Are there therapy cats

Attachment figures make us feel secure and provide a safe haven from which to explore the world. Companion animals, who love us unconditionally, can sometimes step into this role when human supports are lacking, says Lynette. Lynette sheds light on this phenomenon in a study of children living with autism and their cats. These animals greeted the children at the door, followed them around, and slept in their beds at night. Read entire article here. Cathy James and therapy cat, Molly.

With the successful completion of his trial period, your cat will be certified at a therapy cat and he will be ready to begin work! Not all cats are good candidates to become therapy cats — it takes a certain kind of personality as well as some extensive training. If you think that your cat might be a good fit for this type of role, talk to someone at your local therapy pet certification program for more information or to do a test run. More by Kate Barrington. Don't Miss Stories on PetGuide.

Share this Article. Kate Barrington Kate Barrington is the loving owner of two cats Bagel and Munchkin and a noisy herd of guinea pigs. Therapy Cats come in all Sizes and Breeds. T he single most important characteristic of a therapy cat is its temperament. A good therapy cat must be very friendly, patient, confident, gentle at all times, and at ease in any situation. Therapy cats must also enjoy contact with adults, as well as children, and be content with being petted and sometimes handled clumsily.

The vibration of their purring actually has healing properties. Cats have helped people recover from infections, depression anxiety disorders, surgeries and more! Ask any number of cat owners about the benefits of petting or snuggling with a cat and the responses will likely be the same. Cats provide their own brand of unconditional love and comfort.

They help us relax and cope with the stresses of life in a special way. When our feline friends run to greet us after a long day away, it affects us physically. Many studies have shown that having a cat can calm nerves, lower blood pressure, help prevent and treat cardiovascular disease, cancer and chronic pain, strengthen the immune system and even help you live longer.

There have been arguments made that therapy animals can work as well as or better than conventional pharmaceutical medicine for helping people relax, lowering stress levels and blood pressure decreases, causing the heart rate to slow down. Therapy cats are assets in many situations.