Manifesto: Reclaiming the Therapeutic Value of Cats in Animal-Assisted Therapy

Manifesto: Reclaiming the Therapeutic Value of Cats in Animal-Assisted Therapy 

For too long, the field of Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) has been dominated by models and expectations built around dogs and horses. These animals have become the standard bearers of therapeutic interaction: eager to please, transportable, and trained to perform. Meanwhile, cats—one of the most emotionally attuned, intuitive, and co-regulatory creatures in the animal kingdom—remain sidelined, excluded unless they are willing to conform to canine behaviors. 

This is species bias, not science. 

We reject the false dichotomy that places value on an animal’s ability to perform over their inherent capacity to connect, soothe, and heal. Cats have long been companions to those suffering in silence: the grieving, the chronically ill, the neurodivergent, the traumatized. Their purring lowers blood pressure. Their presence reduces cortisol. Their quiet companionship eases loneliness without the demand for eye contact, obedience, or touch. 

Why must cats mimic dogs to be considered worthy therapy animals? 

Farm animal therapy programs allow goats, chickens, and cows to heal simply by being themselves—in their own space, with humans coming to them. These animals are not expected to travel, obey commands, or endure invasive interaction. Their healing power lies in the simple act of being witnessed and cared for. 

Cats deserve the same respect. 

Feline-assisted therapy must be designed around the cat, not the client’s convenience. Cats need stability, consistency, and autonomy. When given these conditions, they thrive—and so do the humans who interact with them. In environments where cats live permanently, in comfort and safety, they offer powerful therapeutic engagement on their terms. This is no less than traditional AAT; it is different, and equally valuable. 

We call for the development of formal frameworks, ethical guidelines, and research dedicated to feline-assisted therapy that centers cats as partners—not performers. We advocate for cat-centered therapy models that honor their boundaries, their rhythms, and their profound ability to connect with people who traditional therapeutic systems have often forgotten. 

The future of Animal-Assisted Therapy must include the cat. Not as a second-class citizen. Not as a novelty. But as a vital force in healing.