scoping out the purrfect pair?

In the final two decades, the quantity of autism diagnoses in the UK has cat-apulted by 787% (Russell et al., 2022). So, what precisely is autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and what’s causing this exponential development?

Defining ASD in a single sentence is close to not possible due to its sheer complexity. Even the NHS web-site does not offer a definition, and as an alternative states that “autistic people may act in a different way to other people” (NHS, 2022) – the language made use of right here is rather marginalising as it is assuming that “other people” are neurotypical and, as a result, ‘the norm’. The steep rise in diagnoses can maybe be attributed to an enhanced understanding of ASD and its diverse presentations across gender and age.

ASD is usually related with communication issues, and interpreting facial expressions can be especially difficult for autistic persons. However, investigation reveals that the kind of stimuli presenting the expression could make all the distinction: autistic brains responded superior to facial expressions in animal-like faces more than human ones (Atherton &amp Gross, 2018 Whyte et al., 2016). Considering this, it tends to make sense that autistic persons may well often choose interactions with animals more than humans. Many private narratives have documented an exceptional bond amongst cats and autistic youngsters (Carter-Johnson, 2016 Cats Protection, 2019), having said that, the academic investigation seems to be sparse. Consequently, Cleary and colleagues (2023) undertook a scoping overview to consolidate the literature in this region, in search of to fully grasp how cats can play a therapeutic function for autistic persons.

Methods

This paper followed a previously established framework for scoping critiques, which was sophisticated by Levac and colleagues (2010). A search was performed across a number of electronic databases according to the following criteria:

• Research concentrate was totally or partially on cats especially
• Target population identified as autistic or on the autism spectrum
• English language, peer-reviewed major investigation with no parameters set for the publication date.

Thematic evaluation was performed making use of Braun and Clarke’s guide (2006). The articles have been completely study by 1 author, and then re-study making use of evaluation software program. The papers have been coded, which helped the authors to determine themes and subthemes. The final themes have been discussed with the lead author to attain mutual agreement.

As with most scoping critiques, no danger of bias assessment was made use of so it is tough to ascertain the excellent of incorporated research.

Results

The authors identified 463 records in total, but only 13 articles have been incorporated following reviewing for inclusion criteria and eligibility. Two principal strategies that cats offer assistance for autistic persons have been identified to be:

1. In therapeutic interventions, such as play therapy.
2. As a companion animal (which was the case for most persons).

No research have been identified to investigate the function of cats as service animals.

Cat-assisted therapeutic interventions

• Only two research investigated this, each made use of robot cats that imitated actual cat behaviours – these have been selected for their “therapeutic expressions known to better engage autistic people”
• Both research yielded good final results, with enhanced levels of interaction by the autistic youngster with the robot cat, which includes raised levels of eye make contact with, verbalisation and initiation of physical make contact with with the robot.

Cats as companion animals

• Families with an autistic particular person have been much more probably to personal a cat than neurotypical households.

Five principal themes arose from the thematic evaluation:

1. Behaviour and qualities of cats

• Positive traits that autistic people favoured have been: cats enabling themselves to be carried, getting affectionate and lacking aggression
• Cats appeared to be much more lenient towards autistic persons, and showed preference for them more than neurotypical people
• Prior to adoption, cats need to be individually assessed to match their temperament with the future property atmosphere, facilitating superior possibilities of lasting accomplishment.

2. The human-cat bond

• Autistic people formed a “strong mutual bond” with their cat
• During the pandemic, this connection deepened considering that cats have been a supply of consistency and calm.

3. Cats as substitutes for human interactions

• Autistic persons made use of companion cats as human substitutes, forming deep friendship-like relationships
• Cats act as a buffer, enabling autistic persons to increase their socialisation capabilities in a way that feels secure and safe.

4. Positive effects of cat ownership

• Sense of duty, and improved incentive to be much more active
• Improved social interaction and communication
• Decrease in depressive symptoms, anxiety and anxiousness
• A soothing influence and superior emotional regulation gained via the sensory benefits of human-cat interactions (e.g. soft fur, purring sound).

5. Negatives, drawbacks and considerations of cat ownership

• Expensive care
• Time commitment needed
• Inappropriate toileting troubles
• Cat’s separation anxiousness from the autistic person
• Aggression originating from the cat, and aimed towards the cat.

Conclusions 

This scoping overview suggests that cats have a one of a kind shared connection with autistic people, and this bond offers way to a plethora of positive aspects, which includes:

Increased capabilities in socialisation, communication, and self-regulation and reductions in anxiousness, anxiety and social disconnection.

This scoping overview suggests that cats can substitute human interactions for autistic persons with their profound capability to offer companionship, comfort and sensory gratification. Additionally, cats have their personal person personalities, and so potential matching need to be carried out with the new atmosphere to maximise compatibility and lengthy-term accomplishment.

Robot cats have also accomplished wonderful accomplishment as therapeutic aids, and additional investigation is indicated in this field.

Strengths and limitations

This paper is the 1st scoping overview to examine the connection amongst cats and autistic persons. The lack of literature shows that this was the most acceptable methodology, as it is nonetheless an emerging field and not adequate information is accessible for a much more extensive (systematic) overview. The authors effectively identified themes and regularly connected these back to the overview aim. The final results section clearly demonstrated how the themes emerged from the research. The authors acknowledged the added locating of “negatives, drawbacks and considerations of cat ownership” that was identified across numerous of the research. Although this theme does not align with their original objective (to construct a expertise base endorsing feline therapy), by acknowledging and which includes this incidental locating, their investigation is substantially much more genuine, credible and transparent.

