Are Cats Autistic?

Many people including myself who study cat behavior wonder if cats could be autistic in some way or another. Thinking about the fact that a cats brain structure is similar to a humans and therefore they think like us and act like us in a lot of ways. Could this mean cats could have autism? possibly. In this article I want to explore the different traits cats exhibit that would lead us to believe they are on the autism spectrum and in turn answer the question “Are cats autistic?”

Cats Don’t Like Change

One of the main traits I have discovered that cats share with autistic individuals is that they do not like change. If your schedule changes so do theirs and they are bound to show their disapproval of that change. Some cats are of course more tolerant than others, but the majority of the time they detest changes in their environment and their schedules. Cats are huge fans of consistency. Consistency makes them feel safe and happy in their environment. Being unable to predict what is going to happen next can make them uneasy and it may even cause them to distrust their surroundings.

One example of this could be if you have ever moved to a new house with your cat, have you noticed how its behavior begins to change as your schedule suddenly revolves around moving? Maybe your cat is hiding more or vying for your attention more. Maybe they are using the bathroom in your packing boxes instead of their litter boxes. It could be any small change to your cat’s behavior that you would have noticed.

This is due to your cat’s inability to cope with change. Your schedule changed and your cat has no idea what is coming next. Then when you finally make the big move and introduce your cat to their new home and instead of immediately scoping things out they hide from you and jump at every small noise. This is another way your cat is telling you it doesn’t like change.

An autistic individual may react in a seemingly rebellious way to change similarly to a cat. This does not make that person rebellious in any way it’s just their way of showing you their dislike for the change. An autistic person will most likely detest the change by challenging it or seeking control in other areas. A cat will do the same. Does this make a cat autistic though? This one thing alone does not make a cat autistic it just makes them a living creature with no control over its surroundings.

Communication Skills

Cats have incredible communication skills, but there is a language barrier. Without taking the time to understand their wants and needs we won’t know them. It’s as simple as that. The same could be said for a nonverbal autistic person. Cats use a combination of body language and sound to represent what they want since they do not speak our language.

A nonverbal person with autism may use gestures and noises to show you what they want and need as well. They may point and grunt vigorously at what they want. A cat will often meow and walk towards its desire. If it’s the food they will meow at you to get your attention and then walk to their food bowl letting you know they are hungry., To let you know they want to play they may bring you their favorite toy or even start swatting it while meowing at you to throw it for them to chase.

Independence

Cats are incredibly independent creatures. They only need us for their basic needs and even then they could get those things in the wild as well. Cats can be aloof and most cats will only let you pay attention to them on their terms. When they’ve had enough they will let you know either by walking away, jumping off your lap, or swatting at you to stop. People with autism can be similar in the way they let you know when they have had enough of your company. When they aren’t interested in what’s going on they may do what is commonly called eloping.

Eloping is when they just walk away from the situation and go and do something else on their own that they desire. Cats are known to do the same thing. They will walk away and do something that better interests them if your constant petting is bothering them. They may even do this just to get away to get some sleep. Does this make your cat autistic though? Not necessarily.

Special Interests

Often times your cat may favor one toy over another or even one type of toy. This could be attributed to the same behavior in a person with autism who has a special interest in things. One person may love legos and know how to build the Eiffel tower and be obsessed with the structural integrity of legos.

Another autistic person may greatly enjoy animals and learn every fact they can about their favorite animal while another is interested in a television show. Usually, a person with autism who has a special interest has a hard time talking about other things. They can’t quite see why someone may not be interested in the same thing they are and don’t pick up on the cues from others telling them they don’t want to hear about it.

Cats who favor specific toys are similar. They won’t really play with anything else for a very long time. My cat for example has a mouse that squeaks. Ever since I got her that mouse she plays with nothing else. That was months ago. Before the mouse, it was a yellow ball with a bell in it. She had other balls with bells in them that were exactly the same, just different colors, but this one was her favorite and she only played with the yellow one.

An autistic child may show the same or similar favoritism towards their toys. They may prefer to play with a beach barbie and carry her around over the slightly nicer and less tattered roller skate barbie you just got for Christmas. Maybe they prefer bouncing the basketball over and over again in the driveway rather than throwing the football to their brother or father.

Do These Traits Make Cats Autistic?

Before I answer the question “Are cats autistic?” I will first define autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder is a developmental disability that can cause significant social, communication, and behavioral challenges according to the CDC. This is directed towards people.

The way cats interact with the world does closely resemble that of someone who exhibits traits of autism or has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, but these are just things common to cats. Some people with autism actually feel they relate better to animals than people and this could be the reason. Most animals share their language and way of communication. Cats most definitely share these traits. Some people even believe we can learn a lot about autism by studying the similarities in those with autism to their cats. I believe this can be true.

To answer the question “Are cats autistic?” simply put the answer is no even though they do share many traits with people with autism they are just cats and these behaviors are most closely associated with cats.

This article was originally posted on my website www.thingsaboutpets.com