Could the secret to happiness come with whiskers? If there is a battle between ‘dog’ people and ‘cat’ people, this study may tilt the landscape to the feline-friendly.
Ok, polls show that USA pet-parents like dogs more than cats. An Associated Press poll indicated that 74% of U.S. adults like dogs a lot, while only 41% say the same about cats. According to a Pew Research Center Survey, 53% of dog-only owners consider their pet an equal member of the human family, compared to 48% of cat-only owners.
In the twenty-twenty-five happiness rankings used by researchers, Finland finished first, followed by Denmark, Iceland and Sweden. The Netherlands rounded out the top five. The United States ranked twenty-fourth—its lowest position since the rankings began.
But there’s a catch: countries with more evidence of recent infection from a parasite associated with cats—Toxoplasma gondii—tended to report lower happiness.
Researchers suggest wealthier countries may enjoy the benefits of feline companionship while limiting parasite exposure through indoor care, commercial pet food and better sanitation.
Still, this study compared national statistics. It doesn’t prove that owning a cat makes someone happier—or that the parasite causes unhappiness.
So, an intriguing connection—but your cat can’t take all the credit for your good mood.
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