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.
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.
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.
Look beyond dogs and cats as companion pets for children with disabilities. Fish, guinea pigs and leopard geckos are just a few of the animals that may help your child booth positive behaviors as well as relieve frustration and stress.
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Of the families of children with ASD surveyed, 67 percent owned dogs and 94 percent of parents in those families reported a bond between their dog and their autistic child. Many parents reported positive experiences of dog ownership.
Companion animals in the home have also been shown to aid families of children with autism. A HABRI-funded study that investigated the impact of a pet dog on families with a child with autism found that families showed significant reductions in family difficulties and in parental stress over the long-term.
However, therapy dogs don't just help autism kids battle the disorder, but they also help parents and families to find peace and strength. Studies have shown that the support from therapy dogs can help parents of an autistic child feel relaxed and experience less stress.
Parents with children who have autism spectrum disorder (ASD) might not want to get their child a service dog because dogs might be a challenge to them. Cats, on the other hand, are an excellent alternative. Having a pet enables your kids to learn strong interpersonal skills such as sharing and empathy.
If you or a loved one has ASD, paying close attention to the foods being consumed is particularly important. For our patients with autism, we often recommend an elimination diet—eliminating gluten, dairy, sugar, corn, soy, and other categories of potentially allergenic foods for one month.
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.
No, dogs cannot sense autism in humans. Dogs can sense body language, facial expressions, and behaviors, which may differ between people. That's why some dogs respond differently to people with autism since their body language, behaviors, and facial expressions are different.
Emotional Support Animals may help alleviate the symptoms of multiple conditions. These include providing help with depression, anxiety, and other social disorders. ESA's have also known to be successful in helping children cope with autism.
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.
Whether you prefer furry friends like hamsters and Guinea Pigs, or reptiles such as snakes, Leopard Geckos and turtles. Below, we are sharing some of the most low-maintenance animals that also make great pets.
“Hamsters, mice, reptiles, and fish require the least amount of daily interaction. But guinea pigs and rats make good pets as well,” Kanfer says.
The study, published in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing, surveyed parents of children who had autism about the children's interactions with dogs. Nearly two thirds of the families owned a dog. Of these, 94 percent said their child bonded strongly with the pet.
Autistic people are often diagnosed with sensory abnormalities. Some cats may appear to lack focus, to have uncoordinated moves, and to express diminished responsiveness altogether.
Dogs are good for kids with autism who are non-verbal too, as they can't speak our language either. They force us to use other ways to communicate aside from spoken language, and watching your non-verbal foster child communicate with a dog could open up your eyes to communication methods you may not have thought about.