Animal Welfare Professionals

What are you most passionate about?

Animal Assisted Therapy in all its forms, however especially as it relates to cats.  I volunteer at the local shelter and my specialty is socialization.   I consider myself a cat whisperer and have had great success using the music I bring on cd and playing mostly classical.  I have watched the positive effects music has on the cats in the shelter and I would say it helps them de-stress and discover something around them that isn't scary while they de-stress, becoming more active and playful and friendly.  It helps them connect more readily with anyone who happens to visit or show an interest in them. I bring the music to two particular out of shelter events as well. 

I watch cats closely, whether my own, at the shelter or recently captured ferals and notice there most nuanced actions and sounds.  I talk with all cats as though they are my friend (which they are) in my own home.  I believe cats can play a greater role than is currently in vogue or imagined in helping in what is called emotional assistance therapy.  I want to encourage people in animal welfare and in social service/mental health community to work together to help bring cats into the forefront of animal assisted therapy and show their true worth in this endeavor.  There is research in this area that would help educate those who aren't aware.  You only need to go online and look under "cat therapy" to find many examples  and stories how cats have changed peoples lives with the love they share.  I am interested in working with anyone to help create a world where cats are recognized for their value to humanity.

What are some of the classical pieces you use? 

I fully agree with you about therapy cats!

I don't choose any particular style/composer, though it helps to have a prevailing string section and piano is a plus. Who could  I mention?  Bach, Vivaldi, Mozart, Beethoven, Rossini, Verdi, Strauss, Tchaikovsky, Rimsky-Korsakoff, these were all from one disc and RCA  "Classics Greatest Hits",   I have compilations, I found at thrift stores for example "Top Ten of Classical Music  - Romantic",  I have a favorite I use frequently, from Readers Digest , "The World's Most Beautiful Melodies Great Romantic Piano Favorites", with Rachmaninoff, Mozart, Chopin Tchaikovsky.  Look in your local thrift store and you'll find many choices.  Also online on Youtube I play classical guitar compilations for my own cats using my laptop..  If you subscribe to Pandora for example you can bring the music with you on your android add an IHome portable wi-fi speaker for any where anytime your selections from your own compilation.  Don't hesitate to use vocalizing with music.  I just tend to keep it more soft rock or folk style.  Many music genre/styles would probably be useful.  I have used John Denver,  Nancy Griffith, Paul McCartney, Neil Young, Sting.

FYI:  perfectpals.org has posted an article on a cat foster program in a prison. Title is Our Prison Foster Program. Thought you might be interested as a possible extention to cat therapy.

This is precisely the type of program I had in mind.  I have read about cat foster programs in Correctional Facilities in Washington, Indiana and Ohio.  I am advocating for these programs in every state in the U.S.  Where do I begin?  I hope to try right here in N. C. soon.  Having an organization like Maddies Fund participating could make this all possible.  Along with other national organizations like Best Friends.

I love the idea of prison programs. Do you have best practices for starting a program? If not, you could try interviewing a few organizations that run them and figure out what works best.