the comprehensive aphasia test (cat) was created by kate swinburn (from connect: a charity for people with aphasia), gillian porter (an nhs therapist from hertfordshire) and david howard (a research development professor). the cat is a new test for people who have acquired aphasia, the impairment of language ability. the comprehensive assessment can be completed over one or two sessions. the test contains a cognitive screening, a language battery and a disability questionnaire.