CAT-Q
Autism Screener
Updated: 2/8/2026
Reviewed by: Dr. Kiesa Kelly
1. What the CAT-Q is (and what it isn’t)
The CAT-Q (Camouflaging Autistic Traits Questionnaire) is a brief, research-based self-report questionnaire that focuses on camouflaging - the strategies some people use to hide, suppress, or “work around” autistic traits in social situations.
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It measures three common forms of camouflaging:
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Compensation (finding ways to compensate for social differences—e.g., rehearsing, scripting, studying social rules)
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Masking (actively hiding traits or behaviors to appear more “typical”)
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Assimilation (trying to blend in socially—often by changing how you act, even when it feels unnatural)
What the CAT-Q is not:
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It is not a diagnostic test for autism.
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It does not tell you whether you are autistic.
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It does not capture the full picture of your strengths, sensory profile, developmental history, mental health, identity, or support needs.
Think of the CAT-Q as a tool for self-understanding; especially if you suspect you’ve spent years “performing normal” or managing how you come across.
2. Who is the CAT-Q for?
The CAT-Q is commonly used with older teens and adults - especially people exploring:
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whether they may be autistic (including late-identified and high-masking presentations)
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why socializing feels effortful even when they “do fine” on the outside
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patterns like burnout, shutdown, social hangovers, chronic people-pleasing, or identity confusion
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the sense of living with a constant internal “monitor” that tracks what to say, how to stand, when to laugh, and what facial expression to make
The CAT-Q can be especially relevant if you’ve been told things like:
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“You’re too articulate to be autistic.”
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“You make eye contact, so it can’t be autism.”
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“You’re just anxious / perfectionistic / sensitive.”
Important context: Some people score lower because they camouflage less (or not at all), while others score higher due to a mix of factors (e.g., social anxiety, trauma history, professional “people-facing” roles, or identity safety concerns). Your score should be interpreted in the context of your life - not as a label.
3. What to expect when taking the CAT-Q
Most people complete the CAT-Q in about 5–10 minutes.
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You’ll respond to 25 statements using a 7-point scale (from strong disagreement to strong agreement). Aim to answer based on what’s typical for you over time, not just a good week (or a rough one).
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Helpful tips:
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Answer for your default pattern, not your best performance.
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If you can do something socially but it costs a lot of energy, that still counts.
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If you’re torn between two answers, choose what fits more often.
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Try not to judge the behaviors—many camouflaging strategies are adaptive, especially in environments where it didn’t feel safe to be different.
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A note for high-masking folks: Some items may feel complicated because you’ve learned to camouflage automatically. If you catch yourself thinking, “I do that… but I didn’t realize I was doing it,” you’re not alone.
4. Understanding your score
The CAT-Q produces:
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A Total Camouflaging score
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Three subscale scores: Compensation, Masking, and Assimilation.
Score range: Total scores can range from 25 to 175, with higher scores indicating more frequent camouflaging strategies.
How to interpret scores (in a practical, non-labeling way):
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Lower scores may suggest you camouflage less often - or that your coping strategies show up in ways the CAT-Q doesn’t fully capture.
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Higher scores often reflect that social situations require more monitoring, editing, and effort, even if others don’t notice.
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Subscales matter: Two people can have the same total score but very different patterns (e.g., heavy Compensation vs. heavy Assimilation).
Most important - The CAT-Q is best used as a conversation-starter:
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What are you doing to get through social situations?
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What does it cost you?
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What happens when you stop doing it?
5. Next steps
If your score is lower (or your score is low but your lived experience says “masking is still a big thing”)
Consider:
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Tracking energy cost: Which situations drain you most, even when they “go well”?
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Noting after-effects: shutdowns, irritability, insomnia, rumination, social avoidance, needing long recovery time
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Exploring accommodations/supports that reduce load (sensory, pacing, communication)—because you don’t have to “prove” anything to deserve support
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Pairing the CAT-Q with an autism trait screener (since the CAT-Q focuses on camouflaging, not autism traits)
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If your score is higher
High camouflaging scores often mean you’ve developed strong strategies to function socially - but those strategies can come with real costs.
Next steps might include:
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Identifying your top camouflage behaviors (e.g., scripting, forced eye contact, suppressing stims, over-preparing, mirroring)
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Naming the trade-off: performance vs. authenticity, connection vs. exhaustion, “seeming fine” vs. feeling fried
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Considering a comprehensive evaluation with a clinician experienced in adult and high-masking autism presentations - especially if you want clarity, accommodations, documentation, or a treatment plan that fits your neurotype
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If anxiety/OCD/ADHD are also in the picture, looking at the full overlap so you’re not treated for the wrong “root cause”
6. Additional Resources
If you are interested in further support, learn more about the expertise available here at ScienceWorks!
Our unique care model spans three essential domains to function as a “one-stop-shop” for mental health.
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Assessments: Understand yourself and your treatment better with assessments for ADHD, autism, and general diagnostics. Our custom packages are efficient and affordable.
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Therapy: Dynamic, evidence-based treatments for a wide range of conditions – get an individualized treatment plan with targeted therapies adapted for your brain and your objectives to support the whole person.
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Coaching: Understand your neurotype and enhance treatment outcomes by turning therapeutic concepts into everyday skills to maximize their benefits.
Note: Screeners cannot be used to diagnose or treat any mental health condition - nor can they be used to replace dedicated care from a qualified professional. They can be a helpful tool when searching for, or working with, a professional. If you have questions about applicability, please contact us!