| When people think of therapy animals, they | | | | with people than others. It's a matter of finding |
| almost immediately think of therapy dogs, usually | | | | the right cat for the job of therapy cat. |
| Golden Retrievers or Labradors of some kind, | | | | Of course it goes without saying that the cat |
| however, they would be wrong in thinking that | | | | must be kept up on all its shots, flea medications |
| these are the only animals that can help the | | | | and worming. The cat must be healthy so that it |
| disabled and the elderly. Cats are fast becoming | | | | does not get any of the diseases that might be |
| therapy animals and helpers for those who can | | | | circulating within the nursing home. |
| not do for themselves. | | | | Now a cat can not open doors or walk in front of |
| Cats have always been around nursing homes and | | | | a wheel chair, but they do make great companion |
| some rehabilitation centers to interact with the | | | | animals for those people who don't get out of |
| patience. Study after study have shown that | | | | their houses because of a mental or physical |
| interaction with animals brighten the days of those | | | | disability. Sometimes, cats can be trained to pull |
| who are living in nursing facilities and do not | | | | on a piece of fabric to open a cabinet or a |
| regularly have any visitors. Even if they do have | | | | drawer if it is light. |
| regular visitors, it's nice to have a furry friend | | | | They can also be a type of alarm clock for |
| come by your room for a visit. | | | | medications, pushing the bottles off the table into |
| There are several criteria that a cat must poses | | | | the persons lap. Of course all this takes time, |
| before being chosen for the therapy assistant job. | | | | training and a lot of patience but it can be done |
| They must be over a year old and usually, there | | | | with the right cat and the right person willing to |
| are certain breeds that have a better disposition | | | | put in the time and love the cat needs to be |
| and temperament for this type of work. Several | | | | trained to assist someone. |
| of the working assistant cats have been former | | | | Cats, just as dogs, need to be recertified each |
| show cats and are now retired from adventures | | | | year as an assistance dog. The test are rather |
| of shows. | | | | simple for a cat, they must be able to hold still |
| The cat must be able to remain still and calm in | | | | while being touched by many hands at the same |
| situations where many people are vying for its | | | | time. They must not be aggressive at any point in |
| attention and affection. Everyone wants to pet it | | | | the testing or any time within its visits to the |
| or hold it at the same time and the cat must be | | | | nursing homes or any home it is placed in. the cat |
| calm and not be wanting to jump away from this. | | | | must be current with all it's vet records and must |
| Again, there are certain breeds that work better | | | | maintain an even disposition. |