My therapy cat visits help lots of people in so many different ways. But it has also taught my human quite a few things — things she had no idea she could do! Granted, most people can do many of these pretty easily, but my human is not “most people.” Some of them have been pretty difficult for her to master. Some she is still working on getting just right… but she has made lots of progress.
Here are five things my human has learned to do because of our therapy visits:
- How to follow rules. Hospitals seem to have a lot of them! In my human’s world, rules are made to be broken, but she can’t exactly do that during our visits. So following the rules is something new for her.
- How to be a bodyguard. Living in city that’s an entertainment hub, my human is used to seeing celebrities in nightclubs accompanied by big, burly guys. She always thought that was kind of pretentious… but now she gets to be one of them! Granted, she is not big or burly (she is not a guy, either), but she has to watch over me to make sure I’m always safe. She has to know how to handle situations where people, especially children, may mishandle me. And she also needs to keep me safe from other animals too. This is basically on-the-job training, and she has had to be quick to pick up signals.
- How to be in a room full of little kids and not run away screaming. This was a big one for her to overcome. She does not like being around children at all. They make her uncomfortable. Fortunately, I enjoy children, so she leaves most of the interaction to me. She just hangs out and does bodyguard and occasional photographer work.
- How to talk to strangers and not feel like an idiot. One of the parts of doing therapy work my human fears the most is going from room to room at the hospital and asking if the patient wants to see me. She always thinks she is bothering people. And it’s really difficult to explain who we are if the patient doesn’t speak English. But for a successful therapy cat visit, she must do it… so she does. She has gotten better over time. She is still working on the not feeling like an idiot part.
- How to speak a few phrases of Spanish. She has learned enough to sort of explain who we are to Spanish-speaking patients, although she is shy about doing so. There are also patients, who speak Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and other languages. She’d love to learn some phrases in these languages too. So far, she’s only gotten as far as “neko” in Japanese. Sometimes I am able to fill in the blanks for her since kitties are pretty much universal.
I think being part of a therapy team is harder for my human than it is for me!
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See all of Summer’s merch at her Designercat Shop, available on Zazzle.
Oh boy, can I relate to number 3! Thank goodness you take on the bulk of the work when it comes to dealing with children, Summer!
Your mom is doing a great job sharing you and protecting you at the same time. I don’t want to be in the hospital but if I ever am, I hope a therapy dog or cat visits me!
The fact that this stuff doesn’t come easily makes me admire the work you and your Human do even more!
Volunteering at the shelter takes me out of my comfort zone when I deal with people too. It’s much easier to read the cats’ signals than the humans!
xxoo
You’re really teaching your human a lot of things. Our mom learns to work on number 4. She’s really needs improvement with that.
even if any of us were therapy cat material, our mom is not π we do admire your human, Summer, for stepping out of her comfort zone to do the therapy work with you. Something you enjoy doing and such an important enrichment for others.
pip, minnie, hollie, sharpie, ditto, TL
WoW! Its great that your human can tell us what makes her uncomfortable!
THAT would make my human uncomfortable!
Purrs
Marv
Our human admires your human enormously! She is not good at following rules either nor is she good with people who are not familiar to her ; she also finds it difficult to be in institution-like buildings where rules seem to abound ;p
We , all of us, feel it is commendable that your human overcomes her challenges in order to no doubt bring much needed joy to patients or people in need. We would give her a gigantic gold star for her kindness.
the critters in the cottage xo
We think your Human is very brave to step outside what those crazy Humans call “her comfort zone” and be a part of this with you. I don’t get it. I am ALWAYS in my comfort zone, MOL!
That Big Bear was put up last month as part of a climate change (you know, “fake news”) conference that happened here. He is a 35′ tall polar bear made of old car hoods. Weird huh?
The Human was super-startled walking down Market Street from the MUNI station to the ferry building to meet her friend cause he wasn’t there the last time she was there 6 or 7 weeks ago!
We love that your human gets to learn so much from your therapy visits, Summer. You’re helping the patients AND her! π
Whoa! I thought*I* was the only one who couldn’t do therapy cat work. TW hates kids AND talking to adult humans. She’d embarrass me to death.
