•••cats helping people•••
therapeutic & educational sessions
Please note: currently we are only offering these sessions on a very limited trial basis. If response is favorable, we hope to launch these programs more fully in the future.
We believe in the amazing power of the human-animal bond. Studies have shown that animals contribute positively to our physical, social, intellectual, and emotional well-being. Animal assistance programs, often broadly termed "pet therapy", may be of particular help to those individuals who are experiencing anxiety, depression, health issues, educational challenges, or other obstacles. But in fact, everyone benefits from being around animals!
The majority of traditional animal assistance programs involve personal pets—usually dogs—traveling to a residence or facility (e.g. hospital, nursing home, school) to interact with individuals or groups. We offer a unique alternative here at Nine Lives Cat Center—our Cat Connections program. The most obvious difference is that our interactive animals are, of course, cats! In addition, our external location allows individuals to experience a new and stimulating environment. Visitors have the opportunity to meet multiple cats, and to socialize as much or as little as they choose. Dr. Amy is always available to facilitate the interactions and to answer any questions. While informal, our Cat Connections program is very rewarding for both our visitors and our cats. It has also been shown that reading to animals can improve motivation, confidence, and fluency. Plus, it's fun! Our Reading Helpurrs program is open to anyone who might benefit from reading to our loving, nonjudgmental cats. Visitors can choose books from our cat-themed fe-library, or bring their own materials. We are also happy to work with teachers, parents, etc. regarding specific requests or ideas. Our cats enjoy the one-on-one attention of our readers! |
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scheduling individual & group appointments
We wish to provide a welcoming environment for all of our visitors. To try to meet everyone's needs and to prevent any interruptions, we must schedule these specialized visits by appointment only. In addition, we must limit the number of visitors to six, to avoid too much stimulation for our cats. Every attempt will be made to ensure that your time spent in our Homer's Hangout lounge will be enjoyable and fulfilling!
To start the scheduling process, please contact us by e-mail (preferred) or telephone to inquire about our programs and your available dates/times. If you call, please leave a voicemail if we are unavailable; remember, we may well be tending to other visitors, our resident cats, or our Hotel Homer feline guests! We will reply to you by e-mail or telephone (please indicate your preference in your correspondence) as soon as possible with information and instructions. General pricing guidelines are as listed. Costs may vary, depending on particular circumstances. Please ask for details. Thank you! |
Cat Connections &
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