All Cats Are on the Autism Spectrum

Product Information

Castelli P, Hart LA, Zasloff RL. Companion cats and the social support systems of men with AIDS. Psychol Rep (2001) 89(1):177–87. doi:10.2466/PR0.89.5.177-187

You can look at beautiful cats' pictures and at the same time learn about Asperger Syndrome! Genius! Melson GF. Studying children’s attachment to their pets: a conceptual and methodological review. Anthrozoos (1990) 4:91–9. doi:10.2752/089279391787057297

Reviews

Casey RA, Bradshaw JWS. The effects of additional socialization for kittens in a rescue centre on their behavior and suitability as a pet. Appl Anim Behav Sci (2008) 114:196–205. doi:10.1016/j.applanim.2008.01.003 One reviewer didn't like he being used. Most people with Aspergers are male. Frankly, I didn't catch it.

Haley Moss is an autistic attorney, author, artist and advocate. In these words, taken from her foreword to Kathy Hoopmann’s new All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum , she explains how the book has personal meaning for her. This is a fabulous concept for a book, and in execution it's cute a lot of the time. Maybe even most of the time. But some of the humor comes off as trying a little bit too hard, stretching a little too much. The text could stand to be a little less clinical and a little more whimsical (to match the kitty-cat theme) and, if handled skillfully, would not lose any of its truthfulness... and would actually wind up being much more memorable. However words do matter, and sometimes we get things wrong, and that’s ok if we are gracious about respecting the views of others and are prepared to use their preferred language once we know what it is. Fearfulness, toward visitors, was categorized as: very fearful (runs away and stays hidden); fearful (runs away, eventually comes out); moderately fearful (may or may not hide depending on who is present); relatively non-fearful (greets most, but not all, visitors); and non-fearful.

Acknowledgments

Much has happened in the field of autism since 2006, and Kathy has gently and with great care updated the book and adapted it to the societal development, which naturally affects our understanding of and approach to autism. One of the important changes is that the book is now gender neutral, as it has been increasingly recognized that autism is not gendered. The language has also been adapted to today’s social understanding and recognition of diversity. In my translation, I have had a lot of focus on the fact that this is also reflected in the Danish version. Okay, I did not know what to make of this book when I saw it on the table at a recent book sale, but cat lover that I am, how could I pass it up for 50 cents? My main complaint is that it doesn't take into account differences between different individuals with Aspergers. It over generalizes. For instance it states he doesn't want loved ones to hold him. That may be true for some individuals, but their are many children with AS who really really love to be held, who are actually clingier than most children. All Cats are on the Autism Spectrum is written with the very best intentions to reflect the wishes of the autistic community in language and concepts. I know that my choices will not please everyone and that views on language will continue to evolve.

Viau R, Arsenault-Lapierre G, Facteau S, Champagne N, Walker C-D, Lupien S. Effect of service dogs on salivary cortisol secretion in autistic children. Psychoneuroendocrinology (2010) 35:1187–93. doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.02.004 Although dogs have the capacity to perform useful tasks and are more interactive with people than cats, they require more attention and care, and some parents reportedly find their ASD child is more compatible with a cat, or that a dog simply would not be a feasible companion for their child ( 2). In some other contexts, cats have been found to be a better lifestyle fit. For example, people with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), who have cats are reported to enjoy their cats, find them comforting, and are spared concerns of many dog owners who are expected to fulfill their dogs’ needs for exercise and being taken outdoors for elimination ( 8). Middle-aged women who were caregivers at home for an elderly family member with Alzheimer’s disease reported that, for them, a cat was a more compatible and satisfying pet than a dog ( 9). Having had cats was even found in one study to be associated with fewer deaths from heart disease than having had a dog or no pets ( 10). When considering placing a cat with a child with ASD, the cat’s welfare is sometimes a concern. We found that in most cases, the cat was spending only an hour a day or less with the child. Appropriately, this means that the cats were able to spend most of the day in various other activities, and, if the child’s behavior with the cat could be problematic, supervising the child’s behavior with the cat would not require extensive time commitments from a parent. Now that I have known Kathy’s Cat Book for many years and have put many hours of work into translating the new edition, the question is: Have I grown tired of reading it? At first, I was a little bit cautious. My technical diagnosis is Aspergers Syndrome – but using ASC or ASD is technically inaccurate when it comes to applying for legal help. (Hello, PIP!) But I’ve written about being censored by this previously (here)– despite it being a diagnosis elsewhere, still – yet this has become a dirty word. I initially braced myself.

Materials and Methods

The UC Davis Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved a written informed consent waiver because of the anonymity of participating parents since no identifying information was requested in the survey. Participants were informed that they were participating in a research survey, and by completing the survey, they were consenting to the use of their responses in a study analysis. Participants were required to be 18 years of age or older to submit the survey. Burrows KE, Adams CL, Spiers J. Sentinels of safety: service dogs ensure safety and enhance freedom and well-being for families with autistic children. Qual Health Res (2008) 18(12):1642–9. doi:10.1177/1049732308327088 Qureshi AI, Memon MZ, Vazquez G, Suri MFK. Cat ownership and the risk of fatal cardiovascular diseases. Results from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Study Mortality Follow-up Study. J Vasc Interv Neurol (2009) 2(1):132–5.

The study did not include an opportunity to conduct direct observations of the interactions of the child and cat; rather, parents provided their perspectives on the behavior of the cat and the relationship of the child and the cat based on their ongoing lives with child and cat. Further, the role of the cat’s breed could not be assessed because of the small numbers of cats. Discussion Over the years, I have recommended the book to a lot of people and have time and time again experienced that both children and adults on the spectrum and their families have shown the same enthusiasm for it. That is really the best recommendation a book can get. I am so incredibly happy that I have been given the opportunity to translate this new edition into Danish. Positive comments from parents of six less severe ASD children included: “Son says the cat definitely improves his quality of life.”“Cat calms down child.”“Child is always looking for the cat.”“Cat follows child throughout the day.” Parents provided two negative comments concerning children who ignored the cat: “Cat and child are fine ignoring each other”; “cat occasionally seems more interested in child than child is in cat.” Every time I read in it, it still gives me a sense of being heard, met and understood as an autistic individual, and I’m certain that others will feel the same way. And I will never get tired of looking at all the beautiful and cute cats.

ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Touching, humorous and insightful, this book evokes the difficulties and joys of raising a child who is different and leaves the reader with a sense of the dignity, individuality, and potential of people with AS. Mertens C. Human-cat interactions in the home setting. Anthrozoos (1991) 4(4):214–31. doi:10.2752/089279391787057062 Autism’ is beautifully articulated and illustrated by our feline associates. This book captures our spirit, highlights our individuality, easily explains in an image, so many of our playful and meaningful behaviours, as well as showcases our strengths. It’s a humorous account of a serious love affair!’ Wenn B. Lawson (PhD CPsychol)