Cat fur is ideal for the accumulation of static electricity, which explains the small shocks when you pet the animal. The colder air in winter makes these incidents more frequent than in summer.
Have you ever gone to pet your cat and suffered a small shock? Don’t worry, it’s not just in your head. The surprising sensation has a simple scientific explanation, based on static electricity, movement and dry air.
Cats have long been associated with static electricity, as their fur acts as a ideal surface for load accumulation. The phenomenon behind these shocks is known as triboelectricity, the process by which electrical charge is generated when two materials rub together. Although the effect is familiar, similar to when someone rubs a balloon on their hair, the underlying mechanisms have only recently been clarified, says .
In 2024, researchers led by Laurence Marks of Northwestern University published a report that revealed new details about the operation of triboelectricity. According to Marks, scientists have historically had difficulty explaining why friction between surfaces produces static electricity without resorting to questionable assumptions.
The new research proposes a simpler explanation: when one surface slides over another, the front and back of the moving object deform differently, creating unequal electrical charges that generate a current.
This applies directly to the act of petting a cat. As the hand slides over the cat’s fur, both surfaces experience friction and tension in different ways. These differences cause electrical charges to accumulate unevenly across the hand and fur. Over time, the charge builds up until, suddenly, a discharge occurs, resulting in the well-known static shock.
It is important to highlight that it is not the act of touching the cat that causes the shock, but rather the sliding movement involved in the act of caressing him. This movement creates the necessary conditions for the separation and accumulation of charges.
O winter weather The likelihood of these shocks significantly increases due to low humidity. Cold air holds less moisture, and indoor heating dries the air even more. Under normal conditions, the humidity in the air allows static charges to gradually dissipate. In dry environments, however, charges persist and accumulate more easily, leaving both people and pets more susceptible to shock.
The result is a seasonal increase in static shocks between cats and their owners. While understanding the science behind this may not convince an angry cat that it was unintentional, it does provide reassurance that the shocks are a natural consequence of dry air and friction, not clumsiness or poor petting technique.
With temperatures still low, experts suggest increased indoor humidity as a way to reduce the build-up of static electricity, making winter a little more comfortable for both humans and cats.
