Signs Your Cat Would Be a Great Therapy Cat

Is your cat a therapy cat?

The rewarding feeling one gets when doing therapy work is unlike any other, and that’s not just a feeling that’s reserved for humans. There are many dogs and cats that are also therapy animals; working tirelessly to bring happiness and joy to the hearts of others. In fact, it seems to many that cats and other animals make far better therapists than actual humans. Why? Humans are, by nature, judgmental and always ready to come up with a solution to someone else’s problems. Cats, on the other hand, are just there to make you feel better. You can complain, cry, say the worst things and the most terrible things to a cat and it will still sit there, love you and make you feel as if you are the most amazing person that ever walked the planet. It is a real gift that cats have that humans simply do not have.

Some people cannot have pets of their own, but they love cats. It is the reason that so many cat owners work with their cats to become therapy cats that are able to provide the kind of interaction that humans without animals need, and it helps them to feel so much better. Of course, not all cats are amazing therapy cats. For example, our old kitten (Ariel) hated all humans and never once removed herself from under the depths of our couch when anyone was home. We knew she ate and used the litter box because she often set off the motion detectors and walked in front of the security cameras throughout the house in the middle of the night, but weeks would go by no one in our house would see her. In fact, our kids never had the opportunity to touch her. She just hates humans.

She would not make a great therapy cat since she makes humans feel more like there is something seriously wrong with them (do we smell?) than anything else. That’s why you have to know if your cat would make a good therapy cat by knowing what to expect, what it is that people are looking for in a therapy cat, and just how to find one of your own. We have some answers that might guide you in the correct direction. Is your cat a great therapy cat? Find out now.

Does your Cat Love to Cuddle?

There is one sort of universal rule in the therapy cat world; cats have to be cuddly. People in need of therapy cats don’t want to have a cat come around that sits and stares at them and does not want to be touched. They might as well look at old photos or find a cat channel on YouTube. Your cat must love cuddles, attention and love. Don’t fret; some cats are just natural lovers and some prefer their space. If your cat is a cat that prefers his own space, there is little you can do but admit that perhaps he is not the type of cat that will make a wonderful therapy cat. Not all cats can do this job, and that is all right.

Is your Cat an Attention Addict?

We already know that your cat loves to cuddle or you would not still be reading; but is your cat addicted to attention? It’s good if he or she is, since that’s what people are looking for in great therapy cats. Your cat is about to be cuddled and loved on for long periods of time, and he needs to enjoy it. He needs to stay put, have fun and really get into the cuddling that is happening in his life at the moment. That is the only way he will survive his job as a therapy cat.

Does your Cat have a Big Personality?

If you think that your cat would make a wonderful therapy cat, it’s because he or she is great with strangers. In fact, your cat doesn’t know a stranger. He must be friendly and outgoing, and willing to approach anyone and allow anyone to pet him, hug him and cuddle him. This is a cat that must find enjoyment in being held by anyone, as well as passed around by many. What we are saying, really, is that your cat cannot have any standards and must find enjoyment and pleasure in being used. There; we said it.

Does your Cat have an Issue with Sudden Noises?

Therapy cats have to be comfortable with the idea of sudden noises and a lot of movement. If your cat is great with your kids running all over the house, making noise and doing things that might usually startle another animal but make yours feel as if nothing is going on, he or she might be a great therapy cat. Most of the locations in which your cat will provide his therapy service are often loud and scary places with a lot of activity. For example, nursing homes and assisted living facilities have a number of residents, nurses, doctors, alarms, noises and a lot of movement. It’s not going to prove beneficial to anyone if their therapy cat is startled when their blood pressure monitor starts beeping or a nurse comes in to quickly change out IVs or run quick tests. Your cat must behave as if this is the everyday norm in his or her life.

Is your Cat Good with Other Animals?

There’s something you should know about therapy animals; they usually travel in packs. Okay, so they might not travel together in that they are travel buddies, but there are often several therapy animals (both cats and dogs) present in many locations at one time. Your cat must be good with other animals. It’s not even remotely therapeutic or relaxing when a cat that is brought in to make people feel good loses his mind because another cat walks by the door or a dog comes in to visit. Your cat must do well with other animals. If he does not, forget it; his therapy days ended before they ever began.

Photo by Getty Images

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.