Cat owners have a 30% lower risk of death from heart attack – study results
Cat owners have approximately a 30% lower risk of death from heart attack or stroke than people who do not keep these animals. This is stated in a study by the University of Minnesota, referenced by The Standard.
Researchers explain this effect by the fact that interaction with cats helps reduce stress levels, stabilizes blood pressure, and heart rate.
Data on pet owners and the prevalence of cats worldwide
According to a 2024 survey by the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, about 240,000 households in the region keep cats or dogs. Hong Kong has approximately 184,000 pet cats, and the total number of cats and dogs reaches 405,000, indicating a significant prevalence of pets.
According to the nonprofit organization World Population Review, in 2025 the global cat population exceeded 1 billion. Of these, about 480 million are stray, and over 350 million live with people.
The countries with the largest number of cats (both pet and overall population) include:
- USA — about 74.06 million (including pet, stray, and wild cats). Notably, Disneyland employs about 200 wild cats for rodent control.
- China — about 53.10 million. Cats are considered a symbol of luck in the culture, and their popularity is growing due to easy care and low costs.
- Brazil — about 22.10 million, with the most common breed being the Brazilian Shorthair.
- United Kingdom — about 12.00 million, of which 63% are mixed-breed cats.
- India — about 5.5 million pet cats, plus millions of strays.
- Russia — about 23 million cats compared to 17 million dogs.
- Japan — about 8.8 million pet cats, more popular than dogs.
- Philippines — about 8 million, with 42% of households owning a cat.
- Germany — about 15.2 million cats, with the most popular breed being the German Rex.
- Spain — about 5.8 million cats, a significant portion rescued from the streets.
The impact of interaction with cats on health
A study by Professor Takefumi Kikusui from Azabu University in Japan showed that during interaction and eye contact with pets, including cats and dogs, reactions similar to the mother-child bond are triggered in the body.
After 30 minutes of mutual gaze between the owner and the animal, oxytocin levels increased: in animals by 130%, in humans by up to 300%. In contrast, pairs without eye contact showed no significant changes.
The Fuji Veterinary Hospital in Japan notes that even simply petting a cat stimulates the production of oxytocin — a hormone that reduces stress, alleviates depression symptoms, and lowers blood pressure. It also enhances feelings of calm and safety.
University of Minnesota study on heart disease risks
A 10-year study by the University of Minnesota involved over 4,000 Americans. The results showed that cat owners had a 30% lower risk of death from heart attack compared to people without cats.
The study leader, Dr. Adnan Qureshi, noted that psychological stress has long been linked to cardiovascular diseases, and having pets may help reduce it. At the same time, he clarified that a similar effect for dogs was not confirmed within this study.
Researchers also suggest that cat owners may have certain personality traits that make them less prone to stress, so the lower risk may be related not only to the presence of the animal but also to the lifestyle and psychological characteristics of such people.
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