Other therapy pets

Some of Our Feline Members
(reprinted from "The Leash"-May/June 2001-part of an article written by Tracy Weldon)

Love on a Leash currently has approximately 10 certified therapy cats. Liz Palika writes about her experiences with ther therapy-cat Flea in CATS Magazine. She also relates stories of several of our members:
Michelle Cardosi of Pacific, MO says that her therapy cat Cleopatra is very docile, loves attention, and will curl up on a warm lap as long a s the hands that go with that lap are petting her!
Elaine Kahn says that Lucky is comfortable around a variety of people and accepts the not-always gentle petting of the psychiatric patients that Lucky visits. He is also very tolerant of a veriety of different situations.
Lovey was Beckey Kolhoff's laid-back cat who "was a big baby and would lay in people's laps, purring." Lovey unfortunately passed away in September 2000, but Beckey says that she'll be looking for a new therapy cat who will build upon the foundation that Lovey began.
Kathryn Robinson's Timmie Sue, a brightly-colored calico, is calm enough to visit along with a dozen or so dogs! Timmie Sue was a hit during a recent visit when the group put on a "circus" and Timmie Sue was the dressed-up caged tiger!

How Did Liz Get Started With Flea?

Liz's article relates how she prepared her cat Flea to become a therapy cat. Briefly, she recommends that you:

1. Introduce your cat to a harness and leash. Start with the harness. When your cat accepts the harness, attach a light-weight leash to the harness and let him drag it. You may need to bribe your kitty, perhaps with a piece of cheese or turkey. With lots of love, lots of treats, and lots of petting, this shouldn't take too much time.

2. Begin a regular routine of brushing and manicuring your cat.

3. Take a lot of car rides. Introduce your cat to the carrier and take him for a ride to places--other than the vet's!

4. Visit our friends or relatives at their homes (outside of the cat's normal territory). Liz writes: "I drove over to my parents' house a couple miles away. (They had been warned!) We went in and I placed Flea on my Dad's lap. Flea jumped down right away so I gave my Dad some of Flea's treats and told him to offer Flea a treat only when Flea held still for petting. That lesson took about fifteen seconds for Flea to learn and he settled down on my Dad's lap and stayed there even after the treats were gone." Liz repeated ths exercise over several weeks, then moved on to her friends' homes. Eventually, Flea became casual and relaxed enough to make a test visit at a local Alzheimer's facility.

5. Make sure your cat is up-to-date on his vaccinations and to have a couple tests run to make sure your cat isn't a danger to people with impaired immune system.

What makes a good therapy dog? | Special skills required | Other Therapy Pets| Liz and Flea | Is your cat a therapy cat?

We have birds in our program.

Certified Therapy Cat on a visit

Is Your Cat a Therapy Cat?

Most therapy cat owners say the most important traits for a therapy cat include a laid-back, steady, calm personality and a tolerance for the unusual. A reactive cat (who reacts before thinking) is not a good therapy cat. Therapy cats must be able to tolerate sights and sounds that are unusual; petting that could be different or hard; or any number of other things that are out of the ordinary.

The cats are also described as affectionate. Although the cat doesn't have to be as outwardly affectionate as a dog might be; purring, snuggling on a lap or on a bed, or other gestures of affection are important.

If you would like to have your cat certified by Love on a Leash, please contact us.


For forms to use for certifying cats or any therapy pets other than dogs, please Contact us.