Do you know what the secret to a long and happy life is? According to Ohio AlleyCat Resource Center in Cincinnati, it’s about having a furry friend by your side. The center has developed a creative solution to offer companionship to elderly resident cats and elderly cat lovers in local nursing homes: the Pet Adoptions for Loving Seniors (PALS) program. As seniors get immense joy from meeting their feline friends, cats also get a healthy dose of the love and affection they crave. And sometimes kittens even manage to find them forever home!
“We take older cats (7 years +). Many residents can’t have pets right now, so being able to pet a cool kitty is great for them. We also invite residents to visit our shelter. It’s fun and a good chance to interact with the cats.”
“Most older cats want to eat, sleep, cuddle and love. Their visits to nursing and retirement homes are a great way for cats to socialize outside the shelter and bring joy to the elderly,” Amerli explained in the story. If you’re interested in becoming a PALS volunteer or know someone who would love to adopt an elderly cat, be sure to check out Ohio AlleyCat Resource Center’s website. Who knows, you might end up changing a life- or two!
As any cat lover knows, having felines around is incredibly therapeutic. “Seniors love to tell stories about their past pets and ask us to take photos of them with cats to send to their children and grandchildren,” Amerli told.
Do you know what the secret to a long and happy life is?
