Yu Dian, the report's lead researcher, said: "It's the main reason cats can make people feel less stressed. They usually require little time and effort from their owners, while providing young people with the stable companionship and comfort that largely satisfies their emotional needs."

She added that caring for cats can prompt a nurturing instinct in owners, stimulating the release of dopamine (a chemical messenger that promotes feelings of pleasure), and the positive feedback boosts mutual affection, especially if the owner is single.

Han Yanni said her cat, Seventh Day, relieved the feelings of loneliness and pressure in her early days at work that prompted anxiety and frequent insomnia.

The 26-year-old financial worker, who became interested in the animals during graduate school, said her cat's name refers to the seventh day of the 11th lunar month in 2016 (Nov 6, that year) which was when she got her American Shorthair.

"I am not so lonely when Seventh Day is around, and my room always looks different when she plays there. It's sweet that she is always around. Taking care of her helped me gradually learn how to give love," she said, adding that caring for the cat is good practice for raising a baby.

After graduating from the University of International Business and Economics in 2016, she decided to stay in Beijing. She seldom returns to Zhongwei, her hometown in the Ningxia Hui autonomous region.

When Han's mother visits, she sometimes complains that her daughter talks to Seventh Day more than her.

Positive energy

According to a paper published in the Journal of the Hebei Youth Administrative Cadres College in September last year, the reason young Chinese are keen to become cat owners is closely related to the fact that they feel more energetic and positive when the animals are around.

The study showed that cuddling cats can reduce negative emotions, such as anxiety and irritation, while generating a more active, healthier mental state.

Moreover, some cat behavior is in line with young people's pursuit of their own values, as the animals cause no interruptions and no trouble, according to the paper. It included data from a survey of 5 million young Chinese who work outside of their hometowns-57.9 percent said they lack emotional trust, while 41. 9 percent complained of a lack of concern and love.

Dai Wenchao, a widely acclaimed financial blogger, recently wrote an article in which he claimed that many young Chinese believe that cats have emotional areas people cannot access or understand. Therefore, when the animals occasionally exhibit unexpected behavior, it triggers a strong response in humans, which is an extension of their regular emotions.