It’s one of children’s perpetual refrains: “Mu-um, can we get a cat?” But for mother-of-two Lisa Trinh, the answer is always “no” because her husband is allergic to moggies.
One whiff of cat fur and he’s sneezing, itching and his eyes water. But the Cat Protection Society of Victoria has come up with the purr-fect solution for those who can’t have their own pets, or who are thinking of adopting.
Cat-alyst for joy: Logan Trinh with a kitten at the Cat Protection Society of Victoria.Credit:Simon Schluter
From Wednesday, the society will offer cat cuddling sessions at its Greensborough headquarters.
For 20 minutes at a time, groups of up to four people can hold or play with one or two cats in an enrichment room.
It’s fur goodness’ sake: The fee — $25 per group — will raise funds for the not for profit cat welfare organisation.
On Friday, Mrs Trinh’s daughter Teagan, 10, and son, Logan, 7, who had been “very excited,” she said, did a trial run of the scheme, holding and playing with kitten brothers Severide and Casey.
‘It’s nice to be around them’: Teagan Trinh makes a new friend.Credit:Simon Schluter
With a happy sigh, Teagan declared it good fun. “It just feels nice to be around them,” she said.
Mrs Trinh said the kids and their clothes would get washed when they got home, due to their dad’s allergy.
The society’s marketing manager Rachel Bitzilis said over 200 cats can be up for adoption at a time, so staff can’t always pat and play with them.
″So we see this as a win for the people, and win for the cats. The cats get that play, or enrichment, and they’re well socialised.″
Cool cat: Logan Trinh with a kitten.Credit:Simon Schluter
The cat cuddling, official title Cat Cuddling VIP (Very Important Petter) will, if popular, continue beyond Christmas.
Tickets include a tour of the society’s $6 million new shelter. Ms Bitzilis said cat cuddling could appeal to people in nursing homes or renting who can’t own pets. It could be a trial run for people considering adopting a cat.
Each session will be supervised by a staff member, and cats involved will be those comfortable around people.
She said the society’s house cat, Mister, a big old tabby, “relishes any attention and offers himself up for pats”.
If the humans behave inappropriately — pulling tails or picking up a cat if asked not to — the session could be ended.
Jacqui Foley, the society’s community outreach manager or “cat whisperer” said novice cuddlers will be taught how to approach, hold and play with cats.
If the cat is flattening its ears, is hissing and swishing its tail, “that’s a sign it’s getting stressed and you should leave it alone”, she said.
Ms Foley said the program could teach kids to respect animals. And it was fun. “It’s a different outing, I guess.”
Cat cuddling participants will get a drink voucher for the society’s inaugural cafe, The Purrfect Paw, which opens this Thursday and will operate initially from Thursdays to Saturdays, 10am to 2pm.
Cat cuddlng de-tails are at catprotection.com.au/shop/catcuddling/
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