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A small randomized study suggests that structured training between children with developmental disabilities and their own cats may benefit both sides of the relationship. In the 2026 Cat-Assisted Training (CAT) study, children reported more cat-care activities, while researchers observed changes in cats’ sociability and attachment. The findings are encouraging, but preliminary: they do not show that every cat is suited to therapy or that CAT is an established clinical treatment.
What the CAT study tested
Cat-Assisted Training was an active, structured program—not simply having a cat nearby for comfort. Researchers enrolled 36 children ages 8–17 with developmental disabilities and their family cats, then randomly assigned the child-cat pairs to CAT or a waitlist control group. The study was published in Animals on July 9, 2026. Read the study.
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Children in the intervention took part in six 45-minute sessions and weekly homework. Sessions covered cat behavior and interaction, training mechanics, and positive reinforcement. Activities included practicing target-stick work and identifying a cat’s toy and treat preferences; children also worked on cues such as “sit” and “come.” The aim was to build children’s healthy behaviors and the child-cat relationship through training.
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The researchers assessed children’s reports of attachment, responsibility for cat care, and humane behavior at multiple points. They also reviewed video from standardized sessions to measure cats’ attachment and sociability around the child. For sociability, the team recorded how much time a cat kept at least one paw inside a taped semicircle extending one meter around the child, according to Oregon State University’s study summary.
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- In the CAT group, the share of children who said they taught their cat new things increased from 44% at baseline to 94% at six weeks.
- The share who said they walked their cat increased from 28% at baseline to 78% at six weeks.
- The primary study reports statistically significant increases in cat-care responsibility and cat walking in the CAT group, as well as an immediate increase in cats’ sociability toward the child.
- Six cats shifted from an insecure to a secure attachment classification by the one-year follow-up. The study also found a higher rate of secure attachment at that point compared with baseline.
Engagement was high: the study authors reported 100% session attendance, 81% mean homework completion, and 94.4% post-intervention retention. Those figures describe participation and follow-up, not proof of clinical effectiveness. The study authors’ findings and limitations are detailed in the published paper.
Why the results are promising—but not proof
The study’s randomized design offers a useful initial test of a specific approach: children trained with their own cats, with a waitlist group for comparison. It also treated cats as participants whose behavior and relationship with the child mattered, rather than as passive props. Monique Udell, an Oregon State University professor who studies human-animal interactions, said, “This study shows that cats can be active participants rather than passive companions.”
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Still, 36 child-cat pairs make this a small initial evaluation. It tested one program in one population, and the authors characterize the evidence as preliminary. The reported activities and measured cat behaviors are outcomes from this study; they are not guaranteed results for another child or cat. The trial also did not compare CAT with dog- or horse-assisted interventions, so it cannot establish that cats are more or less effective than other animals.
What families should take from it
The findings support further study of structured, positive-reinforcement activities that involve a child and a familiar cat. They do not amount to treatment guidance or a recommendation to enroll every child-cat pair in training. A cat’s comfort, the child’s needs, and appropriate adult support remain important considerations; the study does not establish that all cats are suitable for this kind of intervention.
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A target stick is one optional tool associated with the training described, not a tested product or a requirement. The study evaluated a program, not commercial equipment, and buying a tool by itself would not reproduce the intervention.
For the study’s design and statistical findings, consult the paper in Animals. Oregon State University’s summary of the findings provides a plain-language account, and the PubMed record lists the article bibliographically.
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