CATS & THERAPY

Cats are cute, furry and companionable animals that provide more than just entertainment. They are not just a cuddly ball of fluff and can be a tremendous help in animal-assisted therapy sessions.

Nowadays, cats are largely being used by therapists across the globe for animal-assisted therapy. The most important characteristic of a therapy cat is its temperament. A good therapy cat must be friendly, patient, confident & gentle. They must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted and played with. They must be tolerant and adapt easily to medical equipments too.

WHAT IS CAT THERAPY?

It refers to the use of cats as a way to help people cope with mental and physical health conditions. They help relieve conditions like anxiety, stress and depression. Sometimes, people with dementia or Alzheimer’s recall memories while petting them. Furthermore, it improves a person’s quality of life.

BENEFITS OF CAT THERAPY

• They provide company: For someone who lives alone, adopting a cat is the best option. This is so because they’re independent and yet affectionate. They’re even funny and playful.

• They crush feelings of loneliness with unconditional love: They’re often the best listeners we could ever ask for. Their purring is very relaxing, stimulates concentration and creates a very welcoming atmosphere. Cats are usually recommended to the people who live alone, especially the elderly.

• They help with Alzheimer’s, autism and ADHD: As mentioned earlier, therapists use cats as complementary therapy in cases of autism, Alzheimer’s or ADHD. Petting them, hearing them meow and purr and watching them play serves as a stimulus for many patients. Cat therapy has proven to be a helpful learning tool, as many people suffering from autism feel a stronger connection to animals than they do with other people. Children with ADHD show increased attention spans.

• They help improve the quality of life: Certain families across the globe have confirmed that their children felt calmer and could socialise more since they adopted a cat. They associated this change with the increased production of oxytocin, which can be triggered by petting a cat and further increase feelings of trust and love.

• They support you in battling with mental illnesses: The soothing nature of petting a cat on your lap is not limited to stress relief. That tangible companionship is a known mood booster and a positive distraction for those who struggle with depression. It is noticed that depressed patients get more social and joyous. Cats are calm and peaceful and these characteristics can be contagious and hence helpful.

• They can improve our health: It is a known fact that having a pet, gets us to exercise more. Many studies have shown that having a cat can calm nerves, lower blood pressure, help prevent and treat cardiovascular diseases, strengthen the immune system and even help you live longer. There have been arguments made that therapy cats can work as well as or even better than conventional pharmaceutical medicines.

Thus, the role of cats in therapeutic processes continue to amaze researchers and medical professionals all over the world.