Pet Therapy And Autism: How Can Animals Help Autistic People Thrive?

Most homes — even those graced by the presence of cats — aren't designed with feline needs in mind. If you've ever watched the show My Cat From Hell with cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy, you'll have learned all about these cat-unfriendly homes, as well as how to remedy your errors by "catifying" your living space. Something Galaxy calls the "cat super high way" plays a large role in that. It basically means arranging your furniture so that your cat is able to get all around your home without ever touching the floor. Cats are, after all, naturally wired to seek out higher spaces from which they can safely observe. 

If you're a cat owner who hasn't yet "catified" your home, your feline friend will probably really appreciate it if you move your furniture around so that they can jump straight from the couch to a side board, and then to a cat tower before making it onto a book shelf. Greg Krueger's four cats wouldn't be impressed, though. Their home hosts a sprawling network of cat stairs and tunnels that make the entire sub-ceiling space their sole domain. 

Greg is autistic, and, he explains, "not the best at socializing". With humans, that is. He and his cats have both experienced first-hand how pets can help autistic people thrive, and autistic people can help animals thrive. 

Greg's Asperger's diagnosis came long after his passion blossomed. What are the potential benefits of formal or informal "pet therapy" for autistic people who haven't yet had the opportunity to live with a pet, though? 

How human-animal interaction can benefit autistic children and adults

Autism, a lifelong neurological condition, is characterized by repetitive and rigid behaviors as well as sometimes profound difficulties in social interaction and communication. Living in a world where most people's brains work in radically different ways — surrounded by folks who just don't understand you or your needs — can be frustrating and lonely. 

It's a myth that autistic people simply aren't that interested in social interaction. Though less likely to have quality friendships and other social relationships than neurotypical people, many autistic people do long for exactly this kind of connection.

Autistic people, various studies have shown, can go through dramatic positive social and emotional changes when they have regular contact with animals:

• Autistic people who live with pets often show increased social interaction with the humans in their lives, especially in the case of children who welcomed a pet into their home around the age of five. This may be because the arrival of a pet acts as a sort of social glue that helps families get closer. It may also be because the pet "teaches" social skills. 
• Autistic children who receive a pet have been shown to display increased sharing skills, and no, not just with the pet. 
• Interacting with animals can increase an autistic person's language skills — both because they want to talk to the animal, and because they want to communicate with others about the animal.
• Though the jury is still out, interacting with animals may help autistic people cope better with sensory stimuli. 
• Various studies have reported that contact with animals — whether in the form of a family pet or equine or dolphin therapy — decreases verbally and physically aggressive behavior in autistic children.
• Contact with animals may increase motivation to participate in daily activities, as well. 
• Contact with animals, perhaps most importantly, decreases stress levels and boosts autistic people's sense of safety and wellbeing. 

Also fascinating is the fact that one study found that even robotic pets can offer these same benefits!

How can you benefit from 'pet therapy'?

When you hear the term "pet therapy" (or "animal therapy"), phenomena like service dogs and psychologist-supervised equine therapy may come to mind first. Such organized programs do exist in many places. Whether you are an adult on the spectrum or the parent of an autistic child, you can inquire what is available in your locality through healthcare providers you already have contact with. 

Far from all of the animals autistic people had contact with in the studies that investigated the benefits of animal therapy came into their lives through such programs, however. In fact, in some cases, the pet wasn't even brought into the person's life specifically to help them — sometimes another family members simply brought a pet into the home. While pet therapy programs may be expensive and hard to come by, pet ownership is within the reach of many families, and can be tremendously helpful.