Overview
- The analysis, published in the World Journal of Pediatrics, used data from 1,893 families in Valencia, Sabadell, Asturias and Gipuzkoa.
- Continuous ownership of “other animals” such as fish, rodents or reptiles was associated with fewer emotional problems at ages 7–8.
- Having cats only at ages 4–5 showed a slight association with more emotional or behavioral symptoms in mid‑childhood.
- Dogs and birds showed no significant associations with later emotional or behavioral outcomes, nor did owning any pet overall.
- Authors cautioned about unmeasured factors like family selection and caregiving differences and called for larger studies with longer follow‑up.