My Therapist Has Whiskers

Cute cat listens to teens

Dear human,

Ginger Grrrl here.

These days, I hear lots of people say that they are stressed out and unhappy. Well, May is Mental Health Month [1], and so I thought I’d talk about people facing difficulties times and how we cats can help.

Ginger cat pose

Did you know that many people think that their best friend is a cat? In many countries, cats are the most common pet. Most people don’t know how much love and support we provide to people. In fact, many humans still doubt whether we cats are even able to form an emotionally bond with you.

Ā 

We now know that the human-cat bond is just as strong as the human-dog and even the human-infant bond.Ā Read more about the human-cat bond atĀ The Cat-Human Bond: Basics from Ginger

It’s also no longer a secret that we cats are basically therapists with whiskers. Scientific research has shown that peopleā€™s mental health gets better just by being around us.Ā 

For example, simply petting cats can help people feel better by decreasing blood pressure [2], releasing ā€œfeel goodā€ chemicals, and lowering stress hormones. [3]Ā  Petting a cat can also improve a personā€™s mood. [2] Many people who’ve been through difficult times have even said that a cat saved their life. Below are articles that describe how cats have helped people in different situations.

People with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Beings who have suffered trauma can develop Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Luckily, dear human, we fur babies are here to help. Ā Cats and other pets can calm people and help them feel secure, which regulates the body’s tension and lowers PTSD symptoms. Read more at: Cats and PTSD.

ginger sad
Having a cat around is a reminder that danger is no longer present.
kwazi uli cutout table on green
You teens need a break.

Stressed-Out Teenagers

Teenagers these days have it really tough. Many teenagersā€“especially girlsā€”aren’t getting the support they need to cope with life. A survey of American teens found that 41% of girls feel sad and/or hopeless at least some of the time. These teens could use a furry friend to help them get through difficult times. Read more at Ginger Gets Real with Teens.

Elderly Who Live Alone

Human, Did you know that many older people, especially those who are single or widowed, are so lonely that they become depressed and think that no one loves them? Research shows that older people with pets are much less depressed and lonely than those without pets. Read more at: Let’s Help Older Humans Keep Their Cats.

Uli peeking
Tonight it's you and me, baby.

People in Hospitals or Rehab Clinics

If you’re in a hospital or rehabilitation clinic, a therapy cat may be able to help. Therapy pets have special training to help support people healing from physical or mental problems. [5]Ā Read about how visits from therapy cats (and other animals, too) help humans at Animal-Assisted Therapy: The Doctor Is In.

Ginger cat therapist Dr. LuvMuffin on MewlaYoung.com
The doctor will see you now.

Mini-Therapists to the Rescue

Gentle human,

Now I’m not saying that cats can take the place of mental health professionals, I’m just saying that we cats have a tremendous ability to provide people with support that can make their day a little bit nicer.

Ā 

If you don’t have a cat of your own, there are other ways to experience our greatness. For example, cats at an animal shelter or cat cafĆ© will do their best to make you feel better.Ā 

Does Your Cat Want toĀ Help?

Dearest human, If you think your cat might be able to help kids or adults in need, you are in luck! Organizations such as Pet Partners, Love on a Leash, and Wags for Hope provide classes to professionally train both you and your cat.

Ā 

We cats have a mission, but we can’t accomplish it without you. Let’s help the world heal!

Ā 

šŸ¾ Ginger

Ā šŸ˜¼šŸ˜øšŸˆ

Written by Ginger Grrrl with a little help from Mewla Young, April 2025.Ā 

REFERENCES

  1. Mental Health Awareness Month. Downloaded April 2025 from https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/mental-health-awareness-month/

  2. Dinis F. & Martins, T. L. F.(2016). Does cat attachment have an effect on human health? A comparison between pet owners and volunteers. Behavioral Science, 1, https://doi.org/10.21071/pbs.v0i1.3986Ā 

  3. Gee NR, Mueller MK, Curl AL. Human-Animal Interaction and Older Adults: An Overview. Front Psychol. 2017 Aug 21;8:1416. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2017.01416. PMID: 28878713; PMCID: PMC5573436.
  4. HABRI (March, 2020). Top5benefitofthehuman-animal bond. Downloaded August 2023 from https://habri.org/blog/top-5-benefits-of-the-human-animal-bond/
  5. Baer, B. (May, 2024). Animal-assisted Therapy (AAT) and emotional support animals. Downloaded April 2025 from
    Ā https://therapist.com/types-of-therapy/animal-assisted-therapy/