What to Know Before Getting a Therapy Cat

Millions of Americans suffer from physical and mental health issues on a daily basis. While medical experts go on to make tremendous strides to eradicate diseases and treat a wide array of maladies, not everyone responds to traditional methods of treatment in the aforementioned fashion. This is especially truthful when it comes to physical disabilities, mental wellness problems, and emotional trauma. Thankfully, therapy animals offering an alternative that can ease the burden and put patients back on the path to recovery.

Therapy animals have made a existent difference in countless lives. From people who agonize over the loss of a loved one, to those who struggle with physical impairments in the wake of a car blow, animals tin can play a vital office in their treatment plans. At usserviceanimals.org , we aim to provide you with the data you need to stay up-to-date and informed on your options for animal therapy.

While at that place are numerous species that can qualify as therapy animals, dogs are by far the virtually common brute of choice. When almost people think virtually therapy and service animals, they immediately picture show a happy, well-trained dog in a special vest. However, this is not always the instance. Therapy animals come up in all shapes, sizes, and species.

Though they frequently become disregarded, cats are a great choice for those in demand of a therapy fauna. Thanks to their natural bond with people, calming demeanor, and reassuring "purr" of delectation, cats are ideal for relaxation and healing. And so, let's accept a wait at what it means to use a therapy cat and how they can be an established function of whatever treatment plan.

What Is A Therapy Cat?

A therapy cat is a true cat that has the correct temperament and/or has been trained, with the assistance of a professional handler, to help people who are in physical, mental, or emotional hurting. They assistance people both young and old, with a wide variety of problems. Generally, therapy cats are introduced to patients in a series of one-on-i sessions designed to ease anxiety and advance the recovery process.

While dogs are often referred to equally "human's best friend," cats are not always seen so favorably. In fact, there are many stereotypes of cats that make them seem as though they aren't a good fit for therapy. People ofttimes (mistakenly) acquaintance cats with these negative traits:

• Cats are aristocratic – Though every animal's personality is unique, many cat owners see their pet as emotionally distant, especially when compared to dogs. For example, when yous come home from work, your dog may come bounding toward you, wagging its tail in excitement. On the other paw, your cat may just give you a passing glance, if that.
• Cats are independent – This may not sound similar a bad trait, but cats can be very independent animals. Many cats seem to only interact with humans when information technology benefits them to do then. However, if at that place is no benefit for them, they simply ignore yous. When y'all put out food and endeavour to be loving, and you're cat won't give y'all the time of day, information technology can seem like cats just use people equally means to an end.
• Cats are associated with evil – In addition to being associated with witches and dark magic, cats are oftentimes seen every bit an omen of bad things to come. Black cats, in item, are believed to bring bad luck.
• Cats are temperamental – Like whatever fauna, cats tin can get upset and lash out at people for seemingly no reason. Since cats are hunters, they have retractable claws and sharp teeth that tin can do real impairment.

Though there may be some anecdotal evidence to back up a few of these stereotypes, they certainly don't tell the whole story. In fact, many people unfairly believe these stereotypes because of the perceived differences between cats and dogs. However, for every seemingly mean, temperamental, emotionally-frigid true cat, at that place is a gentle, friendly, affectionate cat also; the same goes for dogs and most other animals.

Though we take a tendency to compartmentalize and categorize unlike species using man emotions and personality traits, the truth is that animals are extremely complex creatures, just like us. At the end of the day, animals accept but equally much chapters to spread joy and convalesce pain as humans do (if not more than). And so, let's take a look at a few traits cats possess that enable them to be superior therapy animals:

• Cats savour concrete contact – It is proven that petting an fauna can relieve feet and even help with depression, and domesticated cats love to be pet.
• Cats become emotionally attached – Though cats may be a scrap more independent than dogs, they still become attached to their owners (and people in general). They simply show their attachment in different ways.
• Cats can sense negative emotions – Just like dogs, cats are able to pick up on man emotions based on behaviors, vocal cues, and facial expressions.
• Cats tin communicate well – Cats employ a variety of physical and vocal cues to communicate. The typical "meow" is reserved specifically for communicating with humans.
• Cats are low-maintenance – While dogs need to be walked every few hours and fed specific amounts of food at specific times, cats are much easier to handle. For the nearly part, y'all only demand to provide a litter box, a bowl of nutrient, and a bowl of water for your cat to exist content.

How Therapy Cats Work

Therapy cats are not typically used to aid with specific tasks like service dogs or horses. Instead, therapy cats provide emotional comfort to those who need it. For case, if an elderly person in a nursing home is feeling lonely, a therapy cat can be a great companion. Alternatively, if a child has recently lost one of their parents, therapy cats tin be essential for dealing with emotional trauma.

Humans develop special bonds with animals, and cats are no exception. Sessions with therapy cats apply this bond to heal and alleviate hurting, loneliness, or feet. It tin be incredibly soothing to concur and pet a true cat, to feel it purr and enjoy your touch. In essence, this is what therapy cats are trained to practise; they are trained to love and be loved in return.

Therapy cats are particularly constructive with patients fighting depression and anxiety disorders. These issues are oftentimes associated with feelings of loneliness, hopelessness, social anxiety, and fear. These symptoms can make it very difficult for someone to connect with other people, or even go out of bed in the morning. A therapy cat works to alleviate these symptoms and offer a stress-complimentary emotional connection.

Low is also common amid those suffering from concrete impairments. It is piece of cake to autumn into despair when you no longer have mobility or the ability to reach daily tasks. This is yet some other situation in which therapy cats tin work wonders on a patient'due south emotional well-being. Cats instinctively like to curl up on your lap and purr. This show of contentment naturally brings about joy and helps save feelings of sadness, even if you are physically unable to return the favor.

Training Therapy Cats

Not every cat is cutting out to provide therapeutic services. This kind of piece of work requires a very specific temperament, and possibly even training. Therapy cats need to be friendly, patient, and gentle. Additionally, therapy cats must exist comfortable being touched past humans, even humans who may non know how to properly handle a cat.

While most of these traits are inborn, some tin can exist taught to ane degree or another. When a true cat meets the above requirements, a certified team of pet therapists tin train them to recognize certain emotional signals, react to them with honey and amore, and avoid aggression at all times.

However, information technology is important to annotation that therapy cats do not necessarily demand to exist trained. Since animals can develop an emotional bond with their owners (or even a friendly stranger), the relationship can be a naturally therapeutic one. Therefore, as long every bit the cat is not overly aggressive and is comfy giving and receiving affection from people, it can generally authorize every bit a therapy creature.

Working With A Therapy Cat

Working with a therapy cat tin can make all the difference in the world to someone who is in pain. If you or someone you know is suffering, there is no reason to filibuster treatment. Therapy cats and other therapy animals tin provide love and back up to those who demand it most. Consult our team at usserviceanimals.org  for more information on getting treatment with service animals.

If you already have a true cat that provides you with support, you may be eligible to annals your pet as an emotional support beast. This will allow y'all to take your pet to places that otherwise would not permit animals (certain flights, restaurants, public areas, etc). Nonetheless, your cat will need to run across certain requirements to exist eligible. You can learn more about the rules and benefits of registering your emotional back up cat right here .

Related Articles

mountsnotartinge.blogspot.com

Source: https://usserviceanimals.org/blog/therapy-cat/

Share this post