Number of Cats Linked to Human Happiness, New Study Finds

An international team of scientists led by the University of Chicago in the United States has found a correlation between the number of domestic cats in a country and the level of happiness among its population.

The findings were published in the journal PLOS ONE.

The researchers analyzed ecological, socioeconomic, and psychological indicators from 93 countries. The study compared factors including income levels, healthcare spending, the number of pets, and the prevalence of the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, which can be transmitted from animals to humans.

According to the findings, people in countries with larger cat populations tend to report higher levels of happiness. However, a higher prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection was associated with lower happiness levels.

For example, China recorded a happiness index of 5.97, compared with an average of 5.72 across the countries included in the study. China has approximately 376 cats per 10,000 people.

Another interesting finding was that countries with larger cat populations tended to have lower rates of Toxoplasma gondii infection. The researchers suggest that this may be associated with higher levels of pet ownership in wealthier countries and more developed healthcare systems.

The study authors emphasized that the observed association should not be interpreted as a direct cause-and-effect relationship. Nevertheless, the findings may provide new opportunities for studying the factors that influence population well-being across different countries.