IU study says cat videos reduce anxiety, boost energy

Don't ask Grumpy Cat to cheer up.

Popular YouTuber okaynate did, but it didn't go well. His failed attempt to get a grin out of Grumpy Cat has been viewed almost 4 million times. It's a good thing, too. Because what Grumpy Cat and other felines do for online viewers might be more important than you'd think.

Sure, oft-viral videos are obviously expected to entertain, but they're also doing other really important stuff, too. Seriously. They energize viewers, reduce anxiety and can potentially help consumers push through procrastination — but we'll get to that part later.

A study from Jessica Gall Myrick of Indiana University's Media School paws into the emotional impact of cat videos. The assistant professor makes her livelihood in following media trends, and said this survey sheds light on the world's Internet infatuation. (Or is it in-CAT-uation...?)

"It's a huge part of our media diet," Myrick said. "We need to understand how it impacts us."

The study explains that there's a direct correlation between cat videos and your positive mood. Example: @EmergencyKittens on Twitter. Or the free iTunes app "Cute cats - cheer you up!" Myrick says the videos are a way for us to easily regulate -- and take control of -- our emotions.

About 75 percent of the 7,000 people surveyed said they don't take the time to search for videos, but the videos find them anyway.

Cats make people happy, and happy people like sharing videos. More than 2 million cat clips were posted to YouTube last year, amounting to almost 26 billion views — more views per video than any other YouTube category.

And they're unavoidable, Myrick said. They're on Buzzfeed. Twitter. Of course, they own YouTube.

Although cat videos might be highly shareable, the cats themselves sometimes don't share. Especially not with dogs (which are arguably the more important species):

Which brings us to this important question: Why do cats dominate the Internet over their canine counterparts?

Myrick's explanation: "People who like cats just tend to use the Internet more often." According to her study, shy people generally have a greater chance of viewing cat videos. Other studies suggest that shyness is linked to spending more time on the Internet. So there's the link.

But let's get back to that whole procrastination thing. Much of the "cat-related media" (this is an actual term pulled from the study) viewing was done to avoid work and other "unpleasant tasks." And although those surveyed felt guilty about choosing cat-ertainment over chores, it was mostly cancelled out by the joy they received from the videos.

Other research suggests that viewing cute animals can increase cognitive, emotional and behavioral resources. So, should employers make room in meetings for cat videos? Maybe.

"We can't say that for sure, but yeah, I think there's potential," Myrick said. "Maybe that's why we watch so often at work — because we're stressed and looking to regulate our emotions."

Unlike Grumpy Cat, if your boss is in a bad mood, you could improve the situation by showing him or her a cat video. It couldn't hurt to try. Just take a leap of faith.

Skimbles did.