Best Cats For Autism The ideal cat is outgoing, friendly and not fearful. Breeds known for these traits include the Ragdoll, Birman and Burmese. For the best results, start with a young kitten so they learn to like the unpredictable behaviour of children.
According to Autism Parenting Magazine, cats help children with ASD improve their social skills. Caring for a cat helps children with ASD learn empathy and compassion as well as teaching responsibility. Petting a cat relieves stress and anxiety not just for the child with ASD, but the whole family.
A cat may be the perfect low-key pet for your child with autism. There is some evidence that children on the spectrum prefer the company of cats to dogs, as cats have a “less intrusive” gaze. Cats are very independent which makes them naturally low maintenance pets.
According to studies, very affectionate breeds of cats are good companions for children who have autism. Some of those include Burmese, Ragdoll, Birman and Abyssinian.
Cats with autism often exhibit repetitive behaviors like pacing or spinning, excessive vocalization and having trouble adapting to change. They may also display signs of anxiety including hiding, avoiding human contact and being extremely sensitive to external stimuli.
While some vets and animal experts seem to agree that cats can get ADHD, the condition isn't recognized by all. Cats can exhibit symptoms or personality and behavioral traits that are often linked to ADHD in humans, especially human children.
Having a dog, cat or other companion animal can help you, or your child, learn how to schedule, manage time, and plan ahead. A common symptom of ADHD is difficulty staying organized, planning ahead, and meeting deadlines. Pets require care, attention and a schedule for feeding, walking, cleaning, and even playtime.
Therapy animals: Therapy animals may be any species; cats, dogs, Guinea pigs, parrots, horses, and many other animals can help people with autism build social communication skills, manage their emotions, and (for children) build play skills.
Some autistic children have stronger relationships with cats than dogs. Scientists suspect that because cats, unlike dogs, don't hold a stare but tend to look away after short bouts of eye contact, this may feel more comfortable for autistic children.
Numerous studies have shown that owning and interacting with pets is highly beneficial for children with autism. Pets can help children cope with anxiety, build communication skills, and socialize with others.
Scientists at the University of Rennes in France observed 23 autistic and 19 non-autistic children and found that autistic children might prefer spending time with cats instead of dogs. The “less intrusive glance” of cats may be why they feel more comfortable with cats, says Marine Grandgeorge who worked on the study.
It appears that cats can sense human moods as well as depression. Cats are observant and intuitive, and this allows them to understand emotional cues from humans. So when you are depressed, they can sense that too. In particular, cats may come in closer proximity when their fur parents are depressed.
Butterfly. The butterfly symbol is one that signifies change and represents the diversity of people on the autism spectrum. It also symbolizes the full lives of the autistic community, and the beauty of the differences of autistic people.
If you visit an animal shelter, you may see cats with special needs. While most are able-bodied, others may require additional attention due to a variety of ailments such as blindness, amputation, and deafness. Some cats are born with these conditions while others by an accidents or injury.
Cats big and little have been observed engaging in homosexual behaviors, although in some cases they may not be actual sexual behavior and instead are just affectionate behavior between friendly animals.
Autism is a neurodevelopment condition found in humans, and some of the diagnostic criteria, such as a delay in language development, can't apply in a straightforward way to animals. That said, some animals do display autistic-like traits, such as a tendency toward repetitive behaviour or atypical social habits.
Cats can't have autism, but they can be diagnosed with other conditions, and like humans and other animals, some cats have special needs. Some special-needs cats have mental impairments which may result from birth defects, illness, or accidents. Some cats even have Down syndrome-type symptoms.
Cats' two color-detecting cones let them see blue-violet and yellow-green wavelengths of light, but not red-orange. So, similar to dogs, cats mainly see things in shades of yellow, gray, and blue tinges, but some researchers think that cats may also notice some shades of green.
The Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire (CAT-Q) is a 25-item self-report measure of social camouflaging behaviours for individuals of age 16 and above.
Orange cats were regarded as the friendliest by respondents, while white cats were labeled aloof, and tortoiseshell cats were thought to have too much "attitude." The subject was revisited in a University of California Davis study a few years later. This time, results were tabulated from 1,274 completed surveys.
Abyssinian
Regardless of where they come from, Abyssinian cats are known as the smartest cat breed due to their inquisitive nature and top-notch detective skills. They are incredibly independent, and they enjoy mind-stimulating activities like puzzle toys.
Mummy's boy vs ice queens. Myth: Male cats are more affectionate towards humans and bond really well with their owners. Female cats are aloof and, because of their mothering instincts, prefer other cats to humans. Reality: This usually comes down to your cat's individual personality.