Purr Therapy
What Timmy & Marina Taught Me About Life, Love and Loss
by Kathy McCoy, PhD
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Pub Date Oct 07 2014 | Archive Date Aug 30 2015
HCI Books | HCI
Description
Cats aren't a typical choice for animal-assisted psychotherapy, but Timmy and Marnia are anything but typical.
Research has found that petting a cat can lower blood pressure and a cat's purr is thought to help heal body tissues and bones. But not just any cat can be a therapy cat, after all, such animals need to be friendly with strangers and willing to be touched, petted and held by unfamiliar people. They have to be tolerant ofloud voices and angry shouting, emotional distress, and sudden movements. It's a tall order for any animal,but a particular challenge for a cat.
In Purr Therapy, psychotherapist and cat lover Dr. Kathleen McCoy shows how two very special cats rose to this challenge, how they helped wounded souls to heal and how they taught even her lessons in mindfulness, joyful living, and compassion. She also shows readers how animal-assisted psychotherapy works and gives them an intimate and moving inside look at how Timmy and Marina worked with patients, how their double role as animal companions and cotherapists changed lives, and how, after their untimely deaths, the grief shared by those who knew and loved them led to even more growth and healing.
It's no surprise that there is a tidal wave of cat fanciers growing: even the internet prefers cats. No dog site has reached the proportions of the most popular cat sites—case in point: the mega-star Grumpy Cat who has over 2 ½ million followers! More than an internet trend, this very active market is exploding through cat video contests and festivals that are claiming the passions of millions who will benefit from—and love—Purr Therapy.
A Note From the Publisher
Advance Praise
"What
a lovely book it is. I feel privileged to laud this memoir of seven cats and
the people whose lives they've touched.
The story of Timmy and Marina and of Kathy and Bob and the five other cats with whom they've lived and live will continue to touch many, many readers who love animals and who have known the grief of loss. This book is a jewel."
-Dee Ready, the author of the "Dulcy" series of cat books
"Purr Therapy" is a funny, poignant, sometimes devastating love story: a beautifully written memoir by a gifted and caring psychotherapist about her love for her clients, for her work and for the two extraordinary therapy cats working with her in her practice, soothing troubled souls. I read this book with a smile on my face and tears in my eyes. It is a profoundly moving look at how psychotherapy works and the power of love to heal.
-Mary Breiner, M.A., LMFT
This book is a delight one falls into and cannot put down as therapy patients interact with two very special cats. The people, pets, personalities draw one into their world. Life lessons are brought to one by Timmy and Mariana, the therapy cats, with grace and humor as animals and people intertwine. For a non-pet person, one can learn about speaking quietly and waiting quietly for a response and dealing with anger and joy. For the pet lover, this book will make one smile and also gives valued advice and information on grieving and loss and the enjoyment pets bring into one's life.
-Kim Tuomi
"Dr. McCoy's PurrTherapy beautifully illustrates how
the simple unconditional positive regard of our feline friends can both tap
into and guide us through our deepest human emotions. There is healing in the
other side, and PurrTherapy gets us there."
-Ryan Grady, MSW, ASW
As a self-professed animal lover, I was predisposed to
love this book. What I wasn't prepared for was the depth of emotions I
experienced as this thoughtful therapist stripped away the layers of her
own life, the psychic pain and progress of her patients, and the remarkable,
interactive healing abilities of her accidental therapy cats, Timmy and Marina.
It was honest, powerful and profound reading. No one who picks up this book will be able to put it down easily without wiping away copious tears.
Carole Ann Lyons, Award-winning writer, editor, marketing consultant, MillerMania (and cat lover)
In sharing the story of her rescued therapy cats, Timmy and Marina, in 'Purr Therapy," Dr. Kathy McCoy demonstrates not only the power that these small creatures have to help heal the human heart and calm the troubled spirit but she also shares her own story of love and loss in a way that any animal lover will understand. Her shared "lessons learned" from the therapy cats can guide us all in handling our own personal conflicts, challenging moments, interpersonal relationships or times of great sadness. Yet they are shared in such a way that is never 'preachy,' but pure, simple observations built from experience. I would recommend "Purr Therapy" not only to those who love cats or to those who are seeking help in walking through life's challenges, but to anyone who loves animals and values the healing powers of those family members we call our pets. -Jeanie CroopeBlogger, The Marmelade Gypsy
Marketing Plan
Available Editions
| EDITION | Other Format |
| ISBN | 9780757318030 |
| PRICE | $13.95 (USD) |
Links
Featured Reviews
Melissa L, Reviewer
I've found that I always have the hardest time writing reviews for books that touch me the deepest. I have this need to just shout, "BUY IT! READ IT!" Suffice it to say that this is one of the most meaningful, uplifting, heartwrenching cat memoirs that I have ever read. The story of Timmy and Marina touched my soul to it's core, and even though I never met them, I will never forget them and the amazing lives that they led, even though they were both lost tragically and well before their time. They are further proof that the brightest stars shine for the shortest time.
