Feeling low? Watch a cat video

If you get a warm, fuzzy feeling after watching cute cat videos online, the effect may be more profound than you think. The Internet phenomenon of watching cat videos, does more than just entertain; it boosts viewers’ energy and positive emotions and decreases negative feelings, according to a new study by an Indiana University Media School researcher, states news.Indiana.edu.

Positive energy: The study, by assistant professor Jessica Gall Myrick, surveyed almost 7,000 people about their viewing of cat videos and how it affects their moods. It was published in the latest issue of Computers in Human Behaviour. “Some people may think watching online cat videos isn’t a serious enough topic for academic research, but the fact is that it’s one of the most popular uses of the Internet today,” Myrick said.

“If we want to better understand the effects the Internet may have on us, then researchers can’t ignore Internet cats anymore. We all have watched a cat video online, but there is really little empirical work done on why so many of us do this, or what effects it might have on us,” added Myrick. “As a media researcher and online cat video viewer, I felt compelled to gather some data about this phenomenon.”

26 billion views! Internet data shows there were more than two  million cat videos posted on YouTube in 2014, with almost 26 billion views. Cat videos had more views per video than any other category. Among the possible effects Myrick hoped to explore: Does viewing cat videos online have the same kind of positive impact as pet therapy? And do some viewers actually feel worse after watching cat videos because they feel guilty for putting off tasks?

Overall, the response to watching cat videos was largely positive. “Even if they are watching cat videos to procrastinate or while they should be working, the emotional pay-off may actually help people take on tough tasks afterward,” Myrick said.