The best animal cams to watch during lockdown, and why cat and dog videos are good for your stress levels

Watching clips of cute creatures can reduce anxiety, a study has found – which might explain why we’re tuning in to so many animal cams during the pandemic

A popular feed from a koala sanctuary features the creatures cuddling on a log, while thousands of people are eating breakfast with sea otters at a US aquarium

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A study has found that watching cute animal clips can reduce anxiety – which might explain why we’re tuning in to animal cams during lockdown. Photo: Shutterstock

Published: 7:15am, 23 Nov 2020Updated: 12:28pm, 11 Dec 2020

Have you ever fallen down a rabbit hole of endlessly scrolling through cute dog videos or clips of fluffy, adorable kittens on the internet, and felt guilty about doing so?

Don’t – it turns out there’s a rationale behind the addiction. A new study has found that watching such videos can lower your heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety.

In December 2019, an hour-and-a-half before their exams, 15 students at Britain’s University of Leeds took part in an unusual exercise. Rather than doing any last-minute cramming, they watched slides and clips of cute animals including quokkas, small marsupials dubbed the happiest animal on Earth for their toothy grins. The study was conducted in association with Tourism Western Australia, the quokka being native to the Australian state.

The results, released a few weeks ago, were illuminating. After 30 minutes, the students’ heart rates dropped by an average of 6.65 per cent, blood pressure dropped by about 15 per cent and anxiety levels fell by an average of 35 per cent (and by as much as 50 per cent in some cases).

A new study has found that watching cute animal videos can reduce heart rate, blood pressure and anxiety. Photo: Getty Images

“Heart rates and blood pressure fell across all individuals to a level that would be considered healthy and indicative of limited stress or anxiety,” said Dr Andrea Utley, of the university’s school of biomedical sciences.