Susan J, Reviewer
Be prepared to laugh and cry when you read this touching story of two therapy cats, Timmy and Marina. As cat lovers know purrs have therapeutic powers. The head butt or whisker kiss at the right moment can dispel the darkest despair. But these two were beyond amazing.
It was never the intention of Kathy McCoy to bring either of her cats into her practice. In fact, she tried to keep a dividing line between her personal and professional life. Then one day when a patient had to come to her home a miracle occurred. Timmy, all of his own, went over to comfort the patient and it was magical. For those who wished it, he was the second therapist in the relationships between Kathy and her clients. For years he helped bridge gaps and heal souls and tear down barricades that no human could breach. Sadly, he was one of the victims of the Chinese pet food scandal in 2008. His loss was devastating to both Kathy and her family and her clients.
No one expected nor dared hope that another four legged angel would appear but Marina, who was adopted after Timmy died, took on the mantel and succeeded in walking in Timmy's paws.
Sadly, she too had an early demise. Such precious souls are never here for long enough. It was feline leukemia that cut her life short just as Kathy was retiring from her practice. In both cases, the cats taught great lessons of love, acceptance, patience and at the end loss.
Those of us who have loved and lossed a beloved pet will empathise with Kathy's emotions as she describes the roller coaster when a pet goes to the Rainbow Bridge.
This is a "must" book for anyone who have enjoyed stories of animals who've made a difference in the lives of lonely or ill people. Any pet lover will enjoy it as well. Even if you are not an animal lover, and you think that they are not intelligent, feeling creatures, read this book. It will change your mind.
Jensine O, Reviewer
Oh my!
Well I picked up this book, honestly, only vaguely interested, a couple of hours ago. I have two cats, I consider myself a cat lover, but not cat crazy;-)
Anyway, from the moment I started reading, I was unable to put it down and finished it in one stint. It's so incredibly moving that I pretty much wept throughout the whole book (I am a bit of a cryer to be fair!) but most of those were happy heart warming tears. Yes there's some heart wrenching sadness in there for good measure, but even that is somehow laced with feel good emotions when reading about it.
It's made me look at my own cats entirely differently, love them even more and is a book that will just leave you warm and fuzzy all over. Absolutely brilliant and I've already recommended it to several friends.
Reviewer 254829
This book made me cry. Twice!
An essential read for cat lovers. Not only does it talk about cat-personality in detail, but has valuable insight in to exactly how cats are more than companions: that you can learn to engage with yourself by following in their example. I'm not sure I'm get quite to the fastidious toe-cleaning stage that my fur-ball Daisy exhibits, nor the horrific toenail crunching episodes that she delights in undertaking on my lap, but I get the concept.
Celia M, Reviewer
I am giving the book four stars because I thought Dr. McCoy did a very good job in describing what her cats meant to her and her thoughts on why pets can mean so much so much to people.
The book was less effective in persuading me that cats played a crucial role in her patients therapy (FYI, I am a cat mom and I think cats can be calming and entertaining).
Dr. McCoy's cats seemed to have been therapy cats to her husband in helping in calm down and deal with his depression. Rather than writing about how cats helped her do therapy, I think the better topic would have been what Dr. McCoy's cats meant to her both in her personal and professional life.
Andrea T, Reviewer
Adorable adorable book, if anyone doesn't like this they're crazy, cause cats.
Cozy Book R, Reviewer
This book deserves 10 stars. Its is one of the most touching, moving animal stories I have every read. I have had cats for over 50 years and I can attest that this author knows cats and appreciates their special gifts. This is a lovely,, poignant story of two very special cats who helped and guided humans through difficult times. It is a realistic view of cats and the many gifts they give us in life. A lovely story. Thank you so much for the advance reading copy HCI Books and Netgalley. I highly recommend Purr Therapy for all animal lovers and especially those of us that love cats and appreciate them. . I am buying copies for all my friends with cats.
Kayla E, Reviewer
I love cats. I have a cat named Sir Pig, and he is my world. Every time there is a book about cats on NetGalley, I request out for review because I know I am going to love it. I definitely ended up loving Purr Therapy. It's my favorite cat book that I've read so far this year.
From the first time he was mentioned, I had a feeling I was going to fall in love with Timmy, Kathy McCoy's first cat that she used in her psychotherapy program. He was sweet, loving, gentle, and funny. He reminded me a lot of my Sir Pig. I loved all of the cats in this book, but Timmy was my favorite. I learned a lot about cats when I read Purr Therapy. As a cat owner, it was very insightful. I identified a lot with Katy as she went through the multiple stages of owning a cat.
When I read Purr Therapy, I had just finished taking an Intro to Psychology class, and was starting Abnormal Psychology. Therefore, I found the psychotherapy aspect of thus book especially fascinating. It taught me about different situations that I might go through as a psychologist, and how to react in certain situations. I think that after reading this book, I would definitely try animal therapy if I were to become a therapist.
I loved Purr Therapy so much. It made me laugh, and cry at times. It's a very heartwarming book that tugs at the reader's emotions in a way that is completely unexpected. I recommend this book to anyone that loves animals.
I give Purr Therapy: 5/5.
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