Cat Adoption Positive for Autistic Kids

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Cat adoption is associated with greater empathy and less separation anxiety for autistic children, according to a study published online in December in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing.

The study, which was the first randomized controlled trial of cat adoption in families of children with autism spectrum disorders, was funded by the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and the Winn Feline Foundation and was led by researchers from the University of Missouri.

Cat adoption was also associated with fewer problem behaviors in autistic children. Shelter cats were temperament screened to identify a calm temperament prior to adoption.

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