Cooperative Living February 2017 - 38

THE TRUTH ABOUT CATS
It's something of a myth that cats are
less trainable than dogs, said Tedeschi.
They can be trained through
positive reinforcement,
" often in the very same
ways that dogs can be
trained - but we have
different expectations
for them. "
Cats can, in fact,
learn to participate in
our lives much like other
companion animals can be
trained to do - if you are
committed to it, he advised. " You
have to be consistent. And most cat
owners aren't, " Tedeschi said. " Most cat
owners have a funny, almost roommatelike
relationship with their cats, where
they love each other but they have habits
that drive each other crazy. "
There are programs incorporating cats
that teach them to walk on leashes, play
games, do obstacle courses, fetch things,
and interact with and respond to people in
helpful ways, Tedeschi said. Cats also offer
tremendous opportunities for people with
minimal space, or minimal access to the
outdoors - for example, someone
who is housebound or unable to leave
home frequently.
A DANGEROUS SITUATION
" Social isolation is one of the most
dangerous conditions that we treat, "
Tedeschi said, emphasizing it has the same
overall impact on health as smoking a
pack of cigarettes a day. " It shortens
people's lives on multiple, different levels,
creating these psychological or emotional
circumstances where somebody begins
to have other kinds of problems, "
he said.
A number of specific populations are
particularly prone towards becoming
isolated - for example, older adults who
are losing their friends and spouses. In
many cases, pets can become very effective
social-support systems.
When Vaughn and her husband
moved her retired mother into assisted
living recently, one of the top priorities
was whether they would accept her
two cats, Dempsey, a large male
longhair red curl, and Abbie, a
petite female calico.
" Even though she is in a wheelchair,
mom is still able to look after them with
my help, and they really add so much to
her life, " said Vaughn.
36 | Cooperative Living | February 2017
" Abbie's favorite place is the windowsill,
and since mom's apartment is near the
entrance of the facility, Abbie has become
the unofficial greeter, " Vaughn added. " She
makes a lot of people happy. "
THE RIGHT FIT
For the many millions of adults who
are lonely and lacking social connections,
as well as for the millions of homeless
animals that are euthanized each year, this
may seem like a win-win. But experts
emphasize that there also has to be a good
fit, both between human and animal and
within the larger (and often changing)
situational context.
Blecher has seen the positive side of
living with pets for many of his patients,
noting that they can provide emotional
comfort when the patient is ill and
companionship when someone loses a
family member. But he also observed the
downside of a bad match or a changing
situation, particularly for those who do
not have family members like Vaughn
to provide backup support.
" Patients develop emotional concerns
when they get ill and can't take care of
their pets, " said Blecher. " And sometimes,
economically, they can't afford the
veterinary expenses. "
It is important for pet owners to have
a plan in place for the care of their pets,
Blecher said, adding that he has one savvy
patient who has even written animal-care
plans into a will.
CONNECTING WITH THE MOMENT
Understanding the different types of
people and pets that could help each other
most is an area where we need more research
in human-animal interaction, said Mueller
of Tufts Institute for Human-Animal
Interaction. " One of the major unanswered
questions is determining under what
circumstances pet ownership is beneficial. "
In the meantime, however, " there is
something very heartwarming about having
someone love you so unconditionally, "
said Vaughn.
" Dogs require you to be present. And
they are geniuses at forcing you to stop
and attend to the moment, " said Ball, who
in addition to tendencies towards high
blood pressure has also experienced
challenges with stress and depression.
" Hallie and GusGus provide me with
empathy and love and playfulness, " Ball
said. " I don't just care for them. They
actively care for me. "
Ultimately, said Tedeschi, whether or
not having a pet improves your health is
about relationships.
" The same kinds of important qualities
that exist in our human relationships that
allow us to feel connected, to have the
ability to interact, the ability to participate
in enjoyable activities - those are right at
the heart of many people's relationships
with their companion animals, " he said. 
A.D. Lively is an Arkansas-based writer
specializing in health and wellness.
www.co-opliving.com
http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living February 2017

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