Articles tagged with: Medical

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 7

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 7

And then there is the Facility Therapy Cat who along with their handler actually live in an assisted-living facility such as a care or nursing home.  Their roles are entirely made up of providing comfort, support and just their own presence to all of the residents in the home.  What a comfort to just see cat wandering around or lying on the couch or on someone’s knee.  I know when my father-in-law was in a home, they had a couple of Facility Therapy Cats who lived on site and everyone loved them.  My father-in-law would often seek out their companionship of the cat when his long-time partner became a tragic victim of Alzheimer’s  and who never knew him most days.  The cat served him well during those years before he passed himself.

A Therapy Cat is also most useful in a detention centre of some kind.  Because of their calming natures, a person who is locked up for various reasons can find great comfort from the visit of a Therapy Cat.  In some cases, their presence on occasional visits have helped rehabilitate them back into a normal life situation.  All praises go to the Therapy Cat and their owners who take the time and have the patience to bring comfort to those who suffer wherever they may be housed.

Next we have an Emotional Support Cat who actually resides with the patient needing them.  Amazingly and with great foresight on the part of the medical profession in charge of the situation, they come to them as a prescription cat.  So long as the patient shows no signs of an allergy to the cat being prescribed, then that is the only drawback.  I think I mentioned earlier that this could be the difference to being on harmful medication or not. Certification is not needed in the case of an Emotional Support Cat as with the Therapy Cat.  However, the prescription for such an animal needs to be in the possession of the patient at all times, the prescribing doctor usually being a mental-health practitioner.  Should anything happen to the cat or the person, there is this necessary paper-trail to provide up to date information in cases of travel or being out and about in the public arena.

So you see, cats can be most useful  as Cats In A Medically Supportive Role. Their roles are necessary for the servicing of those with mental health problems, recovery from physical and mental accidents of either nature or of the world, in the work place as a calming authority, in detention centres in the same capacity, as just great companions to provide someone to care for and love when their own two legged companions have gone the way of the world.

Physical, Mental and Emotional trauma of any kind can be treated with or without medicine by just introducing our feline friend into the midst. They have been adored and respected from year 1.  And now in 2017 why should they not be allowed to continue in this role as very special beings created and sent to we humans as a comfort and loving friend in times of need.

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Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 6

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 6

We have a special needs granddaughter who loves the animal world – we tried her with a cat, but she was too rough with it and hurt it to the point of it becoming aggressive – not through any fault of her own were she a normal thinking person.  It’s just that with her disabilities both mental and physical she was unable to be careful and soft and cuddly with a cat.  She does much better with a dog that is larger and able to take her rough treatment in a much more sturdy way.

Other families that I have observed with mental illness in their family take to a cat much more readily.  The y are, after all, normally domestic creatures of a friendly disposition and can be good for anyone working out of an anxious or depressed state of mind.

There are also cats that are known as Therapy cats.  These cats belong to an organisation that takes them visiting all over the place – to rest homes, to individuals with special needs, to hospitals, to kindergartens, and to schools.  There are many places where a Therapy cat be needed for short periods of time and not as a live-in type of situation.  Cats of course have to qualify for this service – they first of all have to be registered as a Therapy Cat with an organisation.  Other requirements of them are that they should be familiar with travelling and will travel with and with ease.  They should be very social animals with an ability to be calm in all situations with an assortment of people and personalities. They should have a minimal shedding problem.

Their roles then would be to help with people undertaking therapy on a physical basis.  Perhaps when one is recovering from surgery, or doing their best to regain their motor skills after stroke or accidents. It is amazing just how liberating it can be to someone to just be able to hold and fondle and pet a cat.

What an amazing feeling of accomplishment that would bring to someone’s mental state being able to do something as simple as that when previous to this they have suffered such debilitating awkwardness due to something that has cut them off from leading a normal life for a period of time.

Thank you for reading my blog.
Please comment below and share my link.

Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch

 

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 5

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 5

Cats really cannot be described as being a service animal as such. Their abilities to fetch and carry do not really conjure up a picture within me as being that helpful to someone who might not be able to see,  hear or get around in public places for example.  But that does not mean to say that cats cannot be used in other areas of support when needed.

As I mentioned before some cats are sent as angels and they just arrive on your doorstep and become what you need just at the right time. Their presence is awesome – they are awesome.

When one is emotionally challenged a cat can be just what the doctor ordered and the only side effect that I can see is that they might miss depositing their excrement outside of the litter box occasionally.  Wouldn’t it be great if we humans could get along without drugs and harmful medicines that hurt you in other ways when used for a particular ailment in your body, when all you would need is a prescription for a cat to love and nurture.

Emotional support and companionship may not be considered a physical work task, however, their presence in these roles are certainly worth consideration where cats are concerned.  My sister has always had a cat – she has suffered mentally through our cruel upbringing all of her life and I know she has had a few cats in her life to help comfort  her in times of need.  And even where she works as a carer through the long night hours at a facility that houses people of all ages with physical and mental disabilities, their house cat is among their prized possessions. My nephew suffered a tragic and horrendous beating when he was a mere 13 year old young person at the hands of a bully, which left him mentally retarded for the rest of his life.  He is now in his thirties and he adores their cat as a comfort to him.

So people with mental health issues do well to have a cat as their support animal.

Thank you for reading my blog.
Please comment below and share my link.

Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 4

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 4

Cats just have this special thing about them – I know they are angels sent to us when we need them. They are smart as well as affectionate. And such good companions.  Mottel used to wait on the drive until Keith came home from work.  I did my best to always be at least awake when he got home as his hours of work could have him coming home at any time of the night.  He could always count on Mottel to be there though – awake and alert ready to jump up into his arms and bury herself deep into his work clothes.

So our Mottel was a great companion.

Our children have their own cats now and I see that same love with them and with the next generation of family.  It is marvellous that such an animal could be created to be of such comfort and joy to each individual.  One of my daughters is a busy executive and leads a lonely life otherwise – her Leo serves her well as a comfort and a loyal companion to her.  Our grandchildren in another family just dote on their cat and through my books they are learning why cats do certain things so that has been helpful for them.

The question has been raised as to whether a cat can be as supportive as a dog?  Well, I think that there are two worlds a dog world and a cat world.  Dogs are desperately needed in rehabilitation situations, such as guide dogs, or as companion dogs – and they can be taught to fetch and carry.  From my own experience with cats, I am not sure that they can be taught such much-needed skills.  Dogs have their place in a world filled with anxiety for many people who need service, whereas I think that a cat can provide emotional and therapy support.  Dogs are much needed where there is a person with physical limitations – whether it be a disability both physical or/and emotional – their special training help many people in the world to get on in life where without their dog the quality of their lives would be severely hampered.

Thank you for reading my blog.
Please comment below and share my link.

Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 3

 

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 3

Poor Keith, he cried and cried, mind you we had been married 8 years and therefore Mottel was of an age that is quite long for an animal.  We of course were not expecting any problems though as why would we because every day you have your cat, and she is just there all the time.  I never thought of a cat as being of a certain age.  I know on her birthday we took her to the Vet for an annual check-up and somewhere I still have that little birthday card the Vet gave us when we first took her to him when we got her. I will have to hunt around in storage boxes for it and perhaps show it to you when I find it at a later date.

Needless to say, Mottel’s time on earth had come. Keith rushed her down to the emergency Vet as it was 9 o’clock at night and he never came home for hours. When he did, he returned without her and he cried most of the night for our Mottel.  The next day he was down to the Vet’s for many more hours after work.  After a couple of days, he came home and said he would have to have her put down as she had had a stroke and there was nothing that could be down for her as she was so paralysed and no longer eating or drinking – my poor husband.  It is a time in our lives that I will never forget and until I started writing about Cats in my Cat series of books, I didn’t realise the significance of what she had meant to him really, really deep down.

