CatPAWS Kitty comfort and therapy Program Brings happiness to Assisted Living Residents

The Helen Sanders cat protection and welfare society in seal Beach, CA has a very special program: the Kitty comfort and therapy Program brings cats and kittens into an assisted living facility.

The program was inspired by beloved children’s book author Priscially Maltbie. Maltbie, a lifelong cat lover, spent the last  years of her life in an assisted living facility. considering that she couldn’t have cats of her own there, CatPAWS took some of their rescue cats to visit her. Maltbie passed away in 2014. The program has continued to this day.

Priscilla Maltbie with Zoey
There is plenty of research available that shows how much family pets can benefit humans. Pet parents are less likely to feel lonely, they cope better with anxiety and recover from health problem faster. One study even found that spending just 15 minutes spent with an animal initiates hormonal changes in the brain, dropping anxiety levels and boosting serotonin (the “feel-good” hormone) levels.

“We were so pleased to be able to resume these visits just about a month ago after of course having to suspend them in March 2020,” said Deborah Felin-Magaldi of CatPAWS.

For a lot more information about CatPAWS and to support their program, visit .

All photos supplied by Deborah Felin-Magaldi, used with permission

Ingrid King

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4 comments on CatPAWS Kitty comfort and therapy Program Brings happiness to Assisted Living Residents

Janet Schaaf-Gunter says:

November 13, 2021 at 12:47 pm

Did so appreciate this newsletter and particularly your reference to Priscilla Maltbie and Zoey. She was such a lover of cats and an inspiration to all who knew her. thank you for keeping her sweet memory alive!

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Sandy Weinstein says:

October 22, 2021 at 4:35 pm

i used to take my pet dog to the assisted living place where my mother stayed. they loved seeing my pet dog and she loved having everyone pet her. we now have a cat cafe in my area and my local pet store has adoption/rescues that come in on a weekly basis with cats.

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Summer says:

October 20, 2021 at 1:30 pm

I love that they are doing this! My therapy cat visits to individuals and residents really helps lots, I hear.

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Janine says:

October 20, 2021 at 5:59 am

I love this idea.

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