Sammy the Supercat
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Magic of Cats
By Carrie Roope

Cats are designated friends.
~Norman Corwin

We're really lucky to have a superhero in our family. He can't fly, he doesn't wear a cape, and he has no immediate plans to save the world. Instead, he's four years old, furry and pretty average to look at — he's no rare breed or pedigree. He's certainly not the smartest feline on the block. But he does have one very special role — he is my son's best friend, therapist, stress-reliever, and all-round supercat.

My son, Alfie, is on the autism spectrum. The world doesn't make sense to him, and every day brings fresh challenges and new struggles. Autism is a lifelong condition that cannot be "cured." As a spectrum disorder, it affects people in different ways. Common challenges can include repetitive behaviours, resistance to change, intense interests in often unusual subjects, social interaction and communication problems, and difficulties in sensory processing such as over- or under-sensitivity to sounds, lights or touch. (Keep reading)