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You are here: Home / Diary / Miles of Children

Miles of Children

April 13, 2018 By: Summer Samba32 Comments

somali cat ready to visit miles of children

I went the hospital where I usually visit children yesterday. The team that was also there was Josie, the other therapy cat, and her human. We worked the pediatrics ward together, and then Josie’s human suggested my human and I go to the Rainbow Room by ourselves while he and Josie did another floor. He figured that since the Rainbow Room — the waiting room for outpatient kids — was usually pretty quiet, we could handle it on our own.

Well, before we even walked through the gate to the building, one of the employees said, “We have a clinic today, so it’s a full house!” And it was true — I’ve never seen so many kids and parents in the waiting room. It was at least twice as crowded as the most crowded I’ve ever seen it before! So my human shoved our tote off to one side, put me on the floor, sat next to me, and loads of kids came up to visit. It felt like miles of children!

Some of the kids are developmentally disabled, and they are all really young, mostly under 5, so it was pretty wild. Children that young, even if they don’t have anything going on medically, are still learning how to handle animals. I don’t know how other cats would deal with this type of situation. I gather it would not be fun for them. But I just sit there and let the kids do what they want with me. I know my human will keep them from being too rough, like the couple of kids who tried to grab my ear, or the one who grasped my tail. My human just gently removed their hands. I could tell even she was pretty surprised I didn’t put my ears back or flick them away. But I’m very passive around children, and that’s just the way it is.

There were a couple of children my human watched very carefully while they were interacting with me. One of them was an odd little boy who was afraid at first, then would not leave me alone. He kept getting in the way of other children enjoying me, and my human was very relieved when his name got called to for his appointment. The other child was a toddler who was wearing something that looked like a helmet, only it was made of some sort of soft material. His parents brought him over to touch me, and he was very graspy, so my human had to make sure he didn’t actually pull my fur or hurt me. But we both knew it was still important for the boy to have contact with me — and I was probably the only cat who could cope with it.

Not all the kids were rough, though! There were the little girls who were delighted to pet me, and the boy who didn’t pet me much, but who kept lying down in front of me and staring intently into my face. He was really fascinated by me. We spent a much longer time in the Rainbow Room than normal.

I have to say, though, my favorite visits were the one-on-one hospital bed visits with the kids in the pediatrics ward. They were all very sweet kids, and a little older than the Rainbow Room children. I really, really liked one boy, and we sat together on the bed, and I purred lots for him. You know, some people you really have a connection with? That was like me and this boy. My human hated to pull me away, since she could tell how much we were both enjoying the visit.

Making the rounds of this many children can be exhausting! But it was a very good visit.

* * *

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Comments

  1. The kitties of PURRING pines says

    April 13, 2018 at 1:01 am

    Wow, Summer. You’re so patient!

    Reply
  2. Memories of Eric and Flynn says

    April 13, 2018 at 2:30 am

    You are amazing, Summer. I am sure that not many cats, even therapy cats would be as good as you with grabby children. I say it every time, but what you do is so good for the patients and I am sure you help them so much.

    Reply
  3. Charles Huss says

    April 13, 2018 at 4:04 am

    You are doing a wonderful thing for these kids, Summer. It must be kind of sad to see so many sick children.

    Reply
  4. Brian Frum says

    April 13, 2018 at 4:39 am

    You sure made so many so very happy, way to go sweet Summer!

    Reply
  5. Margie says

    April 13, 2018 at 5:20 am

    Good job Summer. You really do such good work with the therapy.

    Reply
  6. icat and Jean says

    April 13, 2018 at 5:45 am

    Well done, Summer!

    Reply
  7. Purrjamm Cats says

    April 13, 2018 at 5:47 am

    Wow! Great job sweetheart! What an exhausting and exciting day that must have been. Your mom must be super patient. One can never predict how the day will go. You are an amazing kitty. Keep up the great purrtherapy. Purrs

    Reply
  8. Team Tabby says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:10 am

    You are very brave Summer, I know I would not be able to do this. It is an important job!

    purrs,
    Mindy

    Reply
  9. Grace says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:10 am

    A truly amazing feline!

    Reply
  10. William's Kith & Kin says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:46 am

    You are one in a million, Summer! We are amazed with your calm in unpredictable situations.

    Reply
  11. CRAIG S. C. OKAJIMA says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:58 am

    Pretty Summer, I am so happy for that boy, who had the privilege of hearing you show off your loud purr!! Hope you also rubbed your head against him!

