Dogs are useful, passionate and widely used to comfort people in settings like hospitals, schools and care homes. But a Rapidly popular Alternative is emerging: Therapy cats.
This term is commonly utilized in the media with loose and contradictions throughout the scientific community. But in its harsh sense, Therapy with the help of animals Medical goals is a scientific activity provided by health professionals.
Most cats involved in such works are a part of the broader Services with the help of animals. We will remain with the “Therapy Cat” in this text.
Therapy cats Are hooked on Eliminate isolation and stress. They are utilized in prisons, schools, hospitals, care houses and hospitals. Recommended for people Who are afraid of dogs or can struggle to speak with large animals similar to horses.
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Environmental therapy cats are sometimes taken, similar to nursing homes or schools, noise, unexpected, and unfamiliar people and surrounding people. These are especially the varieties of settings that May be restless An abnormal cat
Cats generally prefer forecast and stable environment. Their ancestors of their wild kate, like domestic cats Prefer regional security More than social bonds with people or other cats. c
ATS relies on aroma Navigate and feel safe In their surroundings. The F3 Ferromone helps them mark the areas as “safe” or “known”, which produces a style of wolf -based map of their home.
Nevertheless, recent social media trends recommend changing our understanding. Faster, we see cats traveling together with their owners CamproonBy the aircraft or Even on motorbikes. These cats seem like tolerating, and sometimes it develops, within the environment, animal behavior experts once assume that there was numerous pressure for them. So, what makes these cats different?
Some cats can profit from the presence of a reliable person in an unfamiliar or potentially stressful environment. In a study of 2021, animal behavior researchers Alexandra It has been found that nearly half of the 42 cats have experienced HALF half of them, showing signs of protected base effects, a bond that helps reduce stress and encourages the search once they are reunited with their owner. This may also help the therapy to cope with cats with a brand new environment.
A Recent studies In a human animal conversation, led by Belgian researcher Jonny Dylanoji, detected how cats chosen for the assistance of animals are different from the typical domestic pets. The study analyzed the response to a survey of 474 cats – 12 of which participated in such services. Animal cats were found to be more sociable with each people and other cats, in search of more attention and fewer proof against stopping.
These results suggest that behavior features, similar to sociological and tolerance, could make some cats higher suitable for interacting with people in unknown settings. However, a small variety of cats actually involved within the service work on this study implies that we want more research to attract firm results.
These cats even have strong, trusting bonds with their handlers. Initial socialization and gradual exposure cats appear to be needed to cope with the unexpected nature of the service work.
However, despite these features, cats may face challenges within the therapy environment. A 2023 World Study In services with a cat, US psychologists Taylor Griffin and Lori Cogan found that even well -adapted cats could practice practically.
The study shows that 68 % of the handlers soon terminated the tour once they considered it best for the cat. In this study, the handlers also describe strong bonds with their cats – a relationship might be the important thing to the potential of the cat, which offers a way of safety and prediction in a potentially pressure setting.
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How is the therapy cats comparing dogs?
Cats are different from dogs in tolerance for his or her social needs, mood and alter. These differences ought to be fastidiously considered in the course of the therapy selection – but their differences have advantages. For example, therapy cats can get the utmost advantages from those that view themselves as “cat people”.
Research has shown That it's linked to the characteristics of self -natured personality, cat persons are often free, creative and self -sufficient. Dog persons are more outgoing, sociable and group -based. Cat lovers may feel more easily in therapeutic settings, while dog lovers can prefer group -based activities.
The preferences of the species may affect the emotional response. I The study of 2022Researcher Jovita Lukyight and colleagues used facial features software to research participants' reactions to animal images.
Pictures of each cats and dogs stimulated the typical -like level of happiness, yet dog pictures created significantly more fear. For some people, for some people, the effectiveness of canine -driven therapy may be reduced, which might make cats a helpful alternative.
Dogs can perform well in providing emotional support through physical interactions, but cats are a novel feature that may offer the advantages of therapeutic treatment. A study of 2001 It has been found that domestic cats have frequency between 25 and 50 Hz – a frequency that promotes healing in humans.
While this search is lacking in recent research, The study of 2021 It was found that cat owners have reported that their cat's piercings have a peaceful effect.
Therefore, dogs may be traditional therapy animals, but cats have shown that what additionally they have. With the proper temperament and training, cats may be offered a bit different from those that need relief.