A furry feline named Jenny brings companionship during weekly visits to a long-term care home in Brantford.
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Owned by Donna Kincade, the nine-year-old rescue cat was certified in 2017 by Therapeutic Paws of Canada and is one of only about a dozen therapy cats nationwide.
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“Certifying cats is very different than dogs,” noted Kincade. “She had to go to Scarborough to be tested. They did all kinds of things to make sure she was suitable.”
Therapy cats, she said, visit schools, libraries, hospitals, long-term care and retirement homes, and group homes.
Testing included being approached by a noisy child, someone in a wheelchair, loud noises, and a group of people huddled around the cat.
“There is quite a bit of extensive testing to see how she would react in the kind of environment she was going to be going into,” said Kincade, who is also referred to as Jenny’s Mom. “Jenny’s personality showed she would probably be happier visiting seniors.”
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Jenny arrives at St. Joseph’s Lifecare Center in Brantford each Sunday afternoon to visit residents of the long-term care center. She arrives in a stroller wearing a harness, leash, and her Therapeutic Paws of Canada scarf. The stroller is the right height for residents who are in a wheelchair.
“She adores lying on beds, or snuggling on laps especially if a resident is in a recliner with their feet up,” Kincade explained. “She’s not overly fond of people picking her up, but she’s perfectly happy with me putting her on someone’s lap or bed.”
Kincade recalled seeing a resident who had advanced dementia and Parkinson’s Disease.
“He’s usually very agitated and doesn’t want to have much to do with anyone,” she shared. “He was sitting in his wheelchair, and he was smiling at Jenny.
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“It brought tears to my eyes.”
Cindy Ray moved into long-term care at St. Joseph’s Lifecare Center in August of 2023.
“I always had a pet at home, a dog or a cat. Jenny coming to visit really fills a lot of voids in my life,” Ray explained. “Knowing that every Sunday she’s coming, gives me something to look forward to because it’s been a hard adjustment moving in here. Jenny really does a lot for me.”
The open concept layout of SJLC prevents the long-term care home from having permanent in-house pets, explained Shelley Murray, life enrichment manager at SJLC.
Murray said visits by pets provide companionship, entertainment, comfort and a sense of home at the long-term care center.
Families can register a pet with SJLC’s pet policy and bring a resident’s pet in for visits to maintain companionship.
“We’re really lucky and blessed to have (Kincade) choose our site to visit regularly.”
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