New Study Examines How Cats Might Help Families with Autism

Previous research at the Thompson Center has suggested that pets might help reduce anxiety and stress for children with autism. Dr. Gretchen Carlisle, a research scientist at the Research Center for Human-Animal Interaction (ReCHAI) in the University of Missouri College of Veterinary Medicine has conducted several surveys of families with children on the spectrum and found that dog ownership often has benefits including companionship, stress relief and opportunities for their children to learn responsibility. However, Carlisle says dogs may not be the best option for every family.

“While we did find positive outcomes for families who own a dog, dogs aren’t a great idea for some families,” Carlisle said. “Dogs are high maintenance and require families to be present at home to be cared for and exercised. That may be difficult for some busy families. Also, dogs can be full of energy, loud and in-your-face. For some children with autism who have certain sensitivities, these traits might create stress and anxiety rather than reduce it.”

Carlisle believes that while dogs work for many families, cats might be better suited for some families.

“Cats can be very low maintenance,” Carlisle said. “You can leave them alone for a weekend and they will be just fine. Also, they are quiet and, if they are mild tempered, can make great companion animals for children with sensitivities.”

In order to test this idea, Carlisle currently is recruiting families with at least one child on the autism spectrum. Participant families cannot currently have any free-roaming animals in their homes (e.g. dogs, cats, ferrets, etc.) however caged animals such as fish or hamsters are allowed.

Families must agree to adopt a cat permanently from a pre-identified group of mild-mannered cats at a local shelter. During the 18-week study, food and litter will be provided by the research team. Members of the research team will travel to the participant families’ homes periodically to measure stress in the cats, social skills and anxiety levels of the children, and the attachment of the parents to their newly adopted cat.

“It is important to determine how having a pet, particularly a cat in this instance, affects the entire family,” Carlisle said. “Even if a cat is helping to reduce stress and anxiety for a child with autism, if pet ownership is adding additional stress for the parents, it may not be the best option for that family.”

Families interested in participating in this study must live within a 75-mile radius of Columbia. If interested, contact Gretchen Carlisle at: CarlisleGK@missouri.edu or call the research office at 573-882-2266.