You’re pretty as a picture today Summer – as always.
Rules …shudder!
MOLing at #3!
You are wise, Summer. You are having all the fun and your human is having all the awkwardness of being a human. We are glad she is teachable and is learning from you.
I admire your human for overcoming all these things so you can bring joy to everyone. I would never be able to be in a room full of screaming kids -or follow rules. π
I am SO with your human on 3 and 4! Kids make me run away screaming myself, and I’m so uncomfortable approaching people I don’t know (even some I do LOL). You both deserve a high paw!!!
Oh Summer your Mum & I are very similar! The one way I learned about rules & dealing with people & noisy children was going into Nursing….Boy did I learn a lot! HAHAHA!!!
I’m glad you & your Mum are always learning & enjoying your therapy work.
((hugs)) & love Sherri-Ellen & **purrsss** BellaDharma
Summer, I’m with your human on being with children! Yikes, I’d rather be anywhere else! And following rules…what’s that?!? Never heard of it…
*wink*
Paws up to your human too ! You and her are an amazing therapy team ! Purrs
You are such a good kitty; you bring joy to many and now your human is learning so much just by being your bodyguard π
κ³ μμ΄ (“Ko-yang-i”) is cat in Korean…
Summer well done to your Human…is there a trick she knows when the children are screaming.
I don’t mind children at all but one thing I take issue with is squealing and screaming in public places.
When my daughter was a wee girl I always left where ever she was if sissy was having a hissy fit so as not to bother other people. Seems now a days the parents just let them scream and don’t even get me started on how parents let children make such messes in restaurants…do they let them do that at home?
Hugs C ecilia
Those are good lessons for all of our humans
These are good lessons for anyone. I understand very well having to overcome
some of these same problems. You have both done well. You are helping
others so much with your visits. Thanks for sharing these lessons.
Yes, your human deserves as much admiration and kudos for the therapy visits as you do. It is a team effort after all.
You have helped your human rise above many so called obstacles, Summer, your therapy work has far reaching tentacles, even to your closest loved ones. We admire you greatly for all you do, Thank you…um Thank Mew!
Those are some pretty tough things to learn to do. We can relate to a couple. Looks like your mom is doing a wonderful job at accomplishing the requirements. Great job to you both. We are proud of you girls. Purrs
You’re right, Summer. Your therapy work has turned out to be good therapy for your human.
Your human sure is doing good sweet Summer, you’re quite the team!
Summer, I am used to being with people, strangers, and have no problem talking to them BUT if I had Katie in a hospital as a therapy cat, I would feel like an idiot myself because, as with your human, I would think I was bothering the patients even though that surely isn’t the case at all.
I admire you Summer, but I have always admired your human very much for going totally out of her comfort zone to do this service for others. It isn’t easy, and it takes dedication. Today, children are different in their personalities and likes and dislikes then a few years ago when mine were young; so being in a group of them would make me feel out of place even though I reared three and have a grandchild. It would be out of my comfort zone. So I may not be as brave as you are with Summer. I am grateful for your service to the patients in the hospitals.
Cool look at the behind the scenes. And of course it’s harder for your hoomin.. They aren’t naturally gifted like we are.
That’s a lot of stuff for your human to learn! Our #1 says that learning new things keeps you young! Of course, we kitties know most things anyway…
Purrs,
The Chans
Summer you get a A and your beautiful human an A+ as she has had a lot to learn. Good job
I have to say I think your staff have done a great job with being and doing things they are not used to doing. My staff are too shy to do those things. Maybe they just need to be exposed more Hollywood, more sun, and adventure?
Toodlepips and purrs
ERin
It does sound harder for your mommy…. Our mommy doesnβt like to be around kids either…
I guess it must be hard work! Your human has to be on the ball a lot – right?
She’s right – Tagalog is a must know language…. I will add it my list after New Zealand Sign Language and Te Reo Maori!
Marjorie, thank you for my smile today. First Summer’s sweet face and then, your comment.