The Cat Test

"The Cat Test"

To identify emotionally disturbed individuals
accurately, Algozzine, Foster, and Kaufman (1979)
developed the CAT TEST. This simple, yet novel
test is easily administered by professionals, parents,
and aides. It involves three simple steps.
(1) place testee in empty room facing far wall;
(2) place cat into center of room, close and latch door;
(3) after 10 minutes, open the door.

Algozzine, et. al., note that the CAT TEST allows
fine discriminations between sub classifications
of emotional disturbance. They offer the following
guidelines for interpretation of results.

1. OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE - four neat,
meticulous piles of fur to be found in the corners
of room - cat alive, but cold.

2. SOCIALIZED DELINQUENT - fur scattered
randomly about room and on testee - cat alive, still cold.

3a. MANIC/DEPRESSIVE (MANIC STAGE) - pieces
of cat scattered randomly about room - cat terminated.

3b. MANIC/DEPRESSIVE (DEPRESSIVE STAGE) -
pieces of testee scattered randomly about room -
emotional stability of cat suspect.

4. PARANOID REACTION - testee cowering in far
corner of room - cat alive and sleeping in center
of room.

5. PSYCHOPATHOLOGY - only evidence of cat is
skin, wrapped loosely about testee's head - cat
assumed terminated.

6. SCHIZOPHRENIC REACTION - testee in center
of room carrying on long existential discussion with
cat - cat alive, but confused.

7. NEUROTIC REACTION - testee asking cat for
advise about migraine headache - cat alive and
still confused.

8. CATATONIC REACTION - testee in corner of
room with back arched, hair on end, hissing and
refusing to acknowledge presence of cat - cat alive,
confused, and sexually aroused.
Received on Wed Feb 25 08:08:58 2004