Cat training program helps children with developmental disabilities – and cats too
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Monique Udell, a professor at Oregon State University.
view moreCredit: Oregon State University
A cat-training program for children with developmental disabilities fostered healthy child behaviors, strengthened relationships between children and their family cats and improved cats’ social behavior, a new study found.
“People often underestimate what cats can contribute to human-animal interventions,” said Monique Udell, a professor at Oregon State University who studies human-animal interactions. “This study shows that cats can be active participants rather than passive companions. When children and their cats work together through training, it can strengthen their bond while supporting positive outcomes for both the child and the cat.”
The study, co-led by Udell and Megan MacDonald, a professor of kinesiology at Oregon State, builds on growing interest in animal-assisted interventions to promote physical, psychological and social well-being of people. The interventions are increasingly recognized as a promising approach to help children, including those with physical or learning disabilities or social, emotional or behavioral challenges.
Dogs and horses have received most of the attention. Udell wanted to explore whether cats could play a similar role. She has studied the human-cat bond for more than a decade and has found that cats, like dogs, are a social species and possess many of the same traits, such as the ability to form attachment bonds with humans and the ability to be trained.
The study also arrives at a time that Udell called a “cultural shift” involving cats. She mentioned people wanting to train their cats and the adventure cats movement, in which people increasingly want to take their cats on walks, camping or even kayaking.
For the study, the researchers evaluated a cat-assisted training intervention with 36 children ages 8-17 and their family cats. Half of the participants were assigned to the training group who took part in six, 45-minute training sessions and completed weekly homework, such as practicing training mechanics and teaching behaviors such as sit and come. The other half served as the control and didn’t take part in the activities.
Children were given three different surveys at three different points during the study: before it started, six weeks after it concluded and one year after it started. The surveys assessed the strength of the child’s attachment to the cat; responsibility for cat-related chores; and humane behavior towards the cat.
The researchers also examined cat attachment to the child and cat sociability in the presence of the child by videotaping the standardized training sessions and assessing the video for certain behaviors. For example, sociability was measured by how much time a cat had at least one paw within a taped semi-circle encompassing a 1-meter radius around the child.
Findings included:
- Children in the training group demonstrated a significant increase in a cat care responsibility survey while those in the control group reported a decrease.
- Children in the training group who reported teaching their cats new things increased from 44% before the training sessions to 94% post-training, and the proportion who walked their cats increased from 28% to 78%.
- Children consistently attended the training sessions and completed the homework, both signs of the program having a stronger impact, the researchers noted. All participants attended all six training sessions, and there was a mean homework completion rate of 81%.
- The number of cats with what researchers defined as secure attachments to their child increased, with six cats moving from an insecure to a secure classification.
“This helps demonstrate that when we provide the right opportunities and guidance on how children and adolescents can improve their relationships with their cats, we can see positive changes happen,” Udell said. “The cats are becoming more confident. They're becoming more social. And they're developing stronger bonds that the children are benefiting from too. They're seeing these cats now as partners; a source of motivation to take on more responsibility and engage in healthy behaviors. This can be a really special relationship that's more complex than people have sometimes believed that they can have with a cat.”
Other co-authors of the paper are Delaney Frank, Saethra Darling, Kristin Moore of Oregon State, and Kristyn Vitale of Maueyes Cat Science and Education.
Journal
Animals
Keeping kitty indoors is not the cat-astrophe that owners fear
Adelaide University
Moving a pet cat from an outdoor lifestyle to living indoors is easier than many owners expect, according to new research that could help improve feline welfare, protect wildlife, and ease concerns about keeping cats contained.
Australian and New Zealand researchers surveyed 87 cat owners, revealing that most who transitioned their pets to indoor living reported the change was ultimately worthwhile, with the benefits to both cats and owners outweighing the challenges.
The study, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, found that while owners initially worried about their cat's happiness and behaviour, more than two-thirds said the process was easier than expected.
Lead author Dr Julia Henning, from Adelaide University’s School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, said the findings challenge the perception that cats cannot adapt to an indoor lifestyle.
"Many people worry that keeping a cat indoors will be stressful for their cat, but our findings suggest that the transition was often easier than expected," Dr Henning said.
"Owners certainly faced some challenges during the transition, particularly in the first few weeks, but most found these were temporary and that the long-term benefits far outweighed the difficulties."
The research found cat safety was the strongest motivation for moving cats indoors, with owners concerned about road traffic, attacks by other animals, disease, parasites, poisoning and cats’ threats to local wildlife, particularly birds. After the transition, these same issues were overwhelmingly cited as the greatest benefits, alongside improved peace of mind.
Owners also reported being better able to monitor their cat's health, spending more quality time with their pet and, in many cases, experiencing closer bonds with their cats.
The study found approximately half of the cats adjusted to indoor living within a matter of weeks, while younger cats generally adapted more quickly than older animals.
However, the research also identified several common challenges. Cats were more vocal, scratched at doors and windows, or appeared frustrated during the adjustment period. Owners also reported concerns about providing enough environmental enrichment, maintaining litter trays and preventing weight gain.
Moving cats indoors increased some costs (including food, litter and household modifications), however veterinary costs reduced over time because their cats faced fewer injuries and health risks associated with roaming.
Many owners described feelings of guilt about restricting their cat's freedom, despite believing they were making the safest decision for their pet. Others worried their cat might become bored or unhappy indoors.
Senior author Dr Susan Hazel, from Adelaide University, said these findings highlight the importance of supporting both pets and their owners.
"Keeping cats indoors offers significant benefits for their safety and welfare, but successful transitions depend on supporting owners as much as their cats," Dr Hazel said.
"Our research shows that owners often need reassurance that the behaviours they see during the transition are temporary and that there are practical strategies – such as providing climbing spaces, scratching posts, toys and opportunities for play – that can help cats adapt successfully."
The study also found that transitioning cats indoors was often prompted by unexpected events, including injuries, illness, moving house or sudden safety concerns. More than one-third of owners reported having little or no time to prepare, while almost half made no preparations before the transition.
Despite this, most owners still described the experience as easier than anticipated.
Researchers say the findings highlight the need for readily accessible information and practical resources to help owners make the transition successfully, particularly when circumstances change unexpectedly.
‘Owner-reported experiences of transitioning cats from outdoor to indoor living’ is published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science. The authors are from Adelaide University, Companion Animals New Zealand, EthicoNZ Ltd and Navigate Welfare.
Journal
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Method of Research
Survey
Article Title
Owner-reported experiences of transitioning cats from outdoor to indoor living
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