Children prefer their pets to brothers and sisters

IT may not be what their parents had hoped for. But many children prefer their pets to their brothers and sisters – and get on with them better, according to a study.

Researchers found that children often have a closer relationship with their cats and dogs than their siblings, and value their companionship more.

And youngsters were just as likely to share a secret with their furry friends as they were a sibling. The team from the University of Cambridge surveyed 12-year-olds from 77 families with one or more pets and more than one child.

On a scale of 0-5, they reported an average satisfaction with their relationship with their pets of 4.67 – compared to 3.67 for that with their siblings. Girls enjoyed particularly close relationships, reporting more intimate disclosure and companionship. Researchers said this indicated that ‘girls may interact with their pets in more nuanced ways’.

Lead researcher Matt Cassels said: ‘Anyone who has loved a childhood pet knows that we turn to them for companionship and disclosure, just like relationships between people. Even though pets may not fully understand or respond verbally, the level of disclosure to them was no less than to siblings.

‘The fact that pets cannot understand or talk back may even be a benefit as it means they are completely non-judgmental.’

The study, published in the Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, was done in collaboration with the Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition and Economic and Social Research Council.