The Cat therapy Is able to reduce stress and anxiety, help combat depression and increase the survival of patients with heart disease.
The company of a cat helps to achieve higher levels of relaxation in their owners. Pet a cat Reduces stress , Lowers blood pressure and heart rate.
On the other hand, some research has shown that the cat's characteristic purring (sound emitted when comfortable and safe) can have a very positive influence on your mood .
If you are sick, the company of a cat is able to make you improve faster, thanks to the good psychological effect of the cat's presence in the life of its owner.
In addition, it is demonstrated that people living alone, without the companionship of a small animal, tend to have greater mental health problems ( depression , Lack of memory), compared to those who have a cat as a pet.
Finally, if you have children, having a cat and taking responsibility for their care helps Improve your self-esteem And instills love and respect for animals.
In this article You can know more benefits of having a cat.
Cat therapy is useful in people with various diseases
Cat therapy can be especially beneficial in adults and children with various physical or emotional disorders.
For example in autistic children , It has been observed that cat therapy has a very positive effect on mood. A cat can give a smile back, especially to these children with severe communication problems, who lead a rather lonely life.
In the case of elderly people living in geriatric homes, cat therapy can also be very useful.
Contact with the cat, a warm and furry animal that can be caressed, cared for and even spoken to without being judged or contradicted, can help the elderly person to verbalize their emotions and feelings and stimulate their memory, which is especially beneficial in elderly people with Mental health problems.
It has been shown that these cats Decrease anxiety In hospitalized patients increase sensory stimulation in children with disabilities, prevent depression and may also be useful in recovery centers for problem adolescents
Do you have a heart problem? Then catotherapy is right for you. A study conducted in the United States in 1995 showed that patients with heart problems improved more rapidly if they had a cat at home.
In addition, the survival rate of this group of patients was also higher among feline owners compared to those without a pet.
A cat is the ideal pet for children and seniors
Unlike the dog, the cat is a very autonomous animal. In general, they need less care and attention compared to our canine friends.
They are also smaller and therefore can be more easily adapted to life indoors or in an apartment.
If you add these advantages to the clear benefits that catotherapy has on the quality of life Of their owners, then you know which is the ideal pet for almost everyone: the cat.
There are more than 40 species of cat, with different characteristics: different colors of fur, cats of short hair, long hair, with different facial features, small ears, big ears, anyway, there are cats for all tastes, which also it is an advantage.
Special Cats for Therapy
There are cats that are specially trained to do catotherapy in geriatric homes, hospitals and care centers for patients with autism , among others.
A cat for therapy can belong to any breed. The most important feature in this type of animal is temperament. A good pet for cat therapy should be friendly, calm, patient and confident.
You should enjoy being taken, caressed and pampered by people you have never seen before without feeling invaded or annoyed.
Children often cramp cats, so a good cat for therapy should feel comfortable in such situations. Older adults are content to caress it while they have it on their lap.
An ideal cat for therapy should also be able to remain quiet sitting on the bed of patients.
In the United States there are several organizations that are dedicated to training and certifying cats for cat therapy.
Pet Partners Y Love on a leash Are two of the largest, but there are also many other small organizations working locally.
In particular, Pet Partners Has a very important animal therapy program, and has been training volunteers nationwide since 1990.
The first step in preparing a cat for cat therapy is to make sure that it meets the basic requirements, which may vary from one organization to another, although the cat is usually asked to feel comfortable with a harness and to have the vaccines up-to-date.
Many institutions also ask that the cat be at least one year old, and that the owner has had it for at least six months.
It is always better that the cat does not eat raw meat, because it increases the risk of transmitting infections to patients.
If the cat meets these requirements, is friendly with strangers and does not react aggressively or become frightened by noises or unpredictable situations, then the owner is trained so that his cat can do cat therapy.
Usually, cats that have been used in shows are ideal, as they are accustomed to noises, strange people and to manipulate them all the time.
Cat therapy for children with depression and anxiety
If you have a cat, then you know they are excellent companions and they certainly have a very positive effect on you.
In addition, cats can help a lot your children, other children in your family or nearby environment, especially if they suffer anxiety disorders or depression .
While there are cats specially certified for cat therapy, you do not really need your cat to help people close to you, if it is a quiet and friendly animal.
