Elderly feline better after a visit to a cat café

A MEETING with moggies at a cat café in Redcar has been proving therapeutic for elderly care home residents with dementia.

Anna Meadows and Joyce Baxtrum, both 89, paid a visit to the C.A.T. cafe, on Queen Street, Redcar, to make some new feline friends.

It was the first visit to the café for the residents from Hazelgrove Court Care Home, on Randolph Street, in Saltburn-by-the-Sea.

Joyce said: “I have never had so much fun playing with the cats.

“I had a tabby cat called Percy when I was a child and visiting the cat café brought back lots of lovely memories.”

The home’s activities coordinator, Sharon Lewis, accompanied the residents and said the benefits could be seen immediately.

She said: “Being around the cats was very soothing for Anna and Joyce.

“They both had cats when they were younger and the visit brought back lots of happy memories for them.

“Anna, in particular, was very calm and had a relaxing night that night, when usually she can get quite anxious.

“It’s well known that pet therapy is very effective for those living with dementia. The cat café is helping with other forms of illness as well, such as depression.

“It is a little place of calm, a soothing environment, where you can relax with cats and have a cuppa. We will definitely be taking more residents in future.”