Putting cats on the spectrum: A scoping review of the role of cats in therapy and companionship for autistic adults and children

Michelle Cleary, Sancia West, Deependra K. Thapa, Rachel Kornhaber

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)
4 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)505-516
Number of pages12
JournalIssues in Mental Health Nursing
Volume44
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2023

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