Can cats be psychotherapy animals?
Yes, any animal can be a therapy animal.
http://www.petsandpeople.org/cat-ther.ht...
Sadly most organizations that certify psychoanalysis animals DON'T allow cats. This is because therapy animals often visit elderly culture and cats have claws. Elderly people have outstandingly thin skin which can bleed easily. Shop around but expect to hear that.
edit: interesting - the Delta Society DOES adopt cats now - they didn't a couple of years ago - http://www.deltasociety.org/VolunteerAbo...
Answers: Yes, they can. They can be properly certified, or they can be therapeutic in an informal dimensions, like my Harvey is. He is a very calm, snuggly kitty, who is friendly and unseal. I work at group homes for developmentally disabled adults, and often bring residents over for a visit with Harvey, who sensibly lets them pet and hold him. He has been particularly patient even when someone got carried away and stuck a finger surrounded by his ear. They talk about him for many days after a call on. One of the house managers has even said I could bring him to the group home for a stop by if I like.
Absolutely! Any pet that have a good disposition and reciprocates affection is an ideal claimant. Many elderly people who have high blood pressure discover that a moment ago by petting a cat their b/p drops dramatically to normal ranges - Just be sure your cat has the right disposition (purrs when pet, docile, friendly, cuddly and slow to aggravation,) past jumping into the pet therapy world!
Of course they can be, I have two cats and they are my emotional support animals, I couldn't tolerate to be away from them for too long.
I'm guessing the worthy tempered ones can yes.
I know getting a kitten has really helped me profoundly, so they should help others.
I think so.
Many animals between them cats can be therapy animals
It would be a very rare cat that would soak up being handled by enough strangers, to succeed at person a therapy animal. Also, if the cat did over react and bite or claw someone, they might get hold of "cat scratch fever" which is a very horrible infection that can require hospitization and surgery. Do a websearch on cat scratch restlessness.
So I'd say, not likely. If any cat could, it would be an Angora. They are the most friendly and tolerant, and fearless of cats.
