Within the final twenty years, the variety of autism diagnoses within the UK has cat-apulted by 787% (Russell et al., 2022). So, what precisely is autistic spectrum dysfunction (ASD) and what’s inflicting this exponential progress?
Defining ASD in a single sentence is close to unimaginable because of its sheer complexity. Even the NHS web site doesn’t present a definition, and as an alternative states that “autistic individuals could act differently to different individuals” (NHS, 2022) – the language used right here is slightly marginalising because it’s assuming that “different individuals” are neurotypical and, subsequently, ‘the norm’. The steep rise in diagnoses can maybe be attributed to an improved understanding of ASD and its totally different shows throughout gender and age.
ASD is usually related to communication difficulties, and deciphering facial expressions may be notably difficult for autistic individuals. Nevertheless, analysis reveals that the kind of stimuli presenting the expression might make all of the distinction: autistic brains responded higher to facial expressions in animal-like faces over human ones (Atherton & Gross, 2018; Whyte et al., 2016). Contemplating this, it is smart that autistic individuals could typically desire interactions with animals over people. Many private narratives have documented an distinctive bond between cats and autistic kids (Carter-Johnson, 2016; Cats Safety, 2019), nevertheless, the tutorial analysis seems to be sparse. Consequently, Cleary and colleagues (2023) undertook a scoping assessment to consolidate the literature on this space, in search of to grasp how cats can play a therapeutic function for autistic individuals.
Strategies
This paper adopted a beforehand established framework for scoping critiques, which was superior by Levac and colleagues (2010). A search was carried out throughout a number of digital databases in response to the next standards:
- Analysis focus was absolutely or partially on cats particularly;
- Goal inhabitants recognized as autistic or on the autism spectrum;
- English language, peer-reviewed main analysis with no parameters set for the publication date.
Thematic evaluation was carried out utilizing Braun and Clarke’s information (2006). The articles had been completely learn by one writer, after which re-read utilizing evaluation software program. The papers had been coded, which helped the authors to determine themes and subthemes. The ultimate themes had been mentioned with the lead writer to achieve mutual settlement.
As with most scoping critiques, no danger of bias evaluation was used so it’s troublesome to establish the standard of included research.
Outcomes
The authors discovered 463 data in whole, however solely 13 articles had been included after reviewing for inclusion standards and eligibility. Two major ways in which cats present help for autistic individuals had been discovered to be:
- In therapeutic interventions, comparable to play remedy.
- As a companion animal (which was the case for most individuals).
No research had been discovered to analyze the function of cats as service animals.
Cat-assisted therapeutic interventions
- Solely two research investigated this, each used robotic cats that imitated actual cat behaviours – these had been chosen for his or her “therapeutic expressions identified to higher interact autistic individuals”
- Each research yielded constructive outcomes, with improved ranges of interplay by the autistic little one with the robotic cat, together with raised ranges of eye contact, verbalisation and initiation of bodily contact with the robotic.
Cats as companion animals
- Households with an autistic individual had been extra prone to personal a cat than neurotypical households.
5 major themes arose from the thematic evaluation:
1. Behaviour and traits of cats
- Constructive traits that autistic people favoured had been: cats permitting themselves to be carried, being affectionate and missing aggression
- Cats seemed to be extra lenient in direction of autistic individuals, and confirmed desire for them over neurotypical people
- Previous to adoption, cats must be individually assessed to match their temperament with the longer term residence surroundings, facilitating higher probabilities of lasting success.
2. The human-cat bond
- Autistic people shaped a “robust mutual bond” with their cat
- Throughout the pandemic, this relationship deepened since cats had been a supply of consistency and calm.
3. Cats as substitutes for human interactions
- Autistic individuals used companion cats as human substitutes, forming deep friendship-like relationships
- Cats act as a buffer, enabling autistic individuals to enhance their socialisation expertise in a manner that feels secure and safe.
4. Constructive results of cat possession
- Sense of accountability, and elevated incentive to be extra energetic
- Improved social interplay and communication
- Lower in depressive signs, stress and nervousness
- A soothing affect and higher emotional regulation gained by way of the sensory benefits of human-cat interactions (e.g. delicate fur, purring sound).
5. Negatives, drawbacks and concerns of cat possession
- Costly care
- Time dedication required
- Inappropriate toileting points
- Cat’s separation nervousness from the autistic particular person
- Aggression originating from the cat, and aimed in direction of the cat.
Conclusions
This scoping assessment means that cats have a singular shared reference to autistic people, and this bond provides method to a plethora of advantages, together with:
Elevated expertise in socialisation, communication, and self-regulation and reductions in nervousness, stress and social disconnection.
This scoping assessment means that cats can substitute human interactions for autistic individuals with their profound skill to offer companionship, consolation and sensory gratification. Moreover, cats have their very own particular person personalities, and so potential matching must be carried out with the brand new surroundings to maximise compatibility and long-term success.
Robotic cats have additionally achieved nice success as therapeutic aids, and additional analysis is indicated on this discipline.
Strengths and limitations
This paper is the primary scoping assessment to look at the connection between cats and autistic individuals. The dearth of literature exhibits that this was probably the most applicable methodology, as it’s nonetheless an rising discipline and never sufficient information is offered for a extra complete (systematic) assessment. The authors efficiently recognized themes and constantly associated these again to the assessment intention. The outcomes part clearly demonstrated how the themes emerged from the research. The authors acknowledged the extra discovering of “negatives, drawbacks and concerns of cat possession” that was discovered throughout lots of the research. Though this theme doesn’t align with their unique goal (to construct a information base endorsing feline remedy), by acknowledging and together with this incidental discovering, their analysis is way more genuine, credible and clear.
