Riley The Therapy…Cat?

By: Ashley Kurz, Managing Editor

Before I even begin, I would like to make it clear that Riley, the therapy dog, our beloved frequent visitor, is a beautiful, fulfilling and lovable addition to the community. I would like to thank Riley on behalf of all of Canisius for spending time with us. Now let’s get into the business: cats! I am a proud cat lover and I believe that everyone has a small piece of them that loves cats too. It is very common to find someone that doesn’t like cats; this is a sad but true fact that has hurt the nature of having cats as pets. There is also the stereotype of “cat ladies,” which is offensive to future me and anyone with an open heart and love to give. Cats get a bad reputation for many reasons; for example, they can be aggressive due to their territorial mindsets. Another grievance is the fact that their litter boxes have high chances of smelling incredibly awful – that being the most common complaint I’ve heard, which is very valid. This article isn’t about cat ownership, though; it’s about having a therapy cat at Canisius. 

Stress Less Week occurs every semester, and I believe Riley has been here each time for at least the past two years. I am not sure how we would be able to implement it, but having a trained social cat here on campus can help so many students. Everyone knows about the kittens in Science Hall that are a part of the ABEC program; when the glass is defrosted, there are always people watching. Since I have been a student here, this has been happening, and you always see a bunch of people watching the kittens play. Bringing this into Stress Less Week could prove beneficial for the students who miss out on the ABEC kittens or who aren’t yet aware of the program. Not only will this help me because I would get to pet a cat, but it can make more students aware of the ABEC programs and what they do. We can also work on our relationships with local shelters and therapy practices in the area. Canisius is always looking for more people in the community to support and this can be a potential idea. SPCA and shelters need volunteers and a lot of Canisius organizations require members to have service hours; a therapy cat can bridge this gap. 

I hate to reference social media; however, it is necessary. There was a video posted on Tiktok and Instagram recently showing a therapy cat visiting a nursing home. Almond, a famously kind cat, visited a “fraternity” nursing home and interacted with the residents there. I finished watching the video in tears; it was an incredible display of love and community. Having a cat like that on campus can really bring out the joy some students lose towards the end of the semester. There are a lot of pets that live with us on campus, and they are delightful; we have dogs, cats and even guinea pigs. Speaking from experience, it makes my day seeing them while on my way to class. Maybe this cat idea is something to be explored, and maybe having a therapy bunny is also something to be explored, but I won’t push my luck too much. 

If you would like to watch Almond's videos, please visit @almondandcashie on Tiktok and Instagram.