# Studies on childhood health impacts of cat ownership

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/studies-on-childhood-health-impacts-of-cat-ownership
> Updated: 2026-09-04T02:30:00.000Z. Sources: 2. Developments: 2.

Recent epidemiological studies have examined the impact of cat ownership on various aspects of childhood health.

A large-scale study by the Karolinska Institute in Sweden involving over 30,000 children found that living with cats does not appear to worsen allergic asthma. Researchers noted no significant difference in asthma exacerbations or severity between children exposed to cats and those who were not.

Conversely, research from the Infancia y Medio Ambiente (INMA) project in Spain suggests a potential link between cats and lower mental health scores in children aged 7 to 8. While other pets showed different associations, researchers noted that these findings “do not prove causation” and highlighted the complexity of the relationship between animal companionship and psychological well-being.

## Timeline

### 2026-09-04: Spanish study links cats to lower mental health scores in young children

A Spanish study involving nearly 1,900 households suggests a surprising link between cat ownership and lower mental health scores in young children, though researchers note causation is not proven.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/spanish-study-links-cats-to-lower-mental-health-scores-in-young-children

### 2026-08-17: Swedish study finds cats may not worsen childhood allergic asthma

A major Swedish study involving over 30,000 children found no significant link between living with cats and increased asthma severity or exacerbations in children with allergic asthma.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/swedish-study-finds-cat-exposure-does-not-worsen-childhood-allergic-asthma

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Cite as: Studies on childhood health impacts of cat ownership. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/studies-on-childhood-health-impacts-of-cat-ownership