Putting Cats on the Spectrum: A Scoping Review of the Role of Cats in Therapy and Companionship for Autistic Adults and Children.

This review looked at how cats can help autistic children and adults. Researchers found that cats make good companions and therapy animals for autistic people. Cats have special qualities that work well with autism - they form strong bonds with autistic individuals and can help improve social skills and daily life. While there are some challenges to consider with cat ownership, the research suggests cats can be beneficial for autistic people in various ways.

This scoping review examined the role of cats in supporting autistic children and adults across three contexts: animal-assisted interventions, assistance animals, and companion animals. The review identified 13 articles from 12 studies and found evidence supporting cats in therapeutic interventions and as companion animals. Five key themes emerged: cats possess characteristics and behaviours that make them suitable for homes with autistic people; strong bonds develop between cats and autistic individuals; cats can serve as human-substitutes; cats improve social functioning and quality of life in multiple ways; and there are some drawbacks and considerations to cat ownership. The review provides a foundation for promoting feline therapy in autism and highlights the need for further targeted research.

Findings suggest cats may offer therapeutic benefits for autistic individuals through companionship and structured interventions. However, the limited research base indicates need for more rigorous studies before making clinical recommendations. Considerations around drawbacks and individual suitability should be evaluated when considering feline therapy options.

This scoping review included only 13 articles from 12 studies, indicating limited research base. The abstract does not specify study methodologies, sample sizes, or quality assessment of included studies, making it difficult to assess the strength of evidence.

This scoping review brings together existing studies on the use of cats in animal-assisted interventions, as assistance animals and as companion animals for autistic people. A systematic search across PubMed, CINAHL and Scopus in September 2022 identified 13 articles from 12 studies meeting the selection criteria with analysis revealing two key findings, cat-assisted therapeutic interventions, and cats as companion animals. There were five themes that emerged: the characteristics and behaviours of cats that make them suitable for inclusion in homes with autistic people; the bond between the cat and the autistic person; the use of cats as human-substitutes; the multiple ways in which cats improved the lives and social functioning of autistic people; and, some noted drawbacks or considerations of cat ownership. The review generates a comprehensive knowledge base upon which to promote feline therapy in autism and to advocate for further targeted research.