    Reply
  12. Katie Isabella says

    April 13, 2018 at 7:47 am

    Summer, what a good girl you are. It runs clear through you.

    Reply
  13. Madi and Mom says

    April 13, 2018 at 8:04 am

    Summer you are very brave and patient! Kiddos have kinda shrill voices and that would probably freak me out but you are a professional and we are so happy it went well. I think if I were a therapy cat one on one would be my favorite kinda visit
    Hugs madi your bfff

    Reply
  14. Toby and Leia says

    April 13, 2018 at 8:09 am

    These kids are likely going to be talking about this visit for days. For some, it may well be a life changing experience. Great job, both of you!

    Reply
  15. Ellen Pilch says

    April 13, 2018 at 10:27 am

    You are truly a Saint , Summer. XO

    Reply
  16. The Swiss Cats says

    April 13, 2018 at 10:36 am

    You are truly amazing, Summer ! How many cats could do it among so many young children ? You bring so much joy and happiness to people !! Purrs

    Reply
  17. Colehaus Cats says

    April 13, 2018 at 10:48 am

    What a day it sounds like you had! We are proud of you for being so patient and understanding; that goes for your human, too. You two are amazing!

    Reply
  18. mommakatandherbearcat says

    April 13, 2018 at 12:17 pm

    I love your patience Summer. I bet you made those kids’ days!

    Reply
  19. dma says

    April 13, 2018 at 12:28 pm

    you are really special. i can’t imagine the boyz surviving 20 seconds in that type of environment… great work.

    Reply
  20. Eastside Cats says

    April 13, 2018 at 12:32 pm

    You rock, Summer!

    Reply
  21. Mary McNeil says

    April 13, 2018 at 1:26 pm

    Wow, Summer, ! What a lot of good you are doing for these kids and their parents to see them treated like regular people !

    Reply
  22. Ginav24 says

    April 13, 2018 at 3:28 pm

    you are so wonderful, Summer. Just amazing.

    Reply
  23. Melissa & Mudpie says

    April 13, 2018 at 3:28 pm

    I’m a bit freaked out by kids under regular circumstances, so I really admire the patience and kindness both you and your human showed those children!

    Reply
  24. BeadedTail says

    April 13, 2018 at 5:29 pm

    Summer, you’re such a special kitty! Your therapy sessions make our hearts happy!

    Reply
  25. Raven says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:17 pm

    I think you earned your “saint” title today!
    I hope the boy you made a connection with gets better soon, but if not, maybe you can visit him again.

    Reply
  26. Cathy Keisha says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:21 pm

    I’m going to start calling you St. Summer. You’ve earned it. It’s sad that so many kids are sick.

    Reply
  27. Marv says

    April 13, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    Summer! I am totally in awe! You are such a wonderful cat. I, Marvelous have never been around kids…I am afraid of most people and I am sure that kids would scare the heck out of me!
    Purrs
    Marv

    Reply
  28. Ratty says

    April 13, 2018 at 11:53 pm

    You’re a rare cat to be so easy with children. My dog is very gentle with them, even though she doesn’t see many anymore, but she likes it best when they are gentle back.

    Reply
  29. Meezer's Mews & Terrieristical Woofs says

    April 15, 2018 at 11:01 am

    If there were medals for good therapy kitties, you would get the biggest gold medal ever!

    Reply
  30. caren gittleman says

    April 15, 2018 at 1:00 pm

    Summer you are incredible! My oldest step daughter just had 3 major surgeries this past Thursday and I think as an adult she would have loved if you could visit her (but she is in Michigan). She has spina bifida and mental health issues…..so what you are doing for children with developmental issues is just catabulous!! You totally rock! xoxo

    Reply
  31. Lola says

    April 16, 2018 at 9:06 am

    What a fantastic visit! Thank you for being so patient with the developmentally disabled children. As you know, our mom has been working with that population for over 25 years and she loved reading that you were so good with them. One of her group homes has a cat! He’s mommy’s favorite client!

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Practical Packing for BlogPaws | SparkleCat says:
    April 14, 2018 at 12:37 am

    […] is more practical packing: Feliway® Travel Spray! As you might have gathered from yesterday’s post, not a whole lot stresses me out. But traveling is a big deal and being around hundreds of people […]

    Reply

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