Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a form of therapy that uses animals, such as cats, to improve mental and physical health.
Feline-assisted therapy is a specific type of AAT that involves the use of cats in a therapeutic setting.
There are different forms of feline-assisted therapy, including individual therapy, group therapy, and family therapy
Individual therapy involves one-on-one sessions between the patient and the cat, and is often used to treat mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression
Group therapy involves a small group of patients and one or more therapy cats, and is often used to improve social skills and reduce feelings of isolation
Family therapy involves the whole family interacting with a therapy cat, and can help improve communication and reduce stress within the family unit
Feline-assisted therapy can also be used to help children with developmental or behavioral disorders, such as autism or ADHD
Therapy cats can help reduce anxiety and stress levels in patients, and provide a sense of comfort and companionship
Feline-assisted therapy can be particularly effective for patients who have difficulty forming emotional connections with humans
Therapy cats are specially trained to interact with humans in a calm and gentle manner, and are selected for their temperament and personality