My therapy cat visit this week was a quiet one. On Mondays, the areas to visit are the Pediatrics wing, Skilled Nursing one floor up, and then over to Behavioral Medicine. And none of them had a lot of patients today.
There were only a couple of kids in Pediatrics, and I spent the most time with one teenaged girl. She was scared of me at first, and hesitant to touch me, like I might bite or scratch her. I ignored her fear and proceeded to lie next to her, purr, and make happy paws while my human explained how gentle I was. She also told her that purrs have healing qualities, because I was purring quite loudly for her! After a few minutes she relaxed and petted me, and that was really rewarding.
The next patient was a little boy who was playing with a plastic truck. I went over to him and let him pet me. His parents were there too, and they loved me. The first thing the mother said to the boy was, “She doesn’t look like our cat!” Their cat at home sounds really cool, because he lets the boy carry him around the way little boys do. He was nice and not rough with me.
When we went to Skilled Nursing, we expected to visit some patients in bed, but we wound up in the Activity Room the whole time! One patient was sketching on a drawing of a car, but he paused to pet me. I remained on the table and visited with the other patients too. One woman told me all about her cat at home, and then the nurses brought in an older Spanish speaking woman. Her face lit up when she saw me, and my human was able to tell her, “Se llama Summer,” when she asked what my name was. I liked being on the table to visit these patients. It made it easy for me to pose when my human took photos too.
By the time we finished in the Activity Room, we needed to head over to Behavioral Medicine. It’s in a completely different wing of the hospital and takes a while to get there. They only had two women for me to visit today, and I sat on a chair in the community room so they could pet me. One woman has a dog and four cats at home! I gave them both paw shakes. It makes my human happy when I do my tricks for the patients. It’s like they’re getting a little bonus from me.
Sometimes the simplest visits are the nicest.
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Great job, Summer and human!
Mee-yow wow you sure did vizzit a lot of peepull an you did pawsum therapee Summer!! Mee admires you so-o much! Mee iss a fraidy cat when it comess to other Hu’manss….
Butt you are not; you are a Purr-amedic of THE highest order!
***purrsss*** BellaDharma
It looks like those patients had a wonderful moment in their day thanks to you, Summer ! Purrs
Sounds like you were able to brighten many peoples’ day!
You’re such a great cat, Summer. And I’m glad you’re going to the behavioral health unit, too. Speaking from experience, I can say that when an animal comes in, it makes such a difference in the course of a day. And they’re so healing, especially for patients who have pets at home.
You know, you need to start charging for these visits and extra for tricks and photos. What a racket you could have.
Another beautiful visit. We just love hearing how so many people are touched by your presence. One thing that is never ending is love. Keep spreading it sweetheart. You and your mom do such wonderful work. Purrs
Sometimes less is more Summer. Even of you only touch the heart of one human in a “pawsitive” way, it’s important and special if only to them
If I was a patient/resident it would be the delight and highlight of my day to have you come to visit.
You are the best kitty ever! Thanks for all you do:)
very nice, Summer. sounds like you had some low key yet special visits. we love this work you and your human are doing.
pip, minnie, hollie, sharpie, ditto, TL
Summer, that was a terrific therapy visit. You and your human brought all those people so much joy!
You made a nice friend today in that girl.
I just know you help the patients have a better day!
What a wonderful day!!
Bodacious
Sounds like you worked your usual magic, Summer!
This was a sweet visit. It put a smile on our faces just reading about it.
Sounds like a wonderful visit.
Sounds like you spread a lot of joy, as always 🙂
Having seen you in Purrson at cat shows myself, I can definitely see how you relaxed the patients, and put them at ease!
Summer bless your itty bitty kitty heart!! What wonderful visits you had
Hugs Cecilia
Summer, I wish mom and I could be there too and see you in action. Mom could use your kind of therapy too and though I take good care of her…sometimes it’s a two cat day, ya know?
Your visits are a win-win, Summer! The patients and their family feel good about seeing you, and you feel good about helping all of them.
It must be very nice to have people be so
obviously happy to see you when you go
there. I do know that it really lifts ones
mood seeing/holding/petting a cat when
you are in pain. (That should also include
other pets as well – so no pets feel left out.)
Bless!
It sure sounds like you made their day better sweet Summer!
great job…
We love how you make everyone feel good, Summer.
We think it’s so wonderful that you get to do this!
The Florida Furkids
What a great visit, Summer! I love that your purrs helped the girl feel relaxed 🙂
The happiness, joy and fun you bring to the patients takes them “away” from whatever they’re going through and that dear Summer is a GIFT.
Love, Teddy
You are an awesome therapy cat! If I was in a place like that, I’d sure love visits from cats and dogs, but especially cats! Our dog used to visit nursing homes and the patients aways loved it when she came!
And you get to spend quality time with the people you meet when its like that,xx Speedy
I don’t know which part is my favorite … you showing people that cats aren’t scary – or you bringing joy and comfort to the people who have pets at home and miss them. Either way, it’s so incredibly sweet!
Making peope happy works doesn’t it!!
You made so many happy from your visit today. It is wonderful that you and your human do this for others.
Sounds like a nice visit!
How wonderful that you had such a great visit.
Sounds like a variety of people too and you made them happy 🙂
Cat therapy works!
Purrs Georgia,Julie and JJ
I am glad it was a good visit for you and the patients, Summer.
That was a great visit, Summer.