From the beginning, the assessment intention is deliberately selective in direction of the constructive affect of cats over the drawbacks. This introduces the potential for a biased search technique, so consideration and justification for that is essential. Moreover, there was a big variation within the varieties of research included, making comparisons troublesome. Solely English-language articles had been included, limiting the generalisability of this assessment. As a result of area of interest nature of analysis, even just a few non-English papers could have vastly altered the themes recognized. Non-academic sources of data had been additionally missed; further on-line searches would have highlighted important data that can be mentioned within the subsequent part.
Though it’s said that Levac’s (2010) superior framework for a scoping assessment was adopted, the authors didn’t embody the ultimate stage “Session”. Levac indicated that session with stakeholders is a “required part”, and I’d argue that by leaving out this step, the authors have missed out on an awesome alternative to realize perception into how cats help autistic individuals in the actual world. Examples of stakeholders are: autistic people, their households, healthcare professionals and organisations comparable to Pets as Remedy (the place cats already volunteer as remedy animals).
Implications for follow
This paper has supplied many new analysis instructions:
- The function of robotic cats in therapeutic interventions for autistic kids. Though the authors painting robotic cats as an alternative choice to actual cats, it’s clear that also they are impactful as a separate intervention in and of itself. Robotic cats have distinct advantages comparable to demonstrating trigger and impact in a constant, visible, and sensory-stimulating manner that might not be achievable with dwell animals.
- The potential for actual cats for use as help animals or in therapeutic interventions.
Though the authors debate whether or not there may be an absence of cats in help roles or only a lack of analysis on this space, I strongly argue for the latter. After a Google search, it grew to become obvious to me that there are already quite a few instances the place cats are performing in a therapeutic capability, however wider recognition for his or her function is considerably missing (BBC, 2019). A person case in Could 2022 highlights how there may be even societal resistance in direction of recognising cats as help animals. Mr Ian Fenn was requested to depart his cat, Chloe, exterior when buying at a grocery store in London, regardless of explaining that she is a service animal (Cascian, 2022). The grocery store has since maintained that any help animals, aside from canine, aren’t allowed of their shops, claiming a danger to meals hygiene (Fenn, 2022). Nevertheless, the dearth of proof to help how the hygiene of cats differs from that of canine is precisely why extra analysis must be executed, in order that those that depend on non-dog service animals aren’t disproportionately discriminated towards of their every day lives. Mr Fenn is autistic and describes how Chloe is invaluable in serving to him to handle sensory overload and full his weekly store (Cascian, 2022).
Because of this, I strongly advocate for future analysis to be targeted in direction of higher understanding and acknowledging the constructive impacts that cats (and different animals) can convey as help or remedy animals. This analysis can then empower people to champion and push for coverage change – an space that requires a lot enchancment within the UK. In some nations, comparable to Australia, the laws is extra accessible and different animals are additionally legally recognised and guarded as help animals. Clearly, there may be loads of progress to be made in UK laws, and build up an proof base is the essential first step to elevating consciousness of the therapeutic function of cats in society.
Statements of curiosity
No conflicts.
Hyperlinks
Major 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. Points in Psychological Well being Nursing. 2023;44(6):505-16.
Different references
Russell G, Stapley S, Newlove-Delgado T, Salmon A, White R, Warren F, et al. Time trends in autism diagnosis over 20 years: a UK population-based cohort study. Journal of Baby Psychology and Psychiatry. 2022;63(6):674-82.
NHS. What’s autism? [Internet]. 2022. [cited 2023 Nov 25]. Accessible from: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/autism/what-is-autism/.
Atherton G, Cross L. Seeing More Than Human: Autism and Anthropomorphic Theory of Mind. Entrance Psychol. 2018;9:528.
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. 2016;19(2):306-17.
Carter-Johnson A. How a cat enabled an autistic six-year-old to speak. BBC. [Internet]. 2016 March 13 [cited 2023 Dec 2]. Accessible from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/health-35797084
Cats Safety. [Internet]. 2019 June 8 [cited 2023 Dec 2]. Accessible 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. Points in Psychological Well being Nursing. 2023;44(6):505-16.
Arksey H, O’Malley L. Scoping studies: towards a methodological framework. Worldwide Journal of Social Analysis Methodology. 2005;8(1):19-32.
Levac D, Colquhoun H, O’Brien KK. Scoping studies: advancing the methodology. Implementation Science. 2010;5(1):69.
Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Analysis in Psychology. 2006;3(2):77-101.
BBC London. Is that this London’s cutest remedy cat?. 2019 Oct 20 [cited 2023 Dec 3]. Accessible from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTY6c4I2CTQ
Cascian D, Ellison C. Court docket combat looms over Sainsbury’s cat ban. BBC. [Internet]. 2022 Could [cited 2023 Nov 25]. Accessible from: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-61596623
Fenn I. Fenn V Sainsburys. [Internet]. 2022 July 14 [cited 2023 Dec 2]. Accessible from: https://catfriendly.org/fenn-v-sainsburys/
Picture credit
Picture by Yerlin Matu on Unsplash