The fleeting way cats make eye contact may explain why some autistic children develop stronger relationships with pet cats than pet dogs.

The “less intrusive glance” of cats , compared to the “long gazes” that dogs make, might align better with autistic children’s “social needs,” says Marine Grandgeorge at the University of Rennes in France.

“Cats don’t hold a stare but tend to look away after short bouts of eye contact, and it’s possible that this feels more comfortable for …