Questions like “will getting a pet benefit our child’s mental health?” are increasingly common and pertinent. In Spain, for instance, more than half of all households now have one or more pets.
Attachment is the name for the emotional bond between a developing child and the caregiver who provides them with security and comfort. This kind of bond can also, to a certain extent, also be formed with animals, and these relationships have been shown to have a range of beneficial effects:
They boost emotional regulation, helping children learn to calm themselves
They build responsibility, empathy and moral standards
They “catalyse” relationships with people, for instance when a pet forms a point of common interest between a child and a family member they don’t know so well
They support prosocial behaviour
They help build understanding of nonverbal communication
They can function as a comfort object, taking the place of the child’s primary attachment when that person is not present.
But beyond these benefits, how does living alongside an animal impact children’s mental health? We can answer this question by looking at issues categorised as either internalising (such as depression, anxiety and their related physical symptoms) and externalising (a child’s behaviour and relationship with their environment: agression, rulebreaking, and so on).
The INMA study
We analysed data provided by the INMA Project (Infancia y Medio Ambiente, Children and Environment). This was a cohort study, meaning it involved periodic monitoring of a group of participants – in this case, from pregnancy to 6-7 years of age – through questionnaires, environmental measurements and clinical tests.
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Our work included around 1,900 households in Spain, located in Asturias, Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), Sabadell (Barcelona) and Valencia. Of these, 52.3% had or had had one or more pets. 19.1% lived or had lived with dogs, 8.7% with cats, 14.8% with birds, and 28.6% with other animals such as hamsters, rabbits, turtles or fish.
When we evaluated the relationship between the presence of animals and mental health, we observed that children who had never had a pet showed the most positive scores. Some trends, although they cannot be considered significant, showed slightly more negative results among children who had always lived with pets. Those who had only had pets intermittently had higher risks of experiencing problems, though this pattern was only significant for cats.
To account for other factors that might influence this relationship, we performed additional analyses to adjust the results according to social class, sex, age, cohort, and so on. We found no difference between those who had never lived with animals and those who had had them always or only intermittently. This applied to the variable that studied any type of pet, as well as the specific ones that evaluated the relationship with dogs and birds.
The most interesting finding was that having a cat at age 4-5 was associated with more mental health problems (Getty/iStock)
The most interesting finding was that having a cat at age 4-5 was associated with more mental health problems. Having other animals – such as hamsters, rabbits, turtles or fish – consistently throughout early childhood seemed to have a protective effect on boys and girls alike.
Unpacking our findings
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In the early years of life, emotional bonds may not be fully formed. Therefore, the presence of dogs or birds may not have a major effect on mental health. It is also possible that variables not included in our study may have influenced the results.
In the case of cats, their way of interacting with people could explain the effects observed. They are more independent, which limits emotional bonding, and some families may choose this animal as a pet because their children have emotional needs of their own.
In addition, toxoplasmosis is more common in cats than in other animals. This infection – caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii which can be transmitted to humans – is linked to behavioural problems, as well as serious mental disorders such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
About the authors
Llúcia González Safont is an Investigadora del Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP) y miembro de la Unidad Mixta de Investigación en Epidemiología, Ambiente y Salud FISABIO-Universitat Jaume I -Universitat de València, Fisabio. Blanca Sarzo Carles is an Investigador postdoctoral. Bioestadística, Fisabio. Marisa Estarlich Estarlich is a Profesora contratada doctor, Universitat de València. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Having fish, turtles and hamsters on a constant basis does seem to protect children from mental health problems. These pets demand stable and easy contact, and help kids to learn responsibility, empathy and self-control.
Constant bonds are better
Our study did not clearly associate the presence of some pets, such as dogs and birds, with benefits or harm to childrens’ mental health. This could be because our work focused on exposure to pets in very early life – further studies focusing on older children are required.
In addition, children who lived with animals such as hamsters, rabbits, fish or turtles on a regular basis achieved better results than those who only had them intermittently. This suggests that a continuous link may be more beneficial than sporadic exposure.
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While living with a pet can promote responsibility, empathy and emotional self-regulation, its real impact depends on factors such as the nature of the bond, age and style of upbringing.
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The Hoops landed six new signings in January, with free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain checking in after deadline day
Frank McAvennie has called on Martin O’Neill to introduce a surprise element in Celtic’s defence.
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The Hoops welcomed six new signings in January, including free agent Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who joined after the transfer deadline.
Julian Araujo and Tomas Cvancara have both made an immediate impact, while Junior Adamu kept Celtic’s Scottish Cup hopes alive with a dramatic last-minute debut goal. Joel Mvuka also joined on loan but only lasted 45 minutes in his first start.
However, one player who has slipped under the radar is Benjamin Arthur. The 20-year-old Brentford novice completed a last-minute loan move but wasn’t included in Saturday’s matchday squad against Dundee.
