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[Theory] Neurodivergences = cat brain? (lemmy.world)
submitted 1 year ago by nyoooom@lemmy.world to c/autism@lemmy.world
19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've started to notice for a while now that cats fit a lot of the neurodivergents traits like ASD and ADHD:

  • Neophobe (they love routine and hate changes)
  • Easily overstimulated
  • Hate being told what to do
  • Eat the same food everyday and be happy with it
  • Can be lovely with close ones but very shy/anxious with strangers
  • Very involved in stuff they like (playing), very lazy for stuff that doesn't interest them
  • Easily distracted
  • Sleep a lot
  • Can have shutdowns or meltdowns in stressful situations

Seeing all those patterns, I'm starting to think that maybe neurodivergent people's brains have some structure which is closer to a feline brain, and that could explain some of these similar behaviors.

It's really just some random thoughts, but it seems to match a lot and cats and humans are not that far away in the tree of evolution ๐Ÿค”

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[-] gloriousspearfish@feddit.dk 20 points 1 year ago

There is even a book about it: https://www.amazon.co.uk/All-Cats-Are-Autism-Spectrum/dp/1787754715

[-] nyoooom@lemmy.world 9 points 1 year ago

Oh nice, I thought a lot about it but didn't really research the topic, thanks for the link!

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 20 points 1 year ago

I think you're anthropomorphising a bit too much

[-] UnicornKitty@lemmy.world 4 points 1 year ago

I think you don't understand cats. They absolutely have very different traits. My husband works with people with disabilities and he has nicknamed our cats with the behavioral traits we show. My favorite cat is nicknamed ADHD. My oldest cat is Agoraphobia. Another one is Narcissist. With just those three, it can be proven that cats all have unique personalities just like we do.

[-] glimse@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

They do have personalities which is why I think it's wrong to cling to one and say we have cat brains. My old cat was a curmudgeon and so was my grandpa, must be cat brain

[Edit] I don't mean to be dismissive, I was just trying to explain why I think it's a stretch.

[-] UnicornKitty@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I have cat on the brain does that count?

[-] marionberrycore 12 points 1 year ago

I do agree that cats and autistic people have a lot in common - I have no proof but from my immediate circle it seems like we're more likely to be cat people. I gotta disagree on sleeping a lot though bc I've had insomnia my whole life and I thought that it was common among autistics?

[-] Trincapinones@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago

I sleep 10-12 hours a day (pls help me)

[-] nyoooom@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

I should have put "sleepy" instead

[-] Bonesince1997@lemmy.ml 10 points 1 year ago

Yeah but if you ever get a cat on your couch for analysis all it tells you is meow. Tough cookie

[-] Granixo@feddit.cl 1 points 1 year ago

Cookie! ๐Ÿช

[-] webghost0101@sopuli.xyz 10 points 1 year ago

Shit and here we thought it was vaccins that caused it, turns out its just cats assimilating us to serve them better.

[-] nyoooom@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

Those damn catgirls

[-] Granixo@feddit.cl 9 points 1 year ago

There is no proof yet i totally believe this ๐Ÿˆ

[-] cedarmesa@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

๐Ÿ’€

[-] gandalf_der_12te@feddit.de 5 points 1 year ago

I always knew I was a catboy.

As an ADHD person, I can confirm I have made exactly the same observations.

[-] Deestan@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

I for sure get along perfectly with cats.

[-] JavaTea@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago

It's certainly a theory... I'm autistic and have two cats and I always say that all cats are autistic and opportunistic!

[-] zepheriths@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I think it's more "carnivore brain"

this post was submitted on 09 Oct 2023
70 points (100.0% liked)

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