Factors Affecting Hair Cortisol Concentration in Privately Owned Intact Cats

April 2026 in “ Frontiers in Veterinary Science ”

Veronika Vojtkovská, Naďa Konečná, Karla Štěpánková, Monika Šebánková, Simona Kovaříková

Studysummary This study observed that in privately owned, intact cats, male cats exhibited significantly higher long-term hair cortisol concentrations compared to females, while environmental and behavioral factors did not significantly impact cortisol levels, suggesting individual traits may influence stress markers more than external factors.

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This study on 103 intact, privately owned cats examined factors affecting hair cortisol concentration, a biomarker for long-term stress. Hair samples were collected during routine surgical preparation, and cortisol levels were measured using an ELISA kit. The study found that age, breed, coat type, coat color, and season did not significantly affect cortisol levels, but male cats had higher cortisol concentrations than females. Environmental and behavioral factors did not significantly influence cortisol levels, suggesting that inherent individual traits may play a more significant role in determining long-term stress in cats. Further research is needed to explore these findings.

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research Determining Cortisol in Animal Hair as a Marker of Chronic Stress

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This research review highlights how hair cortisol concentration can reflect the activation of the stress-response system in farm, domestic, and wild animals, noting it correlates with factors like species, sex, age, and environmental conditions, which may influence stress and adaptation.

research Coat Color and Other Factors Influencing Hair Cortisol Concentration in Domestic Cats

October 2025 in “Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation”

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.

research The Use of Hair Cortisol for the Assessment of Stress in Animals

296 citations , October 2018 in “General and Comparative Endocrinology”

This review discusses the use of hair cortisol concentration as a marker for chronic stress and long-term cortisol secretion in animals, highlighting its benefits and the need for standardized sampling protocols.

research Short Communication: Factors Affecting Hair Cortisol Concentrations in Lactating Dairy Cows

118 citations , October 2014 in “Journal of Dairy Science”

This study found that in lactating Holstein cows, hair from the tail switch, which grows faster and is more sensitive to cortisol changes, is ideal for measuring hair cortisol levels.

research Quantifying Long-Term Stress in Brown Bears with Hair Cortisol Concentration: A Biomarker That May Be Confounded by Rapid Changes in Response to Capture and Handling

90 citations , July 2014 in “Conservation Physiology”

This study found that hair cortisol concentration in free-ranging brown bears is influenced by handling methods, body condition, and potentially both short- and long-term stressors.

research Human Hair Follicles Display a Functional Equivalent of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) Axis and Synthesize Cortisol

489 citations , June 2005 in “The FASEB Journal”

This study found that human scalp hair follicles can respond to corticotropin releasing hormone stimulation similarly to the classical HPA axis, including up-regulating cortisol production and activating neuroendocrine feedback loops.