Podcast S2:E2 – Therapy Cats with Allison Hunter-Frederick
Have you ever considered getting your cat certified to be a therapy cat? Many cat adventurers would make make natural therapy cats since many of the required personality traits and training skills overlap. Becoming a therapy cat team is a great way to give back as well!
In this episode, I chat with cat behavior consultant Allison Hunter-Frederick all about therapy cats, including what they are, how to become one, the training and skills required, the types of places therapy cat teams visit, and more.
“A big thing people forget with therapy cats is you need to be able to go to lots of places and lots of situations. Well, adventure cats do that. The other thing is they have to be really comfortable around people… If they’ve got the liking of people combined with being adventure cats, and you’re going to have to have them on a leash, you’re going to have to train them, all that kind of stuff. So yeah, there are so many things that I think an adventure cat would go on to be a therapy cat too.”
–Allison Hunter-Frederick
Overview of the Episode:
- Who are Allison and her therapy cat Rainy?
- What qualities make a good therapy cat
- Training and skills necessary to be a therapy cat
- The importance of recognizing your cat’s body language
- Tips for getting your cat more comfortable being around and handled by other people
- How to get your cat comfortable with loud noises and unfamiliar sounds
- The process of being certified as a therapy cat team
- The organizations and resources for becoming a certified therapy cat
- The types of places a therapy cat team can visit and help
- How the pandemic has affected therapy cat work
- A bit about cat agility
- The differences between emotional support animals, service animals, and therapy animals
- Regulations from therapy cat certification programs
Resources & Recommended Gear:
- Love on a Leash
- Pet Partners
- Therapy Cats Facebook Page
- I-CAT (International Cat Assisted Therapy) Facebook Group
Live Video Episode Replay
Where to Find Allison:
Website: https://allisonhelpscats.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllisonHelpsCats
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AllisonHelpsCatsLLC
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