Could therapy cats be just as effective as therapy dogs?

When you think about a therapy animal, chances are you picture a dog. After all, dogs are perceived as people pleasers while cats … not so much.

“I think there’s a perception that cats aren’t suitable for these kinds of animal-assisted interventions, that cats are picky, that they don’t enjoy people. I don’t think that’s true at all,” said Patricia Pendry, Ph.D., a professor at the Washington State University Department of Human Development.

She looked at programs that universities offer students, like “Pet Your Stress Away,” and found 85% offered interaction only with dogs.

She wondered if some people would prefer cats.

More from Heather Bosch: Long time teacher,

→ Continue reading at MyNorthwest

Related articles

Comments

Share article

Latest articles