Are therapy cats a thing?

Yes, therapy animals, including cats, are “a thing”.  Therapy animals, sometimes called emotional support animals or compassion animals, assist people with both medical and emotional conditions.  Federal law does not require these animals to have any specific training or certification and they can be registered.  To register your cat as an emotional support animal (ESA), you simply complete a questionnaire, have it reviewed by a doctor, and if approved, receive your official ESA letter.  The entire process can be completed online and about 95% of the requests are approved.  Cats make great therapy animals due to their small size and cleanliness.  In addition, cats are usually quiet, reserved, and have good personalities. They bond easily with humans and their care is much easier and less expensive than most animals.  Cats are also easy to house-train and do well in most dwellings, including apartments. In addition, cats have long lifespans.  The most important thing is for the therapy animal to be able to provide love and support and cats can certainly do this!  Many studies have shown that interactions with animals, such as a cat, can help reduce stress and anxiety, lower blood pressure, reduce chronic pain, and strengthen our immune system.  Some studies have shown that they can even help with conditions such as heart disease and cancer! Our interaction with an animal can be both relaxing and healing.  Spending time with these animals can also reduce loneliness which can be a leading cause of depression, especially among the elderly.  The people that most benefit from a therapy or emotional support animal are people that have been diagnosed with such disorders as anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder.  Some people have been able to lessen the severity of a panic attack or avoid it together by interacting with a therapy animal.  Therapy animals can assist people one-on-one or they can be taken to hospitals or residential facilities where they can help groups of people.  Keep in mind, however, that a therapy animal is different from a service animal. Service animals are trained to do work or perform tasks that benefit an individual with a disability.  This disability can be physical, sensory, intellectual, or mental.  Most service animals are dogs, miniature horses, pigs, and monkeys.