From the start out, the overview aim is intentionally selective towards the good influence of cats more than the drawbacks. This introduces the possibility of a biased search tactic, so consideration and justification for this is needed. Furthermore, there was a huge variation in the sorts of research incorporated, creating comparisons tough. Only English-language articles have been incorporated, limiting the generalisability of this overview. Due to the niche nature of investigation, even a handful of non-English papers may well have drastically altered the themes identified. Non-academic sources of info have been also overlooked added on the internet searches would have highlighted essential info that will be discussed in the subsequent section.

Although it is stated that Levac’s (2010) sophisticated framework for a scoping overview was followed, the authors did not include things like the final stage “Consultation”. Levac indicated that consultation with stakeholders is a “required component”, and I would argue that by leaving out this step, the authors have missed out on a wonderful chance to obtain insight into how cats assistance autistic persons in the actual globe. Examples of stakeholders are: autistic people, their households, healthcare specialists and organisations such as Pets as Therapy (exactly where cats currently volunteer as therapy animals).

Implications for practice

This paper has offered numerous new investigation directions:

• The function of robot cats in therapeutic interventions for autistic youngsters. Although the authors portray robot cats as a substitute for actual cats, it is clear that they are also impactful as a separate intervention in and of itself. Robot cats have distinct positive aspects such as demonstrating lead to and impact in a constant, visual, and sensory-stimulating way that may well not be achievable with reside animals.

• The prospective for actual cats to be made use of as help animals or in therapeutic interventions.

Although the authors debate no matter if there is an absence of cats in help roles or just a lack of investigation in this region, I strongly argue for the latter. After a Google search, it became apparent to me that there are currently various instances exactly where cats are acting in a therapeutic capacity, but wider recognition for their function is substantially lacking (BBC, 2019). An person case in May 2022 highlights how there is even societal resistance towards recognising cats as help animals. Mr Ian Fenn was asked to leave his cat, Chloe, outdoors when buying at a supermarket in London, regardless of explaining that she is a service animal (Cascian, 2022). The supermarket has considering that maintained that any help animals, other than dogs, are not permitted in their shops, claiming a danger to meals hygiene (Fenn, 2022). However, the lack of proof to assistance how the hygiene of cats differs from that of dogs is precisely why much more investigation demands to be completed, so that these who rely on non-dog service animals are not disproportionately discriminated against in their every day lives. Mr Fenn is autistic and describes how Chloe is invaluable in assisting him to handle sensory overload and comprehensive his weekly shop (Cascian, 2022).

For this explanation, I strongly advocate for future investigation to be focused towards superior understanding and acknowledging the good impacts that cats (and other animals) can bring as help or therapy animals. This investigation can then empower people to champion and push for policy alter – an region that demands substantially improvement in the UK. In some nations, such as Australia, the legislation is much more accessible and other animals are also legally recognised and protected as help animals. Clearly, there is a lot of progress to be created in UK legislation, and constructing up an proof base is the important 1st step to raising awareness of the therapeutic function of cats in society.

Statements of interest

No conflicts.

Links

Primary Paper

Cleary M, West S, Thapa DK, Kornhaber R. Putting Cats on the Spectrum: A Scoping Review of the Role of Cats in Therapy and Companionship for Autistic Adults and Children. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 202344(6):505-16.

Other references

Russell G, Stapley S, Newlove-Delgado T, Salmon A, White R, Warren F, et al. Time trends in autism diagnosis more than 20 years: a UK population-primarily based cohort study. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry. 202263(6):674-82.

NHS. What is autism? [Internet]. 2022. [cited 2023 Nov 25]. Available from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/.

Atherton G, Cross L. Seeing More Than Human: Autism and Anthropomorphic Theory of Mind. Front Psychol. 20189:528.

Whyte EM, Behrmann M, Minshew NJ, Garcia NV, Scherf KS. Animal, but not human, faces engage the distributed face network in adolescents with autism. Dev Sci. 201619(2):306-17.

Carter-Johnson A. How a cat enabled an autistic six-year-old to communicate. BBC. [Internet]. 2016 March 13 [cited 2023 Dec 2]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-35797084

Cats Protection. [Internet]. 2019 June 8 [cited 2023 Dec 2]. Available from: https://www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/meet-cats-and-kids-who-are-furrever-friends

Cleary M, West S, Thapa DK, Kornhaber R. Putting Cats on the Spectrum: A Scoping Review of the Role of Cats in Therapy and Companionship for Autistic Adults and Children. Issues in Mental Health Nursing. 202344(6):505-16.

Arksey H, O’Malley L. Scoping research: towards a methodological framework. International Journal of Social Research Methodology. 20058(1):19-32.

Levac D, Colquhoun H, O’Brien KK. Scoping research: advancing the methodology. Implementation Science. 20105(1):69.

Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic evaluation in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology. 20063(2):77-101.

BBC London. Is this London’s cutest therapy cat?. 2019 Oct 20 [cited 2023 Dec 3]. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTY6c4I2CTQ

Cascian D, Ellison C. Court fight looms more than Sainsbury’s cat ban. BBC. [Internet]. 2022 May [cited 2023 Nov 25]. Available from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61596623

Fenn I. Fenn V Sainsburys. [Internet]. 2022 July 14 [cited 2023 Dec 2]. Available from: https://catfriendly.org/fenn-v-sainsburys/

Photo credits

Photo by Yerlin Matu on Unsplash