by Donna Bailey, Public Relations

Hugs, left, and Louie are full-time residents in occupational therapy at MUSC's Institute of Psychiatry.

Occupational therapy patients at the Institute of Psychiatry meet in a comfortable room with a fully equipped kitchen, a large work area, and to complete the atmosphere, two theracats.

Hugs and Louie mingle around the room, helping the patients to relax and let their guard down. That's something occupational therapists say many patients can't do in a typical doctor's office enviroment.

The idea for Hugs and Louie to take up residency came after hearing about successful results from another occupational therapy division working with a ferret. “We were all cat people that worked here,” said Mary Beth Brock, occupational therapist. She said it took a year before the proposal was approved and conditions were met.

“These cats love small places. Anything I get out they climb into, and that makes for excellent interaction and amusement for the patients,” Brock said. “One patient did not want to be here and wouldn’t participate or speak; he ended up talking to a cat on his lap,” she continued. “The next day he came back and was involved because he felt at home. The cats help to occupy the patients time and keep their minds off their illness.”

Hugs and Louie are here as much for the staff as for the patients. One employee comes in every day, sits on the floor and eats her lunch.

It's the cats that patients remember most about their experience in occupational therapy. By socializing and petting the cats, they hardly realize they have been engaging in treatment.