Therapy cat and her 9-year-old owner bring joy to patients

9 year old brings joy to patients with her therapy cat

I love good news. This story inspires me to get started with a pet therapy program in my local area. I'll let you know how that goes. I haven't been the best with volunteering.

From the Standard Examiner; http://www.standard.net/topics/health/2010/10/30/therapy-cat-and-her-9-year-old-owner-bring-joy-patients

ROY -- There's nothing scary about Kaylin Davis' cat.
Knowing this about her animal, the 9-year-old girl has decided to make a big difference for some older people with the help of her feline friend.

Kaylin, a fourth-grader at Quest Academy Charter School, takes Bella, her 18-month-old blue point Siamese, around to the residents of Roy's Heritage Park Care Center.

"I like it because it makes people feel good when they are not with their pets and families," Kaylin said as she wheeled her 7-pound animal around on a cart designed especially so she won't tire from repeatedly lifting her pet.

While the visits obviously bring joy to both Kaylin and the residents who visit with her cat, the facility's director of recreation said there is a deeper reason for the activity.

"There are some people who don't respond," said Josh Post. "It perks them up with an animal. Studies show it chills them out. It slows down their heart rate."

And Post said another benefit is the memories Bella brings out in those who spend time with her.

One such example occurred when Lawana Sanders spent a few minutes with Bella.

"We had pots in our house," Sanders told Kaylin while holding Bella. "The cat would get in the pots and knock all the dirt out and just play. We would get mad for a minute and say, 'Who done that?' "

"My cat died and left six kittens a week old," resident Helen Lee said as she stroked Bella. "Mom and I fed them on a bottle. I found a home for all of them."

Then she spoke to the cat. "Oh, you are so sweet. Look at the pretty eyes. Oh, you are so beautiful, yes."

Kaylin has committed to bringing her cat to the care center three times a month as part of her volunteer oath to Intermountain Therapy Animals. She is currently the organization's youngest and the youngest to have ever come from the Ogden area.

"Not everybody her age could do this, but she's very capable," said Kathy Klotz, executive director of Intermountain Therapy Animals.

Kaylin and Bella both had to certify with the organization. And because Kaylin is so young, her mother, Terri Davis, also had to certify with the cat so she could supervise the pair's activities.

Pets Helping People is the motto of the group, which is made up mostly of dogs and their handlers.

Klotz said of 300 teams in Utah, only a handful are made up of people and cats at any given time.

"Kaylin and Terri are in a very exclusive, small group because there are not many cats who like to do this job," Klotz said.

"Not many cats are people oriented," Davis said. "Normally, cats are (single)-person or place oriented."

The most important rule in pet therapy training, Kaylin's mother said, is to never let go of the cat's leash.

Kaylin did that this week only when her mother took over the leash briefly.

It was to allow Kaylin to pick up and return a picture at the request of an elderly resident who wanted to tell her young guest all about her family.

"I always have to be with her and guide her and instruct her," Davis said.

Davis has been a pet therapist for nearly 12 years and takes her cat, Bonnie, to the rest home on a schedule similar to Kaylin's.

Davis got the idea of becoming involved in pet therapy while showing her cat, Kasey.

"A judge said, 'This cat has a wonderful personality. Have you thought about pet therapy?' " Davis recalled. "At that time, there wasn't a lot known about it. I found an Intermountain Therapy Animals article in a magazine."

That cat, in the end, became a much better therapy cat than a show animal, she said.

Davis hoped for a similar result when she rescued Bella as a kitten. She knew instinctively that Bella would be good for the job.

"She put her paws on my shoulders," she said. "I said, 'You've got that people gene.'

"Bella is young," Davis said. "Kaylin is young. Hopefully, they will be able to go on with this for many, many years."