Cats Can Help Children With Autism

For the first time, there’s scientific research that shows cats can be beneficial for families of children with ASD.

- Patricia E Tan

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) experienced significant increases in the social skill of empathy, significant decreases in problem behaviours including bullying and hyperactivity/inattention, and also less separation anxiety after the introduction of a shelter cat.

The above were the results of a study published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing titled, “Exploratory study of cat adoption in families of children with Autism: Impact on children’s social skills and anxiety” published in May 2021.

Gretchen Carlisle, PhD, MEd, RN, research scientist at the University of Missouri Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) said: “Previous research has focused on interactions of dogs with children who have ASD, but dogs may not provide the best fit for all children and their families, especially given the hypersensitivities to sound that are common among children with ASD.”

The researches hope the results of this study will encourage more families to consider the possibility of cat ownership and help more shelter cats find homes.

Bonding Together