So when one asks about Cats In A Medically Supportive Role I would say yes, they are much needed in our society to fill a gap in someone’s heart in times of severe heart break for sure.

Since then, we have downsized and no longer are able to have a cat in our lives.  I know Keith would like one, but how when we don’t have room in our mobile home for one anymore.  Even I do not even presume that my own presence in his life could take the place of either Mottel or Whitey.

Thank you for reading my blog.
Please comment below and share my link.

Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 2

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt 2

My husband has always been very fond of cats as well.  He has always found them therapeutic as his own mum and dad split up rather badly when he was 25 years old and he took the entire situation and reacted to it as though he were only 5.  So it is with regret that I tell you how he never spoke to his mother until I came along thirteen years later, during which time Whitey adopted him and the other truck drivers in their company – I talk about this time for him extensively in my book Amis de Chat.  See link here for your copy.

Whitey helped him through this painful time in his life. He had his mother on a pedestal, but when she chose another man to share her life with his heart was completely broken.  It was a painful time for both he and his dad who worked together and each of them found it difficult to cope except through work and more work.  So when the angel cat Whitey wandered into their lives, their emotions became calmer and over time they were able to work through the heartbreak with much-needed comfort that came to them through their new found friend Whitey the cat.

When Keith married us and I say us, because I came as a package deal with three ready-made children we had a cat called Mottel.  How he loved our cat (and us of course) and Mottel took to him as though they had been friends for life.  We had had Mottel since before my youngest had been born, therefore Mottel must have been at least seven years old when Keith entered the scene.  He had gone past the kitten stage and was very much an adult cat – soft and furry, playful and yet thoughtful.  She was very affectionate and I say was because her last moments of life were jumping up into his arms only to collapse half way to her goal back onto the floor having suffered a stroke in that last jump.

Thank you for reading my blog.
Please comment below and share my link.

Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt1

Cats In A Medically Supportive Role Pt1

In times of illness, pain and grief, getting over an operation or a stroke, I think that a cat can provide a very supportive role during these times.

Cats are so adorable.  They can be funny, serious, loving, generous, kind and whacky.  They would also be the most sympathetic animals that I have known in my own personal life.

We had Pomeranians when we were very young, and truly while they were little and we were little, I was too young to remember what they helped us with.  If I could take myself back to the time when our own natural mother gave one to each of us when we left her after a court-induced holiday with her, then I would probably be filled with gratitude that we had someone to love us and to love in return.  The home we spent the rest of our lives from the ages of 3 and 5 was so miserable- without the natural love of a mother, a father who was away at nights and slept during the day but seemed to not have any say in the treatment of us his supposedly precious daughters.  So I think that bringing 2 wee dogs back with us after that holiday would have been great for us.  But you know, I have no recollection of having the dogs as it was very short lived.  My sister seems to recall that either our stepmother didn’t like them or our step father didn’t like them when we returned to our mother the next holidays – so I don’t even remember what happened to them.  My sister does, and she says it is so painful a memory for her, she does not wish to discuss it with me even though we are now both in our 60’s.

In my own adult life, I had cats for my own children to enjoy. And they loved them and played with them from the time they were very small kittens.  Our neighbour’s cat was always having a litter, therefore we knew where they came from and were very accessible to us.

Thank you for reading my blog.
Please comment below and share my link.

Debbie Nicholson

Click here for your Audio link to this blog

Life Happens Volume 1

Life Happens Volume 1 A Collection of Funny Emails and Facebook Messages Dating From The 1980s To 2012

Our Favourite Links

Cathy’s Well Groomed Site

Debbie’s Other Blog

Emotional Support Therapy Cats

Cats

How To Describe A Cat

Amis de Chat Book 2

Amis de ChatNew Product Launch