Do you ever notice that you feel a little bit better after watching a silly cat video on YouTube? The study, done by an assistant professor at Indiana University Bloomington Jessica Gall Myrick, surveyed almost 7,000 people about how they feel while and after watching cat videos. The results showed boosts in viewers moods and in positive emotion and a decrease in negative feelings.

“Some people may think watching online cat videos isn’t a serious enough topic for academic research, but the fact is that it’s one of the most popular uses of the Internet today,” Myrick said. “If we want to better understand the effects the Internet may have on us as individuals and on society, then researchers can’t ignore Internet cats anymore... We all have watched a cat video online, but there is really little empirical work done on why so many of us do this, or what effects it might have on us. As a media researcher and online cat video viewer, I felt compelled to gather some data about this pop culture phenomenon.”

Data showed that 2 million cat videos posted on YouTube in 2014, with almost 26 billion views. Cat videos had more views per video than any other category of YouTube content.

The study didn't just cater to cat lovers. Only about 36 percent of the people surveyed would consider themselves "cat people" while 60 percent said they like both dogs and cats.

The participants in the study reported:

1) They were more energetic and felt more positive after watching cat-related online media than before.

2) They had fewer negative emotions, such as anxiety, annoyance and sadness, after watching cat-related online media than before.

3) They often view Internet cats at work or during studying.

4) The pleasure they got from watching cat videos outweighed any guilt they felt about procrastinating.

5) Cat owners and people with certain personality traits, such as agreeableness and shyness, were more likely to watch cat videos.

6) About 25 percent of the cat videos they watched were ones they sought out; the rest were ones they happened upon.

7) They were familiar with many so-called “celebrity cats,” such as Nala Cat and Henri, Le Chat Noir.

So, should you take a break right now and indulge in some cat videos? Myrick has the answer for you.

“Even if they are watching cat videos on YouTube to procrastinate or while they should be working, the emotional pay-off may actually help people take on tough tasks afterward,” Myrick said.

H/T IU Bloomington Newsroom and Fox CT

P.S. Here is a compilation of funny cat videos for you to feel better!