Every day, Juanita Mengel starts her day by taking off the silicone liner of her fake leg from under a heated blanket. This helps to prevent the metal components of the prosthetic from feeling too cold against her skin when she puts it on.

Amanda, a 67-year-old resident of Amanda, Ohio, also tends to her 5-year-old dilute tortoiseshell cat, Lola-Pearl. Lola-Pearl is missing her left hind leg.

This pair is among approximately 200 registered therapy cat teams in the U.S. under Pet Partners. This organization pairs owners and their pets as volunteer teams to offer animal-assisted interventions, which can involve visiting hospitals, nursing homes, or schools to help with therapy and other activities that enhance well-being in communities.

According to Taylor Chastain Griffin, the national director of animal-assisted interventions advancement at the organization, a therapy animal is an animal that has been evaluated for their capacity to engage with unfamiliar individuals and not just endure the interaction, but actively appreciate it.

Pet Partners enrolls nine distinct types of animals as therapy animals: canines, felines, equines, lagomorphs, caviidae, murids, avians, miniature swine, and camelids.

Chastain Griffin conducts research on the effects of therapy cats and suggests further investigation is necessary. She notes that while there is extensive research on other therapy animals, such as dogs, the concept of therapy cats is often met with surprise due to their relative obscurity.

Chastain Griffin explained, “When people see a cat on a leash in a particular environment, they often react with surprise and curiosity. This can encourage them to make connections and engage in a unique form of therapy animal intervention that is not typically discussed.”

Mengel noticed that Lola-Pearl had the potential to be a great therapy cat when she brought her to an amputee coalition conference about a month after adopting her as a domestic shorthair.

Mengel stated that the cat’s ability to interact well with people led him to believe she would make a great therapy cat. He also mentioned that people were drawn to her.

At a recent gathering for those who have experienced limb loss, Mengel escorted Lola-Pearl in a stroller with a sign that read “Therapy Cat.” This allowed participants to interact with the cat while she was waking up from a nap.

Lola-Pearl had the ability to bring a smile to anyone she chose to interact with, whether she was seated in a stroller, strolling between people’s legs, or snuggling on their laps.

According to Mengel, she has a strong sense of people’s emotions and thoughts.

Lola-Pearl is not the sole feline in Mengel’s world. The ex-traveling nurse, who had her left leg amputated in 2006 after multiple surgeries from a severe car accident, is a parent to seven cats, many of whom have disabilities.

She stated that they discover you, but you do not discover them.

Lola-Pearl, a young pup, was discovered with her hind legs entwined at just a few weeks old. Due to this condition, she was unable to walk and was taken to an animal shelter in Missouri by Mengel’s friend. Despite efforts from veterinarians, her legs could not be saved. The shelter then reached out to specialists in Iowa who were able to splint Lola-Pearl’s legs in an attempt to save them. However, they ultimately decided that her left hind leg would need to be amputated.

In the meantime, Mengel had been discussing with her friend in Missouri the possibility of adopting the cat. Once Lola-Pearl recovered from her surgery, Mengel made it official and became her owner.

Despite facing challenges, Mengel remains grateful for Lola-Pearl and their collaborative efforts.

She expressed that the experience is highly fulfilling, stating, “I benefit just as much as the individuals I visit.”