Why are cats so useful for decreasing anxiety and countering depression in children and adolescents? Here are 5 good reasons:
They are unconditional friends
Cats do not judge or ask questions. They simply accompany and allow themselves to be pampered. There are no complications in a relationship with a friendly cat.
This is a very beneficial aspect for children who feel anxious when making friends at school, for example.
Routines and responsibility
For children and adolescents whose emotions or behavior are out of control, having a cat and having to take care of it can help the child to have a sense of responsibility and a routine, which many times did not have before.
The cat must be fed at certain times and will also have to clean its litter box regularly.
Having these responsibilities Increases self-esteem of the boys , Because they feel that the cat needs them somehow and they can respond correctly, fulfilling tasks appropriate for their age.
Children and adolescents with anxiety or depression Many times they feel that their lives do not make sense. The cat helps them a lot, because taking care of it is already a purpose that they feel they must fulfill.
Entertainment
Anxiety fills the mind with worries. Many children with anxiety problems find it difficult to distract themselves and think about anything other than problems or negative ideas.
An excellent way to free the mind from these ideas is by playing with a cat. Cats are very playful and love to touch and chase anything that moves.
If you let your children play with your cat, you will soon see them smiling, totally relaxed and distracted.
Improve social life
When a child has an anxiety disorder, they may find it difficult to get friends.
In this, the cat can also help. For example, the child may invite a friend to his house, to play with the cat.
As you already feel comfortable and safe in the company of your cat, it will be easier to socialize with the other child in the presence of your pet.
Physical contact
Physical contact is beneficial for everyone. But children with anxiety and depression may need some extra pampering.
Surely parents already give them a lot of affection in the form of caresses, kisses and hugs, but the contact with a furry friend undoubtedly brings additional benefits.
That is why it is important for the child to have a cat that likes to be pampered, pampered and caressed.
Human-animal interaction and the sense of well-being
Why does contact with cats have such a powerful effect? Why are there many therapies provided with animals like dogs or cats that get very good results?
More research is still needed, but scientists believe that contact with these animals stimulates the secretion of Oxytocin , A hormone that makes us feel safe, comfortable and confident.
The use of pets in medical treatments actually dates back more than 150 years, says Aubrey Fine, a clinical psychologist at the Polytechnic University of the State of California.
Even Florence Nightingale Acknowledged that animals provided valuable social support in the institutional treatment of the mentally ill, notes Fine, who has written several books on this subject.
But in the 70's researchers began to be interested in the positive effects on human health of the relationship with animals.
In the 1980s it was discovered that patients with heart disease had a shorter recovery time and longer life expectancy if they had a pet compared to those who did not.
At this time, it was shown that caressing a pet regularly, be it a dog or a cat, can lower blood pressure, which is very beneficial for cardiovascular health, of course.
But more recent studies focus on the fact that the interaction with animals would stimulate the secretion of a hormone called oxytocin.
Oxytocin is very beneficial, says Rebecca Johnson, who heads the Animal Human Interaction Research Center at the University of Missouri Veterinary School.
Oxytocin makes us feel confident, happy and safe. And perhaps for this reason humans have had pets as pets for so long, Johnson thinks.
But in addition, there could also be longer-term human health benefits.
Oxytocin is also able to stimulate the growth of new cells and therefore, when in contact with animals, we are more likely to heal damaged tissues.
That explains why the number of Therapies with animals , Mainly dogs and cats but Also horses And even birds or fish.
The National Institute of Health of the United States continues the investigations on these aspects.
A good example of them is Viola, a golden labrador bitch living in a center of experimental therapies for children with various problems, belonging to the aforementioned Institute.
Viola, with his cheerful presence, every day brings smiles and Ups the mood Of their small patients, their families and even of the center's officials. Meanwhile, the Institute investigates the effects of animal contact on these patients.
Therapy with cats can certainly have the same positive effect. Cat therapy is probably very beneficial for everyone, but especially for children and older adults with health problems.
So, if you are looking for a good companion for your leisure time, an unconditional friend for your child or a way to relieve the anxiety and stress of the family, having a pet as a safe pet is an excellent option.
And have you already tried catotherapy? What effects have you noticed?