Join Today & Get 4% Cash Back Then 6, 7...Up to 10% Off Reorders!

July 12, 2009, 6:19 pm
Flag as Inappropriate picodoll  

I'm not sure I've titled this accurately. Some time ago I saw a program on the television that showed cats being brought into a nursing home where many of the patients were suffering from Alzheimer's and other conditions. The cats were some special very calm breed I think. They were placed on the patients laps who would pet them. Apparently it was helpful to the patients. Has anyone else heard of this?

Yes, this kind of thing is actually rather common. It has long been known that animals can have a very calming effect on people, especially those who are suffering from dementia issues which can cause them to-for lack of a better phrase-get in a flap.

It helps people recover from surgery faster too.

Animal therapy has been used in nursing homes and some psychiatric hospitals for years. I worked in a nursing home for a while and our patients really looked forward to their animal friends coming to visit. The doctor I work for now is medical director of a county home for the developmentally disabled and they have a cat and a dog living on the residence. A local riding stable in our community provides riding therapy for the disabled.

I've seen programs about how having pets lowers your cholesterol and lengthens your life. It follows that it could also be a valid therapy when any calming effect is needed.

I have seen a special in regards to this ut they used the tiger looking cats, something like a tiger-striped cat. They seem to be pretty well behaving in these areas and are less stressed than other cats from what I read up.