Shelter Cat Adoption in Families of Children With Autism (Feline Friends)

Many families in the United States live with cats as companion animals, including families of
children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). One in 68 children are diagnosed with ASD.
There is no cure for ASD, and no one treatment works for all children. Symptoms of ASD
include a lack of social skills and anxiety. Companion animals have been helpful for children
with ASD. However, no one has studied stress of cats living in families of children with ASD.
This study will place 64 pre-screened shelter cats in pre-screened homes and monitor the
stress of the cats. Cats ages 10 months to four years that have been screened for calm
behavior using a temperament, test will be adopted by families in the study. Families will
also be screened for pet issues. No cat will be placed in a home with a child who has a
history of aggression to animals. The study will also examine the social skills and anxiety
of the children with ASD, and bonding of the parents and children with their cats. Five to
eight million dogs and cats are relinquished to animal shelters in the United States each
year. Thirty-eight percent of cats are given up for behavioral reasons. Studying cat stress
and the placement of cats, with calm and non-aggressive characteristics into homes of
families of children with ASD may help shed light on the likely success of the relationships
between shelter cats and these families.

Inclusion Criteria:

- child with diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder

- no cat currently living with the family

- willingness to adopt a shelter cat

- English speaking

- live within 125 miles of Columbia, Missouri

Exclusion Criteria:

- child with Autism Spectrum Disorder having any history of animal aggression

- children with cat allergies