The Finding of a Therapy Cat: a series about Tinkerbelle, Registered Pet Partner Therapy Cat (retired) and our journey together.
By Mollie Hunt
Part 25: Down Time
What does a therapy cat do when she’s not visiting her fans? In Tinkerbelle’s case, she’s no different than other cats in that she eats, sleeps, and plays. Though she is an indoor cat, she is, of course, leash-trained, so every so often, she goes on walks around the neighborhood. Mostly she likes to hang around our garden though, nibbling grass fronds and swatting at moths.
Sometimes Tink gets to go to the beach. Then she has nice long days of leisure. Her favorite place is on the back of the couch where she can look through the big bay window at the wildlife passing by. There are many deer and once, a bear came through the yard! Tink was on her feet in a heartbeat, growling at the animal with all her might. Luckily the bear was on the other side of the glass and didn’t notice the little furry feline calling him out.
Tinkerbelle is a bit of an adventure cat and likes to go walking in the lane though not to the actual beach. I don’t think she likes the big ocean sounds.
Do you take your cat for walks?
About Tinkerbelle:
Tink served for four years as a registered Pet Partner Therapy Cat, visiting assisted living facilities and hospice patients. Tink is now retired and living the quiet life. Check out her Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/TinkerbelleTheTherapyCat/
About Mollie Hunt:
Mollie is the author of the Crazy Cat Lady cozy mystery series, featuring Lynley Cannon, a sixty-something cat shelter volunteer who finds more trouble than a cat in catnip. Mollie is a member of the Oregon Writers’ Colony, Sisters in Crime, Willamette Writers, the Cat Writers’ Association, and the Northwest Independent Writers Association. Two of her short cat stories have been published in anthologies, one of which, The Dream Spinner, won the prestigious CWA Muse Medallion this year.
Like Lynley, Mollie is a grateful shelter volunteer. She is a longtime volunteer for the Oregon Humane Society where she socializes sad, fearful, and behavior-challenged cats. She also fosters sick and elderly cats in her home. In 2014, she had the privilege to work with cat behaviorist Jackson Galaxy on a particularly thought-provoking case.
You can find Mollie on her Website: http://www.lecatts.wordpress.com/, her Amazon Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/molliehunt, and her Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/MollieHuntCatWriter/.
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Question..is the cat on a lead or the human….I’d say human x
Correct!
A fantastic partner to partner with! I should have leashed my cats when they were little, but now all they do is pull and meow loudly.
I trained an older cat to go on a leash. It took a long time, but suddenly one day, she was totally into it. Don’t give up.
This spring I will try again!
All ours stay indoors.
That’s best.
Spike loves the outdoors. I always wondered what he would be like at the beach. All that space. My first cat Simon he was Siamese and I used to take him on a lead.x????
Actually this picture wasn’t right on the beach but in a sandy lot nearby. Few cats like the vastness of the ocean.