The English powerhouse has already drawn comparisons to Virgil van Dijk from Dundee manager Steven Pressley, who worked with the young player during his tenure as head of player development at Brentford, reports the Daily Record.
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Parkhead legend Macca believes the towering centre-back – who has made three appearances for Brentford – should be thrown into the mix straight away.
Speaking on the Let Me Be Frank podcast, McAvennie said: “See these players they brought in? They are all good players and you’ve got to get them in the team because we need them.
“In my opinion, we need this boy from Brentford to come into this team because the boys are not good enough at the back – for me.
“The chances that are getting created against Celtic, I’ve never seen so many. Keeper saves them and because we win, it’s another clean sheet.
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“But the chances… a good striker would’ve buried a few of them. We’re getting dominated against teams now. I don’t care how old he is, he’s 6ft 4, get him in the team.
“If he’s playing for a Premier League club, get him in the team. We brought Van Dijk up, nobody knew who he was and he went straight into the team. He was a colossus.”
McAvennie reckons the inexperienced defender should be given the nod ahead of Liam Scales, arguing the Irishman has made one too many errors.
He continued: “I think he could be a good player but he’s got to learn. How many chances have come off Liam and people have missed them?”
Tom made repeated trips to the doctor but says his symptoms were ignored
A dad’s crippling stomach pains dismissed by a GP as the result of “drinking too many fizzy drinks” turned out to be a rare and incurable form of cancer. Tom Hayman, 28, said he was told he was probably suffering from acid reflux despite months of pain, rapid weight loss and repeated trips to the doctor.
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But scans later revealed the true cause – a neuroendocrine tumour that began in his pancreas and spread to his liver. The plumber, from Warrington, Cheshire, had been feeling unwell since the summer of 2024 but claims his symptoms were repeatedly brushed aside.
He was “fobbed off” each time, being told there was “nothing to worry about” as at the time he was only 27, which his GP told him was “too young to have cancer”. His fiancée Mary Cooper, 28, said the GP even laughed at the suggestion of cancer despite seeing a “dramatic and alarming” change in Tom.
She added: “He’s a 6ft 5ins lad who loves his food – but all of a sudden, it was like he started forgetting to eat. He just didn’t want food. If he did eat, he’d get really bad stomach pains. He also started to lose a lot of weight.”
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Despite fearing something was seriously wrong, Tom spent around six months going back and forth to his GP surgery with no answers. Mary said: “They were just fobbing us off with things like ‘you drink too many fizzy drinks’.”
Doctors initially suggested acid reflux – something Tom had suffered with before. Mary added: “The doctor thought it was acid reflux, but this was coming from his liver area. “I knew it wasn’t right for him to be doubled over in pain. Tom was worried it was something sinister – but the doctor laughed and said he wouldn’t have cancer at his age.”
She claims the GP suggested he undergo scans only because Tom appeared anxious. The tests, carried out at Warrington Hospital, changed everything. Mary said: “A day later, they rang to say they’d found something on his liver.”
Further tests in London confirmed the devastating diagnosis – a neuroendocrine tumour that had already spread, along with a blood clot on Tom’s liver. The couple were referred to Clatterbridge in May 2025 and have been researching treatment options ever since.
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Mary said: “Tom felt like he was not being listened to and almost mocked. Hearing the word cancer was overwhelming. It was all a bit of a blur, to be honest. We were both crying and the next thing we were thinking was – how are we going to tell our family and friends?
“What is his life going to be like now? We couldn’t take in anything that was said during that appointment because our worlds had just stopped. I can’t explain the feeling. It was just sadness and anger. There was a wave of emotions.
“You think about the future and buying a house, getting married, having more children – but you’re asking whether these things are ever going to happen.”
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With no cure available in the UK, the family’s hope now lies overseas in Germany, where doctors offer dendritic cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy designed to help the body fight cancer. Mary said Tom found out about the treatment through social media.
After reaching out to hospitals abroad and sharing Tom’s medical notes, discussions about treatment options began. The family are aiming to raise £50,000 which would cover medical fees, travel, accommodation, and time away from work while Tom focuses on getting better.
Despite everything, Mary says Tom remains positive – even when his health dips. She said: “He believes that if he thinks positively, then positive things will come. “He takes everything in his stride.”
Their son Ronnie, four, is unaware of the seriousness of his dad’s illness – but senses when something is wrong. Mary said: “He doesn’t know what’s happening, but he has seen when Tom’s not unwell, which upsets him. We’re just trying to keep life as normal as possible for him.”
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Mary said she hopes sharing Tom’s story will raise awareness – particularly among young people whose symptoms may be ignored. They have launched a fundraiser to cover treatment costs.
