Feline friend lends a paw at Waimea Hospital's staff roster
New Feline Therapy Cat Brings Comfort to Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital
Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea has expanded its animal therapy programme to include a new member - Whiskey, a 3-year-old orange tabby cat. The hospital's animal therapy teams, which previously consisted of dogs and a miniature horse, now offer a variety of options to cater to the diverse preferences of patients.
Whiskey is specially trained for animal therapy, much like his canine and equine counterparts. He has undergone training to exhibit behaviours that facilitate smooth interactions with patients, improving communication and making therapy visits more effective and comforting.
The addition of a cat to the animal therapy team aligns with common therapy animal goals. These goals include supporting patient recovery and emotional health through gentle interaction and companionship in a clinical setting. Cats involved in therapy are known to reduce patient stress and anxiety, promote emotional comfort, and enhance the healing environment, particularly for long-term or pediatric patients.
During his first shift, Whiskey met hospital staff and spent part of the time sleeping on patient beds. His presence brought joy, reduced feelings of loneliness, and encouraged social interaction, contributing positively to patients’ overall well-being.
For those interested in training and registering their pets as therapy animals, more information can be found on petpartners.org.
By introducing Whiskey to its animal therapy programme, Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital continues to demonstrate its commitment to creating a healing environment that promotes physical, emotional, social, and cognitive functioning for all who interact with the therapy animals.
- Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital also integrates feline therapies in its health-and-wellness approach, broadening the range of lifestyles catered by its animal therapy services.
- The introduction of Whiskey, the newly recruited cat for therapy, has expanded the science of animal-assisted therapy at the hospital, offering a new dimension to its pet-centered treatments.
- Among the community's growing health-and-wellness lifestyle trends, the integration of cats as therapy animals at Queen's North Hawaii Community Hospital symbolizes the increase in acceptance and recognition of these therapeutic allies.
