Coat Color and Other Factors Influencing Hair Cortisol Concentration in Domestic Cats
October 2025
in “
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation
”
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Studysummary This study found that in domestic cats, black hair contained significantly higher cortisol concentrations than white hair, whereas ginger hair showed no significant difference compared to white hair. Additionally, a positive correlation was reported between hair cortisol levels and behavioral issues mentioned by cat owners. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This study on 27 domestic cats examined the impact of coat color on hair cortisol concentration (HCC), revealing that black hair had significantly higher cortisol levels than white hair, while no significant difference was found between ginger and white hair. A positive correlation was also observed between HCC and behavioral issues like attacking handlers and excessive vocalization. The findings suggest that hair color should be considered in cortisol studies and that behavioral issues may be linked to higher stress levels in cats. The study emphasizes the need for larger studies and the development of reference values for different hair colors to enhance stress measurement accuracy in animals.
