Children With Autism Can Become More Social With A Cat By Their Side

Science shows that interacting with animals may have big health benefits.

Pets can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, increase the amount of exercise people get and decrease stress. Now, a new study finds that animals also may significantly increase positive social behaviors in children who have an autism spectrum disorder.

The presence of animals appears to encourage social interaction among children with autism

Including an animal in children's playtime or home activities may be an effective way to encourage socialization with other children as well as adults

The ability of an animal to bring out a smile or get a child talking was a huge finding

Children with autism, which affects one in 88 children in the U.S., often struggle with social interaction and behavior.

Interaction with animals can help children with autism

become more physically developed and improve their strength, coordination, and physical abilities. More importantly, many people derive much joy from their relationship with animals, which can help autistic children have a better sense of well-being and more self-confidence.

It's been found that children with autism who had a pet after the age of 5

were more likely to be better at offering to share and offering comfort to others when compared to similarly impaired children. This trend became more significant as the reported bond became stronger between child and pet whether it was playing or taking care of it. These pets included cats, but also dogs and a hamster.

Though children with autism are often overwhelmed by new stimuli

a pet's arrival can be seen as a subtle enough shift in the environment that it didn't frighten them, and the relatively fewer demands that come with a pet-human relationship allowed these children to better acclimate to social interactions the pet may have also tightened the family dynamic.

Animals can be amazing for children with autism

Animals can relate to these children. And these children, who have a hard time relating to peers, can really relate to animals

While more research is still needed to determine the effects

and confirm the benefits of animal-assisted therapy specifically for children with autism, a number of studies have suggested it could help

But it’s not just in the controlled environments of a study or two

that we can find evidence for the benefits of a pet, specifically cats. in dealing with autism, There are plenty of heartwarming personal stories out there too.

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