Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) Shareable Infographic: Benefits of Pet Cats for Children with Autism
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HABRI releases infographic based on the HABRI-funded research results supporting pet cat adoption for children with ASD
Human Animal Bond Research Institute For the first time, we have scientific research that shows how beneficial cats can be for families of children with ASD,” said Steven Feldman, President of HABRI. WASHINGTON, D.C. (PRWEB) April 06, 2021 In recognition of Autism Awareness Month and to raise awareness of recent research results which demonstrate the benefits of cat adoption for families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) has created a new shareable infographic, “The Feline Friends Study: Benefits of Pet Cats for Children with Autism”. The infographic highlights findings from a first-of-its-kind stu
Abstract
This project was part of the Feline Friends Study, which matches shelter cats with families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to study children’s social behaviour and cats’ stress. Cats were screened for calm temperament using the Feline Temperament Profile (FTP). The FTP consists of ten phases, with a list of ‘acceptable’ and ‘questionable’ behaviours under each phase. Our aim was to answer the following research questions: What items of the FTP best predict temperament in shelter cats? What are similarities and differences in temperament between cats who qualified or did not qualify for placement? Forty-four shelter cats were rejected for placement in a home with a child with ASD and twenty-six cats qualified. There was no difference according to sex; however, there was a significant difference in FTP scores across animal shelters. Principal Component Analysis showed that ‘vocalizations’ and ‘watches with no approach’ were most predictive