Tendercare of Westwood assisted living facility in Kalamazoo Michigan just gave a former stray cat from the animal shelter a dream job. Mia the orange tabby, who is now the facilities official therapy cat, gets to do what cats do best while benefiting the residents and workers on a daily basis.
“Mia’s days are spent riding along on the backs of wheelchairs, walking along parallel bars as patients do physical therapy or batting objects away from the baskets therapy patients are aiming for. “
Kayla Wiggins, life enrichment director of the facility, said it was never her intention to get a kitten at all, but that changed with a trip to their local SPCA where they encountered the charming and outgoing Mia.
Mia enjoys the cat toy toss and residents benefit from the physical therapy
Mia brings joy and laughter to residents and workers. Her presence is beneficial for the mind, body and soul
Wiggins said “Our admissions person lets people know right up front that we do have a cat, if that is a deal breaker…Although not every resident is smitten, most enjoy Mia’s presence, and some have chosen Tendercare because of her.”
Source – MLive Michigan
Read here for more on how animals benefit our physical and emotional health.
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Awww 🙂
This is the sweetest story ever. My whole family just enjoyed it. Thank you for sharing! This cat is a true angel!
I love stories like this to, glad you enjoyed it. There is a book called Making Rounds with Oscar about a cat in a nursing home, it’s a little different but something you might enjoy. If you go under Book Reviews you will see the info there.
I’ve heard of that book. Is he the kitty that could sense when a resident was about to pass away? My kids had a book when they were little called Rosie, A Visiting Dog that told all about the steps that an animal had to take to be a therapy pet. It was so sweet. 🙂 Have a nice evening!