CAT Public Website

Below is a list of questions you might have about the CAT. Click on a question to learn the answer:

• Will it be useful for me to take the CAT?
• Is a high CAT score a good or a bad thing?
• With the CAT, is there a particular score my doctor/nurse and I should be aiming for?
• My CAT scores are getting progressively higher. What shall I do?
• My friend also has COPD, and has taken the CAT. Can we compare our scores?

Will it be useful for me to take the CAT?
If you have COPD, then it will probably be useful for you to take the CAT – but only if your doctor or nurse agree. You and your doctor or nurse will be able to use your responses to the CAT as a starting point for a more detailed discussion about how COPD affects you. Before you complete the test, talk about it with your doctor or nurse, agreeing with them the dates on which you will take the test and when you’ll discuss your scores. If your doctor or nurse need to know more about the CAT, ask them to visit www.CATestonline.org.
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Is a high CAT score a good or bad thing?
The CAT test has a minimum score of 0 (indicating no impact of COPD on a person’s life) and a maximum score of 40 (indicating a very high impact of COPD). You should discuss your scores with your doctor or nurse the next time you see them, so that they can address any issues or solve any problems.
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With the CAT, is there a particular score my doctor / nurse and I should be aiming for?
Your doctor and nurse will consider your CAT score alongside other assessments, and provide you with a realistic ‘goal’ or target score. In general, you and your healthcare team will be looking to reduce or at least maintain your CAT score.
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My CAT scores are getting progressively higher. What shall I do?
If your CAT scores are higher each time you complete the test, this means that you are feeling more and more unwell over time. There are a number of reasons why this might be. There’s no need to worry, but you should discuss your scores with your doctor or nurse the next time you see them, so that they can address any issues or solve any problems.
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My friend also has COPD, and has taken the CAT. Can we compare our scores?
No. The CAT is intended to reveal how the impact of your COPD on your life changes over time. You can’t compare your CAT score with your friends’.
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