University of Oklahoma researchers found that people who are religious, and worship more than once a week own an average of 1.4 cats, while people who are atheists have an average of two cats.
Study leader Samuel Perry says that in some ways, a pet is a substitute for human interaction, and that cats are very "godlike" and can be a substitute for church for those who are atheists.
He explains that cats only give affection on their own terms which means owners "end up serving [cats] a lot" and makes the pets "very godlike in those characteristics."
(Daily Mail)