Cats possess the power to comfort us when we get upset or sick. They’re masters of empathy when the ones they love need them. And Mooshu the cat proves this very thing by the way he takes care of his dad, Bob.
In 2009, everything changed for retired veterinarian Bob Wright when he received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease. But with his wife, Patricia, and Mooshu by his side, Bob would find some comfort in these difficult years.
Mooshu joined the Wright family in 2013, after the diagnosis, but the sweet cat and Bob clicked right away. Already a sociable cat who loved a good snuggle with humans, Mooshu saw that Bob needed comforting.
Patricia shared, “I kinda think he does know that his daddy needs him more now than before.”
Image Courtesy of Patricia Wright
Cat Care Equals the Best Care
Deep inside, the retired vet in Bob seemed to remember the comforting power of cats. His heart craved snuggling with a warm, furry body full of love and purrs.
“Bob kept asking for a cat in his lap, so I kept picking Mooshu up and putting him in Bob’s lap,” said Patricia. “Now he’s there all the time and he sleeps in his arms at night.”
Image Courtesy of Patricia Wright
And while the other kitties in the family offer support, Mooshu is there helping Patricia and Bob at every turn. “When Bob gets his shower, Moosh is the one who is in there meowing and rubbing against him like he’s trying to make sure he’s OK.”
But Mooshu is a kitty and has cat things he must tend to in a day. “Bob was so happy with Moosh on his lap and it kept him so calm, that he wasn’t happy unless the cat was there.”
So, Patricia found a solution to help Bob stay calm when Mooshu was off duty. “I had to buy him a robot cat to keep him company when Moosh was doing cat stuff.”
Image Courtesy of Patricia Wright
Understandably, Mooshu wasn’t a fan of the robot, but he made peace with it as he saw how the fake cat helped Bob. While cats are stubborn, they can be understanding of the things their humans need.
As a retired vet, Bob knew this capacity of cats and while maybe he didn’t remember specifically, his very nature recalled the fact. Patricia said, “Animal contact is very important to him and Moosh willingly supplies it all the time.”
Image Courtesy of Patricia Wright
“Moosh is the one thing that Bob still enjoys.”
Mooshu proves that cats can be the very thing to help us through our darkest days and we as cat lovers are so thankful for our kitty dears.
https://www.facebook.com/alzheimerssocietyuk/videos/177741256895181/
H/T: www.thedodo.com
Feature Images Courtesy of Patricia Wright