Kathy Hoopmann's All Cats Have Asperger Syndrome: Understanding Your Feline Friend's Unique Behaviors

Laura M: The photography was initially distracting, not what I had expected. That’s what life was like when we first discovered our sons both had a diagnostic of autism. This book presents a good POV for how one with autism experiences the world differently. The short statements were spot on, as far as those of us who are not on the spectrum can tell. This is a good introduction and a reaffirmation and comfort to those who live on the spectrum and for anyone who may know or care for them. Thank you to the author and to the photographers.

United States on Oct 11, 2023

Bevk: It’s a book about me!

United States on Jun 14, 2023

CLB: My son (who loves cats) loved this book. I think it helped him to not feel flawed with his diagnosis. THAT was excellent and enough reason to recommend it.

Visually, however, the book seems dated and, despite its large print, was “hard on the eyes.” It could be done better these days, but it is an old—perhaps low-budget—book.

United States on Jan 18, 2023

Pamela F.: I have been teaching and working with 11-18 year olds with various problems for 43 years, When I discovered this book about 10 years ago I bought it and the companion book "All Dogs Have ADHD". The Aspergers one has been incredibly useful. I don't know how many copies I've bought. I would let pupils and parents borrow them. Young people often find it difficult to describe how they are feeling and those with Aspergers, even more so. The book helps them explain. I remember one boy, after looking at this book, being so relieved to discover he was not alone. He took the book home and sat with his parents pointing and saying, "That's me, that's me." It's a very positive and hopeful book. Just love it.

United Kingdom on Jun 01, 2019

Author Heidi J ThomasAuthor Heidi J Thomas: I've read other reviews that say this book tends to lean towards the negative, and to begin with I suppose it does but there's no point in pretending that being on the spectrum is easy for anyone. It discusses the very real struggles of a child with aspergers, and their family. But read on and by the end of the book it has a positive message. That yes, you may struggle but you have a different ability not a disability.
I got this for my son, who is ten next month. Its definitely a perfect book for children much younger than that - probably around five or six year olds - but I know he will love it as he adores his cat and the relation to the behaviour of cats will delight him.
All in all this is a great book if you have small children diagnosed and you don't know how to explain to them, their siblings or even other children what aspergers syndrome is. It will definitely help them understand, in a way that is not overwhelming, that how they are feeling is not unusual and that they are not alone.

United Kingdom on May 30, 2019

NC Mountain Man: This book was written for children. I am over seventy and only became aware I have Asperger Syndrome about 3 years ago. This book would have helped me at any time in life, especially as a child. It has helped me now. At my age, I find it a nice way of explaining Aspergers to other adults in simple ways that are memorable and easily understood. I have read criticism that some Asperger children react poorly to this book. My feeling is that Asperger Syndrome is going to have profound effects on your life and this book explains the conflicts as simply as possible. The book only defines reality. Asperger Syndrome is forever and knowing what it is helps to understand how to live with it. Understanding Aspergers and learning to live with it is all the treatment there is. When you learn to look at yourself objectively, there are lots of good things to be found. Being "not normal" does not mean "not good". Normal humans or "neurotypical" as some call it, seems to be less than perfect to me.

If you have and Asperger Syndrome child, I suggest reading this book and use it to help them know themselves. Maybe they need to digest the information a little at a time. This book gives simple,...

United States on May 23, 2016

robert brandon: my 8 year old has aspergers which he understands to his satisfaction but my 6 year old struggled to understand his brother in some ways so we got this book. its funny, insightful and just lovely. my 6 year old doesn't really understand it perfectly as its aimed at older ages i assume but he keeps it with him and loves it. he feels special now too as his brother has lots of things that are 'his and no one elses'-now my 6 year old has one too.
its a long book-i was expecting 10 pages or something but it has plenty in there and was well worth the money. it also states things in a unique way so that they can apply to almost any individual instead of it all being the boxed, usual assumptions about aspergers syndrome.
i never realised that cats are so much like aspies! i love my cat a little more now.

United Kingdom on Jan 10, 2015

OxfordPope: When my daughter was recently diagnosed with Asperger's, the first thing was to explain to her what it all meant. I looked into the various books written for children on the subject but, to my dismay, most of them included words such as 'Alien' 'Geek' 'Freak' etc. Since I wanted to reassure her that she was not 'abnormal' and that there was nothing to be ashamed of, these were not books I wanted to expose her to! I bought a copy of a book called  Dude, I'm An Aspie! Kids' Edition  which I thought looked fun and easy to understand but there was one mention of 'alien' in there which she became distressed about. Then I stumbled across 'All Cats Have Asperger's' and, since my daughter is a cat lover, thought I didn't have much to lose. I vetted it beforehand and thought it looked harmless enough, plus it was endorsed by our neuropsychologist. My daughter loved it from the moment she set eyes on it and kept referring to how the emotions and traits mentioned in the book were like her own. The fact that they could be linked to a cute cat did help her too on a psychological level - if people can love cats for these traits then surely they wouldn't be horrible to a human for...

United Kingdom on May 29, 2013

R. Ambidge: I first purchased this book as a lighthearted way to help my girlfriend understand the condition that I was at the time undergoing diagnosis for.
It is a very simple concept for a book. But for some, maybe a little "too" simple?
The book is basically a selection of photo's, almost in the style of the "lol cats" images found on the internet, but with captions based on common traits found in people with Asperger's Syndrome.
You will not learn all the different ways that an Aspie might exhibit these traits, or all the situations that they might apply, but can help provide a simple summary of what you might expect.
Obviously, being 25, I'm not going to find much use for this book (except for my girlfriend who doesn't like reading), but that's not to say you can't use this book to show children what their brother/sister, friend, cousin or whoever else in their life has difficulty with.
Short, Simple, Funny, but most importantly, Fact.
Recommended mainly for young learners (and, lazy readers (yes Laura, I mean you)).

United Kingdom on Jun 29, 2012

David C. Young: Ten years ago, when I finally figured out what Asperger's was and, at the same time, I discovered that I had several Asperger's children, and a few Asperger's adults, on my caseload as a psychotherapist, I began searching for easy ways to explain Asperger's. It was, and still is, an uphill struggle.

I'd already found what, to my knowledge, remains one of the best general books on Asperger's Syndrome: Tony Attwood's  Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals . (A more up-to-date and extensive general book, now, is Attwood's  The Complete Guide to Asperger's Syndrome . It's much longer, but still quite readable & it's filled with clear examples.) It's great for adults wanting a clear, solid understanding -- parents, family members, teachers, mental health professionals, scout-leaders, church leaders, and friends of high school reading level & above. Later, Attwood produced some DVDs,  Dr. Tony Attwood presents: Asperger's Syndrome, Volume 2 , Asperger's Syndrome: A Guide for Parents and Professionals with Dr. Tony Attwood , which broadened his outreach. Since then, AS book-publishing has become a cottage industry.

But until I...

United States on Apr 25, 2008