Using a social network approach, new research investigates the impact of resident cats in care homes.

Moving into a care home is one of the hardest decisions a person, or their family, will ever have to make. For the person, it’s not just their home that they will leave behind, but also their independence, their routine, even their pets. For this reason, it’s not surprising that individuals living in residential facilities experience higher rates of depression and suicidal ideation than aged matched individuals living in the community.

In an effort to improve residents’ wellbeing, care homes are increasingly on the lookout for non-pharmacological therapies targeting residents’ quality of life. One such intervention which has gained popularity is the inclusion of animals. To test the effectiveness of these interventions, a recent study investigated the impact of resident cats on the health and social networks of nursing home residents and caregivers.

New research into resident cats

The study included 53 residents, 36 caregivers and four cats, on three Alzheimer’s disease units and one disability unit. The research used observation techniques to capture 180 hours of data, including physical proximities and social exchanges between residents, caregivers, and the cats. 

Contrary to the researchers’ expectations, no changes in social network behaviours were observed regardless of whether the cat was present or not. Cats were positioned on the periphery of social networks, engaging with residents who showed a keen interest in them. This suggests that whilst individuals may enjoy interacting with the cats, this did not impact how residents on the units interacted with each other. Also, no changes in residents’ health or sociality were observed, regardless of the cat’s proximity.

On the other hand, caregivers who interacted with the cats were found to have a greater number of social ties within their units, be that with other caregivers or residents. This finding could support the role of cats as social lubricants which enhance communication, but it’s also possible that these staff members were just more sociable which is why the interacted with the cats.

A social network approach

The study provides a novel perspective on human-animal interactions in a care facility, viewed through a social network approach. By measuring social proximity and physical contact from recordings, rather than questionnaires, the study captured social networks more objectively. However, no differences were observed in the social network or health of older adults with Alzheimer’s disease or disabilities living in a nursing home.

These research findings contribute to the overall unclear picture of the health and wellbeing benefits of interacting with cats. A recent systematic review found only one quantitative study which demonstrated a positive effect of interacting with cats on Alzheimer’s patients’ communication. Even in healthy participants, the relationship between cat ownership and owners’ mental health remains poorly understood.

Implications for future research

To better understand the potential benefits care home residents can receive from interacting with animals, future research in cats should encourage the performance of cat-human activities which previous research suggests are associated with increased wellbeing, such as providing for the cat.

Alternatively, a clearer (although not conclusive) link has been established between human-dog interactions and patient benefits in the healthcare system. Therefore, it could be beneficial to repeat the study with resident dogs, instead of cats, to measure the effect they have on residents’ health and social networks.

Key study findings:

• No changes in residents’ social network behaviours observed
• No changes in residents’ health or sociality observed
• Cats remained on the periphery of social networks
• Cats only interacted with residents who showed interest in them
• Caregivers who interacted with the cats had a greater number of social ties on their unit