about one month. Here is how they measured the relationship:

Hormones: they collected urine samples from both cats and owners and tested them for oxytocin (linked to social bonding) and cortisol (a common stress marker).
Closeness: small Bluetooth beacons on the cats’ collars tracked how much time each cat spent near its owner’s phone.
Mood: owners filled out a standard mood questionnaire.
Behavior: the team also watched how the cats approached their owner compared with a stranger.

What They Found

A few results stood out:

Oxytocin moved together. When an owner’s oxytocin level was higher, their cat’s tended to be higher too.
Closer cats, happier owners. Owners whose cats spent more time near them reported more positive feelings and more energy.
Calmer owners, “bonded” cats. Cats with higher oxytocin tended to live with owners who had lower cortisol and reported fewer negative feelings, such as anxiety or anger.
Time together was not the key. How many years someone had owned their cat was not linked to a better mood. The day-to-day relationship seemed to matter more than the length of it.

Interestingly, owners’ and cats’ stress hormone (cortisol) levels did not move together much. Earlier research in dogs has reported that kind of link, so cats may share our moods in a slightly different way.

What This Study Does Not Tell Us

We love a feel-good cat study as much as anyone, but it is important to read this one honestly:

It was small. Only 19 owners took part, and hormone results were available for 24 owner and cat pairs.
It shows a link, not a cause. The study cannot prove that cats make people happier, or that happy people make cats more bonded. It only shows the two tend to go together.
The authors call it preliminary. They plan more research to understand how cats and people affect each other in everyday life.

In other words, this is an exciting first step, not the final word. A cat is a wonderful companion, but it is not a replacement for medical or mental health care. If you have questions about your own health, talk to your doctor, and for your cat’s health, talk to your veterinarian.

Why Maine Coon Owners Will Nod Along

Maine Coons have a reputation as some of the most people-oriented cats around. Many follow their families from room to room, “help” with every chore, and greet you at the door. It is a big part of why people call them dog-like cats.

This study did not look at specific breeds, so it does not say anything about Maine Coons in particular. And every cat is an individual. Some Maine Coons are lap cats, and others prefer to be near you rather than on you. But the idea that closeness and a good relationship matter more than simply owning a cat will feel very familiar to anyone who lives with one of these gentle giants.

How We Raise Social, People-Loving Kittens

At Majestic Maine Coon Cats in Canton, Georgia, our European-line kittens are raised in our home, as part of the family. From the start they are surrounded by everyday sounds, gentle handling, and lots of attention from people, alongside their mom and the adult cats who help show them the ropes.

Our kittens go home between 12 and 14 weeks of age. That extra time with their mother and littermates helps them learn good cat manners and build confidence before they meet their new family.

Simple Ways to Bond With Your New Kitten

Whether your kitten came from us or not, a strong bond is built in small daily moments. A few ideas:

Let them come to you. Sit on the floor and let your kitten approach in their own time. Cats tend to trust people who give them a choice.
Play every day. Wand toys and chase games are a great way to bond and burn off kitten energy.
Keep a routine. Meals, play, and quiet time at about the same times each day help a kitten feel safe.
Share quiet time. Simply being in the same room, reading or working while your kitten naps nearby, counts too.
Learn their signals. A slow blink, a raised tail, or a soft trill are all friendly hellos. Our Kitten Care Guide has more tips for the first weeks at home.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do cats bond with their owners?
Yes. Many studies show cats form real attachments to their people. This new study adds hormone data suggesting the bond may be measurable in the body, too, although it was a small study.

What is oxytocin?
Oxytocin is a hormone linked to social bonding and trust in both people and animals. It is often nicknamed the “bonding hormone” or “love hormone.”

Are Maine Coons affectionate?
Maine Coons are known for being friendly and social, and many like to stay close to their family. Personality still varies from cat to cat.

The Bottom Line

This new research is small and early, but it puts a little science behind something cat lovers have always felt: the relationship goes both ways. The closer the everyday bond, the better both sides seem to feel.

If you are dreaming of a big, affectionate shadow of your own, take a look at our available Maine Coon kittens or join our waiting list.

Sources: Takagi S, Tsubomura T, Nagasawa M, Kikusui T. “Cats and humans show correlated affiliative physiological states.” iScience, October 2026. Coverage: SciTechDaily (Oct 24, 2026) and Sci.News (Oct 19, 2026).

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