Spanish Study Links Cat Ownership to Increased Behavioral Difficulties in Children

The family cat, a reassuring companion or a more ambiguous influence than we imagined? A Spanish study conducted with nearly 1,900 families reveals an unexpected link between its presence at certain ages and greater emotional and behavioral difficulties several years later.

Nearly 1,900 families tracked to understand what is at stake behind the front door

For years, researchers from the Spanish INMA project, for Infancia y Medio Ambiente, collected questionnaires, family data and information about children’s environments. Their study, published in October 2025 in the World Journal of Pediatrics, concerns 1,893 families followed across several stages of childhood.

The scientists asked parents whether an animal lived at home when the child was 1 year old, then again at 4 to 5 years old. They distinguished dogs, cats, birds and other companions. At 7 or 8 years old, the parents completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. This tool flags emotional and behavioral difficulties in youngsters.

The cat then draws attention. Children in families that owned a cat only around 4 or 5 years old showed more internalizing symptoms, such as anxiety or withdrawal. They also displayed more externalizing behaviors, notably conduct or attention problems.

The figure that intrigues: up to 37% more internalizing difficulties

Statistical models linked the presence of a cat at 4 or 5 years old to an internalizing problems rate of about 37% higher. They also indicated an externalizing difficulties rate about 26% higher. The researchers found these links after several additional statistical analyses.

That might make you view Mittens in a different light. Yet, these percentages do not mean that a child living with a cat faces a 37% higher risk of developing a psychiatric illness. The study assesses behavioral scores. It does not provide a diagnosis and does not prove a direct cause-and-effect link.

Behind the cat, researchers suspect a much more complex family story

Why would the feline reveal this link while the dog does not show the same signal? The authors propose several avenues. The mode of interaction with the animal could play a role. A dog often encourages walks and outdoor activities. A cat remains generally more independent and lives more at the pace of the home.

Another explanation deserves attention as well. Some families may choose a cat because their child already displays particular emotional needs. They may also seek an animal that requires fewer daily outings. However, the researchers lacked prior data on children’s mental health to verify this hypothesis.

The scientific literature thus urges caution. A recent review on animal attachment and mental health describes highly variable results. Some studies observe benefits, others find no effect. A few even report unfavorable associations. For some children, a strong attachment can nonetheless enhance well-being.

No question of chasing the cat off the couch: the study mainly opens a new enigma

Another surprise: the Spanish study associates the sustained presence of animals categorized as “other animals” with fewer internalizing difficulties. The message “cat bad, animal good” does not hold. The family context, the species, and the quality of the relationship all seem to weigh in the balance.

Recent work even shows that a structured relationship with a cat can bring behavioral or relational benefits to some children. The question then becomes more interesting: does the animal truly influence the child, or does it mainly reveal how a family lives, communicates and adapts to its needs?