Therapy cats & rabbits
Cats & rabbits can make wonderful therapy pets, too.
The therapy cat
“When I began doing therapy dog work, one resident kept asking me to bring in a cat. She said, ‘These dogs are okay but I’ve always had cats and I miss my cat. Can’t you bring in a cat?’ So, I taught Flea, who was ten years old at the time, to accept a harness and to walk on a leash. He would do it if walking next to one of our dogs, but would collapse (as if his legs were broken) if a dog wasn’t with him. So I always made sure that at least one of our dog teams was visiting on the days we visited! Flea was a huge hit! First of all, everyone thought it was hilarious to see a cat walk in with all those dogs! But then he could be placed on someone’s lap and would just rest there, purring, until I picked him up. He was wonderful. And the resident who asked for a cat was so happy she cried. Flea was the first; he paved the way, and many cats have followed his paw prints since.” Excerpt from ‘Love on a Leash’ by Liz Palika (2013)
To be a therapy cat, a cat must first have the personality for it. He needs to be solid and unflappable; he cannot panic during a visit.
In addition, your cat:
- will need to be evaluated by your veterinarian.
- must be able to ride in a car well, so he isn’t stressed when arriving at a visit.
- must be well housetrained; no accidents.
- must be able to wear a harness attached to a 4-ft leash at all times while on a visit. Your cat may walk while leashed, or be leashed and transported in a stroller while on a visit.
- must be comfortable around dogs, as many visits will be in conjunction with dogs.
- most importantly, must love people. A stand-offish cat, or one who looks as if he’s only tolerating being petted but is actually annoyed by it, won’t work out.
![](https://www.loveonaleash.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/rabbit-tcat-and-rbits8bit-1024x453.png)
The therapy rabbit
Rabbits can make wonderful therapy pets. They are soft, wonderful to touch, and many are very calm. To be a therapy rabbit, your rabbit:- will need to be evaluated by your veterinarian.
- must be able to ride in a car well, so she isn’t stressed when arriving at a visit.
- must be well housetrained; no accidents. It is highly recommended that rabbits have a towel underneath them at all times.
- must be able to wear a harness attached to a 4-ft leash at all times while on a visit. Your rabbit may hop around while leashed, or be leashed and transported in a towel-lined basket, stroller, or wrapped in a towel while on a visit.
- must be comfortable around dogs, as many visits will be in conjunction with dogs.
- most importantly, must love people. A skittish rabbit, or one who looks as if he’s tolerating being petted but would rather hide, won’t work out.