Now reading: Caregiving: Pets in Mental Illness on Persephone ...

As much as anything, this article has come into being because my writing companion is currently stretched out beside me in his bed. A dog bed, no less. And the aforementioned companion happens to be of the feline persuasion. He also has a pillow in there, but the less said about that, the better. He?s already nabbed one of my favourite blankets.

So, Juniper Puss. It may seem a little strange that a pet should come up in the Caregiving series, but for us Juniper Puss is very much a part of living ? and coping ? with mental illness. The process of bringing a cat into our home wasn?t easy, however. For Mr. Juniper, he struggled to cope with the unknown: the factors of how a cat would adjust to life with us, and vice versa. It took many conversations to get to a point where Mr. Juniper felt prepared. It wasn?t a case of Mr. Juniper not wanting us to get a cat, it was Mr. Juniper having to process a considerable change to our family life.

As for where our new cat was going to come from, there was no doubt it would be a shelter. It was a no-brainer in one respect, that we would adopt a rescue cat. For us as a family, it was important to adopt a cat who needed a family. Since Juniper Junior was still a toddler at the time, and we were looking for an indoor cat, we settled quickly on the idea of giving a home to a (most likely older) cat with FIV. And then Juniper Puss came along. Approximately eighteen-months-old, left somewhat disabled from a trauma that most likely involved a vehicle, Juniper Puss was in need of a home. It was love at first sight.

Juniper Puss came to live with us a week or so later. There was the usual settling in period, but before long, what I had hoped for began to happen. For all his caution, Mr. Juniper softened to Juniper Puss very quickly. It may come across as silly, but I think it was, in part, simply compassion for another being who had experienced a difficult start in life. For me, the primary feeling was of relief.

Now here comes the Caregiving element.

Consider a dark and windy night. Gusts howling. Floorboards creaking. Lights flickering. Even without a passing monster having the courtesy to go bump during the night, it?s not unreasonable to feel a little lost, a little uncertain. Anxiety rises. Thoughts run away with themselves. Things can spiral very quickly. Especially when a person?s alone. But when someone else is there? When a friend is nearby? The situation can become a little easier.

For Mr. Juniper, even during a good patch ? let alone a rough one ? when I need to go out, a sunny day can quickly turn into a dark a windy night. It is, perhaps, an indicator of his past ? to say the least ? that being alone can very easily be a frightening experience. But these days, I?m not having to leave him on his own. With Juniper Puss in the house, Mr. Juniper is never alone. It?s not the same as having me there ? I haven?t yet been ousted by the cat ? but having Juniper Puss there is an immense help. There?s another little being in the house to help Mr. Juniper keep himself grounded (for want of a better word).

I still don?t leave Mr. Juniper on his own for long periods of time, but now I don?t worry like I used to about leaving him for short periods of time. Juniper Puss often stays close to Mr. Juniper when I?m out. He isn?t above making the most of Mr. Juniper?s need for companionship. He always knows where to go for cuddles, and I?ve often found Mr. Juniper absent-mindedly stroking Juniper Puss while his mind is running rings around him.

If Juniper Puss were to be prescribed, I think he would be considered an anti-anxiety medication. Indeed, I have no doubt that Juniper Puss is a factor in Mr. Juniper?s use of anti-anxiety medication being lower than it could be.

Juniper Puss became a part of our family soon after he came to live with us. Juniper Junior loves him dearly, and considers Juniper Puss not just his cat, but his friend. Mr. Juniper has found that he never has to be home alone again. For me, I?ve found a writing companion who has been a great comfort, come sunshine or rain. Now, on a dark stormy night, there is now a means of dealing with anxiety. And it purrs.

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Related posts:

1. Caregiving: The Relationship In The Middle
2. Caregiving: Sleep
3. Caregiving: Strength and Faith
4. Caregiving: Time
5. Caregiving: Crisis And Kindness

Source: http://persephonemagazine.com/2012/09/05/caregiving-pets/

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