can cats have autism

Cats cannot have autism. There is no scientific evidence or diagnostic framework to support that cats can be autistic as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition currently identified only in humans. While some cats may show behaviors that appear similar to autistic traits—such as repetitive actions, hypersensitivity to stimuli, anxiety, difficulty adapting to change, or social avoidance—these behaviors are not indicative of autism in cats. They may instead reflect individual personality, environmental factors, stress, or other health or behavioral issues. Veterinarians and animal behaviorists typically recommend evaluation of such behaviors in cats to identify underlying causes and provide appropriate treatment or management. Overall, autistic diagnosis is human-specific, and though cats may have neurodiverse behaviors, they cannot be clinically diagnosed with autism.