About us
Cats For Autism Treatment and Companionship (CATC) is a non-profit service that provides companion animals to children and adults with developmental disabilities. CATC cats are specially trained by experienced cat enthusiasts and animal foster parents to give support and friendship to those who struggle with social skills, anxiety, loneliness, and depression. The service is totally free, but donations are accepted. 100% of donations go towards cat care and training materials.
CATC was founded by former special education teacher and graduate psychology student, Melissa Mooney, who has experienced first-hand the impact a companion animal can have in a person's life. Her cat, Hazel, is a 7 year old Norwegian Forest Cat, and the best friend she could ever ask for. He, along with the growing body of literature that confirms the benefits of animal-assisted therapy, is the inspiration for CATC.
About CATC
Melissa & Hazel
OUR MISSION
The mission of CATC is simple: to improve the lives of people with developmental disabilities. It's no secret that animal companionship can provide many benefits to humans. This has been shown to be especially true with animal-assisted therapy for people with medical and mental health conditions. Companion animals can give comfort, provide entertainment, boost mood, and enhance socialization. They can assist in a variety of settings, including home, therapy, and educational settings. For more information about the benefits of animal-assisted therapy and its applications visit our research and links pages.