According to studies, very affectionate breeds of cats are good companions for children who have autism. Some of those include Burmese, Ragdoll, Birman and
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.
Cats help children with autism to improve their social skills by teaching them empathy and selflessness. Since pets don't have hidden motives or experience mood changes, they can help kids deal with emotions, to practice kindness, and tolerate others.
Dogs, cats, rabbits and guinea pigs are not just cute companions, they're also great for helping autistic children with their social and emotional development.
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. Cats are nonjudgmental, allowing children with ASD to feel relaxed and to connect freely with their cat companion.
Having a pet promotes positive feelings of care, love, and empathy in children with autism. Studies show that the longer they own a pet, the more their cognitive and emotional skills increase.
The fleeting way cats make eye contact may explain why some autistic children develop stronger relationships with pet cats than pet dogs.
Some low-quality studies have found that animals might help autistic people develop sensory, social skills and early communication skills. Animals might also help people manage problem behaviour and stress. More high-quality research is needed to find out whether animal-assisted therapy is effective.
Autistic kids and adults tend to do very well in socializing with cats, dogs, horses, etc.
Empathy is a hard thing for individuals with autism to grasp, and having a cat helps them build empathy for other creatures. Another quality that improves for autistic individuals when a kitty is introduced into their lives is the ability to take that empathy and attempt to comfort others in distress.
The Coping Cat program for children with anxiety and autism spectrum disorder: a pilot randomized controlled trial. The Coping Cat program is a cognitive-behavioral therapy intervention that helps children recognize and analyze anxious feelings and develop strategies to cope with anxiety-provoking situations.
After some play, pick the kitten up and see if she'll settle down in your hands. If she's still fired up with active play, she may not—but if she's getting tired, she may be willing to snuggle with you. Ask the foster about her personality; is she timid and shy?
Cats' preference for subtle social interactions may make them more appealing to autistic children, a new study has found.
Many autistic people cite a strong attachment to animals, and some studies suggest they may even show a bias towards animals over people.
Of these, 94 percent said their child bonded strongly with the pet. Even in the families without dogs, 7 in 10 parents said their child enjoyed interacting with dogs. Previous research involving children with autism found that those who had a family pet from a young age tended to have greater social skills.
Golden Retriever. Golden retrievers are known for being playful yet gentle and affectionate. They're also highly intelligent and intuitive. This combination makes them both fantastic family dogs and great pets for kids with ADHD.
The Calming Effect of Cats
Says Aaron Katcher, M.D., emeritus professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania, “Because [humans] evolved solving problems about animals, animals have the power to entrain our attention. And when we are around animals, we become more joyous, communicative, expressive, and calm.”
Many people with autism and other social challenges have connections with animals. Whether the animals are real or even “stuffed”, animals bring a sense of peace and calmness to a child or even adult on the spectrum.
Pets can provide a familiar source of comfort and have a calming effect on the children in day to day situations and especially so in social settings. Pets also help children with autism develop a positive sense of self. As mentioned previously, pets are non-judgmental, showing unconditional love and affection.
So many individuals on the spectrum have a strong connection to animals in some point in their lives. Whether it is forming a deep love for a household pet, or delving into every detail of an animal species, or getting involved in a cause related to animal welfare, the attraction is undeniable.
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.
More recent research has used the house mouse (Mus musculus) to model autism because it is a social species. Other strains of mice used include mu opioid receptor knockout mice, as well as Fmr1 knockout mice; the latter are also used as animal models of Fragile X syndrome.