BBC Breakfast shared a heartbreaking story on Tuesday after a young woman’s tragic death
08:39, 10 Feb 2026Updated 08:40, 10 Feb 2026
BBC Breakfast star Sally Nugent made an emotional announcement on Tuesday (February 10), as a guest was left in tears.
The latest edition of the hit morning programme saw Sally deliver the latest news from across the UK and around the world, while her co-star Jon Kay shared political updates live from Downing Street.
Sally was joined in the Salford studio by Carol Kirkwood, who delivered regular weather forecasts, while John Watson handled the sports segment.
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Later in the show, Sally announced the death of a 21-year-old, who sadly passed away from sepsis six years ago. Bethan James’s grieving parents are now campaigning for better training to diagnose one of the UK’s biggest killers.
“The parents of a young woman from Cardiff who died after sepsis wasn’t spotted early enough are calling for better training to diagnose the condition,” Sally said.
“Bethan James was 21 when she died six years ago after life-saving treatment was delayed. It comes as a BBC investigation finds sepsis awareness training is still not mandatory at most hospitals in Wales, despite being one of the UK’s biggest killers.”
A pre-recorded segment was then played, in which Bethan’s parents emotionally recounted their daughter’s symptoms.
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Emergency services were called to the A177 Durham Road near Thorpe Thewles, Stockton on Monday (February 9), just after 5.20pm.
It is understood the road was closed for a short time while the ambulance service treated two people. One was taken to hospital.
The circumstances of the crash are not yet known.
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A spokesperson for the North East Ambulance Service said: “We attended a road traffic collision on the A177 in Thorpe Thewles just after 5.20pm today (February 9).
“A paramedic crew arrived at the scene and assessed two patients.
“One patient was discharged at scene and the other taken to hospital.”
Cleveland Police has been contacted for more information.
But LBC presenter Ben Kentish reminded Holden of just how much drama unfolded under the last three Conservative prime ministers, too.
Holden claimed Starmer was at risk of being a “lame duck prime minister, not wanted by his own MPs, not wanted by his own leader in Scotland”.
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Kentish replied: “You sound an awful lot like the last four years of Conservative governments – lame duck prime ministers, accused of ethnical misjudgments, not wanted by their own MPs, chaos for the country.
“You haven’t got a leg to stand on when it comes to this.”
Holden insisted that Rishi Sunak had plenty of backing and that Conservative MPs stood up to Liz Truss when “things were quite clearly going in the wrong direction”.
Holden replied: “Labour MPs don’t have the spine, because they’re people who are jockeying for position and they want to try and pin all the issues going forward on that.”
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But Kentish hit back: “You defended Boris Johnson when he stood by [Owen] Paterson when he had broken lobbying rules, he kept Priti Patel in cabinet despite the fact that she had been found to bully civil servants, he broke his own lockdown laws and mislead parliament about it – and you went out there and said he’s still the right man for the job.
“So when it comes to Keir Starmer and Peter Mandelson – I accept it’s an almighty mistake – but this kind of holier-than-thou, whiter-than-white approach, it reeks of hypocrisy.”
Their exchange comes after the prime minister’s chief of staff Morgan McSweeney and his director of communications Tim Allan resigned within 24 hours of one another.
Their shock departures came as the scandal around Starmer’s decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as the UK’s ambassador to the US – despite his links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein – reached fever pitch.
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After Sarwar urged Starmer to quit, there were fears cabinet ministers would follow suit – but, remarkably, senior Labour figures all publicly rallied behind the beleaguered prime minister.
Starmer also told Labour MPs that he was “not prepared to walk away” last night.
The company’s brand and intellectual property have been sold but stores including one in Scotland are in the hands of administrators.
LK Bennett moved from its position in Edinburgh’s boutique quarter in George Street to Multrees Walk before moving again to a concession in John Lewis.
It was reported that around 90 jobs were at risk as all its stores face closure. An earlier administration saw 15 stores close, including one in Glasgow.
A statement on the company website said John Noon and Mark Firmin of Alvarez & Marsal Europe LLP were appointed joint administrators of LK Bennett Fashion Limited.
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It continued: “Immediately following their appointment, the LK Bennett brand and related intellectual property was sold to LKB IP Holdings, LLC, a Gordon Brothers affiliated entity.
“The LK Bennett stores were not included in the transaction and continue to trade under the administration. Online sales via the LK Bennett website continue for the foreseeable future.
“The company’s affairs, business and property are being managed by the joint administrators, who act as agents of the company and without personal liability.”
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It added: “The joint administrators, the joint administrators’ firm and any of the joint administrators’ partners, employees, agents or advisers will not bear any liability, whether personal or otherwise under or in connection with the terms and conditions nor any other policy.”
The company listed nine shops and 13 concessions. Administrators will operate the outlets for “up to three months”, Drapers reported.
