You thought you saw it all in therapy? Well, here comes one more and more popular: the gatotherapy , a tool used to intervene in people’s well-being with the help of cats.

Catotherapy, an anti-stress treatment with your feline

Catotherapy is a traditional treatment against the symptoms of stress, anxiety and low mood with the help of domestic cats. The use of this type of therapy based on the companionship provided by these small domestic cats can help improve physical and mental health and overall quality of life, through friendly interaction between the cat and the person.

The positive thing of the cat therapy is, exactly its simplicity: it is based on the company that the cat and the person offer themselves and the way in which they interact.

Cats and Humans: A Little History

Already in ancient times, human beings have found in certain animal species a good dose of company and affection. In addition to the domestication of animals in order to preserve food (meat, milk), shelter (fur, wool) and movement (horses), some species have maintained a more intimate relationship with man. In this sense, two of the animals that have traditionally played this role are the dog and the cat , although it should be noted that in the case of the dog, its work was also usually linked to hunting, grazing and the security of the dwelling.

The cat (Felis silvestris catus) is a small predatory mammal. The origins of the species, or at least its first scientific reports, are located in the south of Egypt in the year 3000 BC. In those distant times, cats were already highly regarded, to the extent that humans granted them a category of divinity. From Egypt it spread to many other regions, through trade, it was the faithful companion of witches, wizards and healers. Later, he was welcomed as a domestic hunter of small rodents, which could spread diseases. In this sense, the cat was a health insurance for man. In addition, it was gradually growing his role as a friend and domestic companion.

Many people claim that the cat company brings them multiple benefits. Nowadays, there are more than forty different species of cats, each one with its own characteristics: coats of all colours and shapes (and even without fur), with long tail, short tail, without tail, with very different cranial structures, etc.

The cat: discovering its personality and ‘anti-stress properties’

The cat is a very autonomous animal, as it happens with the rest of the felines. Its bond with the owners of the house is based on a kind of pact of mutual respect . The company of a cat, unlike what happens with most psychopharmaceuticals, contributes to achieving good levels of relaxation without the side effect of losing contact with reality or certain levels of consciousness. Petting a cat can reduce stress, as well as lower blood pressure and heart rate.

On the other hand, the purring characteristic of the cat (sound that the feline emits when it is comfortable and safe) has a positive effect on people’s moods, encouraging good humour and providing confidence and security. The signs of affection that the cat gives us also have a positive effect on our psyche, helping convalescent patients to get out of their situation thanks to its simple presence.

Feline company, always welcome

Many specialists recommend to people who live alone the company of a cat . Apart from the positive mental health aspects that small cats offer that are essential in cat therapy, cats do not require much care, compared to, for example, dogs. Living with a cat also helps us to understand ourselves better and accept ourselves as we are: cats do not judge us, they do not differentiate between beautiful and ugly or rich and poor; they only receive affection and give it back in their own way, in a completely natural way and without artifices.

Families who live near a cat also achieve some psychological benefits , since they encourage and reinforce communication between parents and children and between siblings. This is one of the positive aspects of cat therapy. Furthermore, family life with animals teaches children to take responsibility for certain tasks, to respect and love other species, and this results in the reinforcement of calm, relaxed attitudes and stress relief.

Mental health, cat therapy and some facts

The benefits of catotherapy in people with some kind of physical or psychological disability or with some kind of emotional or psychological disorder, have been studied. For example, among the disorders associated with dementias (Alzheimer’s), autism, Down’s syndrome, ADHD and behavioral disorders in children and in mood disorders, the benefits seem clear.

In the United States, several studies revealed that patients with heart disease reported better and faster progression if they lived with a feline, increasing the survival rate to one year after an acute episode such as a heart attack (Friedmann and Thomas, 1995).

People who live with cats at home have a lower probability of dying from a heart attack . This was the conclusion reached by several researchers led by A. Baun of the Nursing Research . In the case of coexistence with dogs, the same protective effect was not reported, possibly due to the daily care required by the dogs: the owners of the dogs were in a close to average probability.

Several national associations and foundations dedicated to improving the quality of life of people with severe mental disorders employ cats as part of therapy. In autistic children, for example, cats have a number of positive effects. Obviously the cat cannot cure a severe psychopathology, but it has been observed that the contact of the patients with the cats brings them a good dose of happiness , gives them back their smile, especially to those who suffer from a rather lonely life.

The case of elderly people living in nursing homes is also particularly positive in terms of the benefits of living with cats. Various studies indicate that daily contact with an adorable cat, which they can challenge, pet and care for, can help the elderly person to verbalize their emotions and feelings, as well as memories of their childhood. Stimulating their memory and expressing anecdotes and stories from their past life is something that is really important for patients with senile dementia or Alzheimer’s disease , because this mental gymnastics is a basic factor in delaying the degeneration of the neuronal quality, which is responsible for the progressive loss of memory. The tactile sense, being able to caress the cat and to notice its purring when it is happy stimulates some nervous endings that evoke memories.

Cats are not toys

A cat can be adopted by going to the nearest animal protection centre . You can even buy a puppy from a pet shop if you think it’s appropriate (although you should avoid it).

But we must not lose sight of the fact that a cat is a living being, that it has needs and can suffer. This implies that we must take responsibility for these animals and take care of their health and well-being. The cat must be properly dewormed and vaccinated, and in most countries must carry an identifying microchip.Therefore, in cat therapy the cat is not a simple tool, but an active agent that participates in the treatment sessions and has the capacity to decide what it wants and what it does not want to do.

If this last paragraph is clear, we can only invite you to enjoy the pleasant company of one of the friendliest, most mysterious and health-giving animals there is. Cat therapy has a lot to offer you .

Bibliographic references:

  • Baun, A. M., Bergstrom, N., Langston, N. F., & Thomas, L. (1984). Physiological effects of human/companion animal bonding. Nursing Research , 33(3), 126-129. Friedmann, E., Katcher, A. H.
  • Friedmann, E., & Thomas, S. A. (1995). Pet ownership, social support, and oneyear survival after acute myocardial infarction in the Cardiac Arrhythmia Suppression Trial (CAST). American Journal of Cardiology , 76, 1213-1217.