There are animal assisted therapy cats, too, you know

While it might be more infrequent to see a certified animal assisted therapy cat, it is not impossible.

Some cats are quite suitable and they offer such comfort and joy.

While we may not “train” cats as we dogs, we observe their behaviors in the same way. A cat’s body language is quieter than a dog and they rely on visual cues and communicate more from a distance. Cats do not form a family pack, but are more independent, and communicate through vocalization, odors and posturing. Understanding the posturing is the key element to understanding your cat. Is your cat displaying a calm, baseline posture (ears partially closed, a sleepy expression, tail at rest) or an offensive threat posture (tail swishing, watchful listening, ears up, back arched) or a defensive threat posture (crouching or leaning away, teeth barred, hissing, ears laid back, hair on end and tail stiff, swishing back and forth).

The breed of cat is not as critical as their individual temperament. Evaluators must be careful that they do not let assumptions about a breed (for dog or cat) influence how they test the animal, as each is an individual.

When considering if your cat could be suitable for therapy work, consider:

• How long does it take to approach a stranger
• Can it be passed from lap to lap without stressing
• Does it like to be held and for how long
• Does it enjoy being stroked
• What displacement (signs of stress) signals does it exhibit and can you recognize them

Does your cat:

• Show no shyness or resentment
• Have a relaxed body posture
• Maintain moments of eye contact
• Show no aggression or fear
• Come out of its carrier on its own without coaxing
• Demonstrate non-threatening body postures

Cats can provide just as much comfort and stress relief as dogs and I know many cat lovers who will attest to this.

Las Vegas does not have an organized animal assisted therapy program that includes cats, however if you feel you and your cat are temperamentally suitable, contact me as I am licensed to test cats for the Delta Society as well as dogs.

Future articles will feature working therapy cats and their people.

Sue Grundfest is a licensed team Evaluator for Delta Society, the national animal assisted therapy program. If you would like to see if you and your pet are suitable for therapy work, please contact Sue at coco@cocothelovedog.com

If you found this article helpful, please read our other columns
The Delta Society