Science Just Learned Cats Produce Less “Love Hormone” Than Dogs

Science has a way of making us think about our dogs in ways we wouldn’t otherwise think. But who would have thought that one of the coolest things we can learn about our dogs comes from something scientists just learned about cats?

Source: @myhoondal

Recently we learned that dogs’ bodies produce oxytocin when in the presence of their human counterparts. Oxytocin is the hormone responsible for the human sensation of love. The levels of oxytocin in humans have been measured to show we produce more of it at certain times, like when we’re with our mates or offspring, or when we look at pictures like this:

Source: @prettygirldirtymind

The testing of dog levels of oxytocin revealed they get big bursts of the hormone every time they make eye contact with their bonded humans. So science basically told us, “Hey, your dogs really do love you. We checked, and the test came back positive.” But cats, not so much. Cats don’t really fit into the love equation.

Source: @fetch.pounce.love

Cats do in fact produce oxytocin in the presence of their humans, but their levels are far below those of dogs. In fact, dog levels of oxytocin were on average FIVE TIMES HIGHER THAN A CATS. As a strict dog lover, I’m not surprised, and am reassured to know the scientists weren’t either.

Neuroscientist Dr Paul Zak, who assessed the results of the test, said it best in an article on Metro: “It was… a nice surprise to discover that cats produce [oxytocin] at all. At least some of the time, cats seem to bond with their owners.”

But in defense of cats, dog levels of oxytocin are ridiculously high. So high that the results suggest dogs love us even more than we love other humans. What should we make of those results?

“I’m Not Leaving You, Mama!” This is What Love Looks Like.

UPDATE: Lizzie and Phantom are currently recovering in an outdoor koala ward within the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital . They’re doing swimmingly; Phantom is both gaining weight and exploring his temporary habitat. And of course, mama and baby are sharing more adorable cuddles! For most species in the animal kingdom, the bond between mother and baby is incredibly strong. That's pretty much inarguable. But last week, two koalas in Australia further proved it. After they were hit by a car, Lizzie and her joey, Phantom were welcomed into the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital. Six-month-old Phantom had escaped the accident unscathed. Lizzie, however, wasn’t looking so good, what with facial trauma and a collapsed lung. In order to survive, she needed to go under the surgeon’s knife. But this marsupial mama wasn’t alone during the life-saving procedure. Phantom accompanied her and clung to her as she received treatment. The vets let them be; Phantom was too y...

Stop holding the (2018) Yulin dog meat & lychee festival in Yulin, (Guangxi) China.

This "festival" is an event that starts on June 21st of every year during the summer solstice and it lasts for 10 long horrifying days in which 10,000–15,000 dogs (as well as cats) are tortured and then consumed. However, it is estimated 25 million dogs are stolen, sold, bought, and eaten every year with the illegal dog and cat meat trade. A larger percentage of these dogs consist of pets stolen right from their loving families. The rest of the dogs are captured strays from the streets and some raised in dog farms. After these animals are stolen, bought, or captured they are then transported for days without any food or water, crammed in tiny cages together so tightly that they are unable to even move. At the yulin festival, throughout those days, these animals will be hung, burned, skinned, boiled, torched, dismembered, electrocuted and beaten...ALIVE..out in the streets for public view. But If that isn't bad enough, they intentionally torture these animals in f...

Dead Sea Turtle Washes Ashore With Horrifying Wake-Up Call For All Humans

Smokey the Bear told us we were responsible for preventing forest fires. Crime dog McGruff helped us take a bite out of crime. Woodsy the Owl told us to “Give a hoot, don’t pollute.” It’s that last one humans seem to have a big problem with. Where a wizened old owl’s advice has fallen short, however, the tragic image of a dead Kemps Ridley sea turtle with a beach chair stuck to its back may prove more compelling. An eye-opening illustration of the damage human pollution has done to our oceans, images of this tangled turtle have been sweeping across the internet, first posted by Fort Morgan Share the Beach , a local chapter of the Alabama sea turtle protection nonprofit Share the Beach. The story these pictures tell is a dark one which, wildlife advocate or not, is hard to ignore. Source: Facebook/Fort Morgan Share The Beach The turtle was dead when it washed up onto the shore. “There was a heavy string around the chair that wrapped around the turtle’s neck,”...

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