Suzy is autistic

Quite a while ago I came up with a post about how Suzy, my flatmate Sarah's cat is autistic whilst whiling away the time of yet another sleepless night. Now I will actually write it! Suzy is autistic because: She uses palilaia (repeats what she says over and over) She does not like to be touched in certain places She lashes out because she doesn't have the communication skills to tell us what she wants She lacks transference-she knows you can come in the cat door but is yet to work out you can also go out the cat door! She will only eat jelly meat of a specific brand (not the cheap one!) She liked Ocean's bounty for ages then suddenly stopped eating it She has stereotypical behaviour She often will only sit on the VCR or in front of a heater She will howl in the middle of the night for no apparent reason (communication probs again) She seeks out company but doesn't want to be touched When she uses the dirt box she runs away really quickly straight afterwards She is extremely hypersensitive to touch She is impaired in social situations- she can sit by and watch another cat eat her food She has a lack of emotioanl reciprocity and is not against biting when you're feeling down and just want the company She has a preoccupation with and special interest in food (with a very limited palate) She will dart around the house for no apparent reason She has a persistent preoccupation with the slightly warm region of the VCR, and heaters (especially if she can lie on a bed and in front of a heater at the same time) The list could go on but I really should do some constructive work now.