Introduction: Two important limitations of current research are the presence of mixed findings in the existing literature on the biobehavioral benefits of cat ownership and the absence of studies examining the biobehavioral profiles of cat owners. The primary aim of this study was to determine if psychosocial factors (stress, depression, and loneliness), biological levels of stress and inflammation (salivary cortisol, Interleukin-1ß, and C-reactive protein), and cognitive function predicted companion cat ownership in community-dwelling older adults while controlling for potentially confounding sociodemographic factors. The secondary aim was to determine if attachment to cats was associated with these same biobehavioral factors.
Methodology: Data were collected cross-sectionally from 96 community-dwelling older adults (Mean age 76.6; 74% female, 88% white) who either owned a cat and no dog (cat owners; N=41) or did not own a cat or a dog (non-pet owners; N=55). Pet attachment, stress, depression, loneliness, and cognitive function were measured with standardized instruments, and saliva samples were collected for salivary cortisol, Interleukin-1ß, and C-reactive protein.
Main Results: The levels of psychosocial factors, biological measures of stress and inflammation, and cognitive function were not associated with cat ownership after adjusting for covariates. Age was the only significant predictor of cat ownership (OR=0.92, p <.01) with cat owners on average 6.5 years younger than non-pet owners. On average, cat owners were “somewhat attached” to their cats, but the level of attachment to cats was not associated with biobehavioral outcomes.
Conclusions and Implications for the Field: Cat owners were younger when compared with non-pet owners; however, this finding may not represent the general population of older individuals. The biobehavioral effects of cat ownership may be complex and likely involve different underlying mechanisms within each of these predictor variables that may contribute to understanding cat ownership. Even though the level of attachment to cats was not associated with the biobehavioral factors examined in our study, the results support the consideration of cats as a source of an attachment relationship for older community-dwelling adults.