NatWest Group has this morning announced the £2.7 billion acquisition of Evelyn Partners, ramping up its presence in the private banking and wealth market which it currently serves through its Coutts boutique operation.
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It is the bank’s biggest acquisition since receiving a £45.5bn bailout during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, when it was known as Royal Bank of Scotland at parent group level. The bank made its full return to private ownership in May last year.
NatWest declared the Evelyn deal creates UK’s leading private banking and wealth management business, overseeing more than £125bn of assets under management and administration with the addition of Evelyn’s £65bn of AUMA.
The founder of the prestigious Edinburgh New Town Cookery School has announced her retirement after a 50-year career in the industry.
Leading culinary educator Fiona Burrell trained chefs, entrepreneurs and home cooks throughout her five decades in the sector before stepping down.
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Fiona started started work as a teacher at Leiths School of Food and Wine founded by Dame Prue Leith in 1983. (Image: Supplied)
Ms Burrell said: “When I founded the school, my goal was to give people skills that would stay with them for life, but also the confidence to use those skills to change their own futures.
“Seeing students transform their careers, start businesses, or simply find joy in cooking has been the most rewarding part of my work.”
Ms Burrell began her career in Edinburgh in the 1970s, later working in kitchens in London before joining Leiths School of Food and Wine in 1983.
She rose from teacher to principal during her 12 years at Leiths, contributing to several of the school’s cookbooks. After leaving, she became a consultant, recipe developer, food stylist and columnist, also appearing on television and radio.
The Gunners’ advantage now stands at six points over second-place Man City after they eased past Sunderland on Saturday, with Viktor Gyokeres scoring a brace off the bench.
Mikel Arteta will hope his side can continue to build their advantage here as a tricky run, which will see them play Tottenham, Chelsea and Brighton in consecutive matches, looms at the end of the month.
They now sit seventh, and can take one step closer to achieving their European dream with an upset in front of their home support.
Date, kick-off time and venue
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Brentford vs Arsenal is scheduled for an 8pm GMT kick-off on Thursday, February 12, 2026.
The match will take place at the Gtech Community Stadium in west London.
Where to watch Brentford vs Arsenal
TV channel: In the UK, the game will be televised live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
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Live stream: TNT Sports subscribers can also catch the contest live online via the Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can follow all the action on matchday via Standard Sport’s live blog, with expert analysis from Matt Verri at the ground.
Brentford vs Arsenal team news
Keith Andrews will not be able to call upon loanee Reiss Nelson for this match, regardless of whether he had recovered from a niggling hamstring injury, as he is ineligible to face his parent club, Arsenal.
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Kevin Schade is also out of action after being sent off against Aston Villa. This match will be the second of his three-match suspension, meaning he will also be forced to sit out an FA Cup meeting with giant-slaying Macclesfield.
Elsewhere, Fabio Carvalho, Antoni Milambo and Josh Dasilva are all long-term absentees.
Mikel Merino will miss out for Arsenal as expected after he underwent surgery on a broken bone in his foot this week.
It remains to be seen whether Leandro Trossard can be involved after he was forced off late in the Sunderland match.
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Injury doubt: Leandro Trossard
Arsenal FC via Getty Images
The same is true of Bukayo Saka, who is recovering from a hip injury. Arteta has promised that he will return “soon,” with some reports suggesting he is targeting a comeback for the north London derby at the end of the month.
Martin Odegaard should return for this derby, though, while Max Dowman remains unavailable.
Brentford vs Arsenal prediction
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Arsenal are in fine form at the moment, but will need to keep their wits about them as they face the upwardly-mobile Brentford.
Andrews’ Bees have proven their fearlessness and grit on various occasions this season, and will be all too happy to take advantage of any Arsenal slip-ups at the Gtech.
Whether mistakes are made, though, is another question entirely. Arteta’s side has appeared comfortable since the Man United blip, in spite of injuries to Saka and Odegaard, and Gyokeres finally finding form can only be a good thing.
At the double: Viktor Gyokeres scored a brace last time out for Arsenal
AFP via Getty Images
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Head to head (h2h) history and results
The Bees last beat Arsenal on the opening day of the 2021-22 campaign, with their 2-0 home win sealed by a late goal from now-Gunner Christian Norgaard.
Hours that could be spent working, are swallowed by poor connectivity. Lost productivity reduces competitiveness, undermines wellbeing, and stifles regional growth. Countries that invest in seamless digital infrastructure allow workers to reclaim those hours, cut carbon emissions by encouraging rail travel, and unlock new opportunities for flexible working.
Take Ely, a sixth-former at West London Free School. He studies physics, maths, further maths and politics, but his career pathway isn’t confined to the classroom. Through H&F’s Pathway Bond, he’s gained work experience with cutting-edge bio-tech firms like Sequoia Genetics, Biome Technologies and Fresh Canvas in the White City Innovation District.
