Only Cats Are Linked to Worse Mental Health in Young Kids, Study Finds

Parents strive to support their children's physical and mental well-being, whether it's constant cross-town drives to karate, mashing a million peas, or absorbing countless CoComelon marathons. Adopting a pet is another common practice, but is there any science to support the benefits of animal companionship for kids? A study from late 2025 is one of the few to explore these effects in youngsters aged 7 to 8 years old – with surprising results. Published in the World Journal of Pediatrics, Spanish epidemiologists collected years of data on pet ownership, including the presence of beloved cats, dogs, birds, and other animals, such as hamsters or reptiles. The intriguing result? Cats seem to be associated with worse mental health measures for children, while other pets, including rabbits, reptiles, or amphibians, seem to have the opposite effect. Attachment, or the formation of emotional bonds, is crucial for social development.