In the space of animal-assisted therapy and services, dogs have the center stage for offering stress relief to patients, students, and those in need of emotional support. Feline therapy is entering the stage, with a new study published in the journal Animals suggesting that some cats may also have the comforting talents that it takes to join the ranks of therapy animals to bring their mews, purrs, cuddles, toe beans, headbutts, and calm demeanor to those in need of emotional support.
In collaboration with researchers in Belgium, Professor Patricia Pendry of Washington State University found that therapy cats share specific behavioral traits that make them well-suited for animal-assisted services (AAS). After surveying hundreds of cat owners using standardized behavioral assessment, key differences between cats participating in ASS and other cats were identified in terms of feline behavior.
“There’s this perception that cats just aren’t suitable for this kind of work, but our study shows that some cats may thrive in these settings,” Pendry said. “It turns out that cats chosen to engage in AAS seem to exhibit the same behavioral traits as therapy dogs — like high sociability and a willingness to engage with people.”
Feline Therapy
This study found that cats in the ASS program tend to be more social with other cats and humans, being more tolerant of being handled and attention-seeking, especially when it comes to being picked up and held, making them ideal for providing emotional support via feline therapy.
Although AAS has been dominated by dogs, this study suggests that expanding the programs to include feline therapy could make the services more accessible to a wider range of people. For example, some people may be scared of dogs, and some may prefer the comfort provided by the quiet presence of a cat over the enthusiastic energy of a dog.
Unlike dogs, feline therapy cats are not typically trained for these roles. Rather certain cats naturally possess the necessary traits. Certain breeds like Maine Coons, Siamese, Scottish Fold, Sphynx, Persian, Bombay, Tonkinese, American Shorthair, Birman, Abyssinian, Cornish Rex, and Ragdolls can be more sociable. However, this study did not examine behavioral differences between breeds, it only examined differences between a group of cats.
Becoming More Common
Feline therapy is more common in Europe than in America, but the idea seems to be catching on. In Belgium, cats are becoming more common in AAS programs, demonstrating their purring stress-relieving capabilities in many hospitals and campuses.
For now, feline therapy remains underutilized as an AAS resource in America, but with increased research and awareness they are finding themselves sitting alongside canine counterparts, soaking up attention and offering comfort in their own unique way.
“The goal of the study isn’t to suddenly promote cats into therapy work,” Pendry said. “It’s about recognizing that some cats may genuinely enjoy this kind of interaction and, in the right setting, can provide meaningful support to people who need it.”
When you think about it, if any animal could turn attention-seeking, lounging around all day, and getting affection into a legitimate full-time career, it would be a cat.
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