This article focuses solely on a mother's in total isolation. It makes total sense to me that a single mother would rather be holding a cat and not a baby in most circumstances. Because maybe these aren't single mothers or maybe they are I don't know the article is not clear.

What is known from copious amounts of research is that single motherhood despite all of the social programs designed to help it it's not a desirable situation to be in. So it becomes obvious people are opting out of having kids because they're also opting out of long-term relationships as well. You will see a decline in both of those.

If society promotes families and long-term relationships you will see an increased desire to have children together.