[HeavyMetalLover]

I was reading an article about therapy animals earlier. More specifically, this article focused an a cat at a nursing home who would visit people who were in the process of dying within a few days. While this is morbid, I got to thinking about how therapeutic our cats and dog ( who is convinced he's another cat because he grew up with our 4 cats) are to me and also to my kids. So I'm just curious... do you have any pets and if so, do you observe their behavior changing when you're having an episode? Do you sometimes think your pet(s) know you better than you do yourself, or is it just my relationship with my fur babies? I'm not trying to sound as narcisisstic (however you spell it) as that last sentence seems to me, but I often feel like I'm going to wind up being the proverbial "crazy cat lady" people talk about.

My cat, Potter, has been so unusually clingy with me for the past few weeks and she normally despises being held. Now I can't sit down without her jumping into my lap. Lol

Yes I know the huge benefits animals can bring and I share this with the community.

I have many animals. My horse is the favourite child and the most empathetic and therapeutic.

[HeavyMetalLover]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Yes I know the huge benefits animals can bring and I share this with the community.

I have many animals. My horse is the favourite child and the most empathetic and therapeutic.

Aww....I've always loved horses, too, but have never lived where I have enough land to own one. I don't think this Cracker-Jacks-box of a yard is enough room for a horse. What is your baby's name? Male or female horse? What kind of horse? Just curious....

[HeavyMetalLover]

My Potter cat is a calico. She seems to be as moody as I am towards other people( her not me) but she's always been so sweet with me. Just at times like the last couple of weeks she's a lot like a three year-old child when the parents leave the toddler with a babysitter and they cry and give their parents a guilt trip. She becomes that clingy with me, Lol.

[BlackSheep79]

Besides the fact that I don't have children and my three dogs are my kids, yes I believe that they are therapeutic and have that sixth sense I think you would call it. My dogs are clingy by nature because of there breed, but I notice a change in there demeanor when I am not doing so well. They just want to lay with me in the chair or couch and be with me. My husband doesn't suffer from depression, but has been depressed for about six months due to outside factors and I've seen them do it with him. It's almost like they become depressed, I can see it in the way they act, they just mope around. I also think they are just doing what animals do, be our best friend.

Shes a mare (female) and well known in my state, so I would prefer not to share her name, I am sorry. She definitely relates to my hormonal issues! She is very much a one person horse to connect with, but she is extremely well behaved for other people as well. I can put beginner children on her and she will carry them like precious cargo.

My other animals are in training, and are coming along so well

They have their first assignment in 2 weeks.

[HeavyMetalLover]

Originally Posted by Supanova

Shes a mare (female) and well known in my state, so I would prefer not to share her name, I am sorry. She definitely relates to my hormonal issues! She is very much a one person horse to connect with, but she is extremely well behaved for other people as well. I can put beginner children on her and she will carry them like precious cargo.

My other animals are in training, and are coming along so well

They have their first assignment in 2 weeks.

It's all good. I understand about anonymity. She sounds like a sweetie!

[neverending]

My cat, which is a therapy animal, also is being very clingy to me right now because I m not doing well and also very aggitated. In fact its possible I might have to do a short stay IP. She is only clingy when my moods are bad. Otherwisee she helps me get to sleep at night.

[gina_re]

I have a calico as well. She definitely can be just as moody as me at times, but like mother, like daughter, right? lol
I got her because I figured having a pet should help me, and she has. However, lately being as depressed as I was, I would be in my room everyday with the door close, neglecting her. Well she started acting out, meowing at my door, and just concerned. I try and still come out and make sure I pay more attention to her, and it's helping. I'm not as bad as I was a couple of weeks ago.

[cakeladie]

I have 2 cats. One is only 3 months old but the other is around 15 years old and always knows when I am in pain. He will come sit by me and just put a paw on me to erasure I am alright.

[BastetsMuse]

I have a mini doxie who rules me. When I am depressed she stays close to me; when I don't feel well she "orders" me into bed to rest by sitting on my chest and then nudging me toward the bedroom (which she did yesterday twice!).

I've had more than one special dog; in fact, my psychiatrist wrote a letter for me about my Doberman a few years ago in order to get that dog accepted into an apartment.

Yes, pets are definitely therapy dogs sometimes.

[neverending]

Cats putting their paw on you. That's what my cat does too.

[BeyondtheRainbow]

I have 2 cats. One senses everything I'm going through. The other gets it but is less likely to respond (although he does on his own schedule). The one who really gets it is 20 and I'm so afraid that if I wind up with a longer hospitalization in the next week or two that I'll miss time with her or that she'll die while I'm gone. She's doing pretty well right now but she gets very anxious when I'm away too long and if she has to board at the vets' she automatically won't be getting the kind of care that I give that has helped her live so long.

I'm more worried about her than anything else that is going on that I have to deal with.