Emotional therapy cat is how Sarah’s daughter Amber, 11, describes rescue moggy William. Aged five, Amber was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, which means she finds some sounds overwhelming, and stroking William’s fur and listening to him purr soothes her. In February this year, William lost a leg which has made him and Amber even closer as they navigate the world from their unique perspectives.
Sarah says: “William, who is two, loves being outdoors, exploring the allotments behind our house but he returned one morning with a huge gash on his side. He had dislocated the knee on his right hind leg very badly and vets had to amputate.
For the six weeks of his convalescence he stared mournfully out of the window and, as soon as I let him out, he was over the fence and away. He’s so resilient and there’s a lesson for Amber there, I’m trying to help her understand that a setback need not be a catastrophe. Amber and William have similar personalities. Both are scared of loud noises, extremely clever and sporty and don’t like me telling them what to do. They’re a team. Amber finds comfort in stroking William and he loves to be stroked, especially in the places he can’t reach to scratch since his accident. He helps Amber’s confidence so much and completes our little family.”
Following in a long tradition of church cats 10-year-old Zara, who lives in the vicarage at St John the Evangelist in Bexley, cares for her family, acting as protective big sister to Elliot, eight, who’s autistic, and undertakes pastoral care in the wider church community. Zara, who was adopted by vicar Edward Barlow and his wife Kate nine years ago, comforts the bereaved, wishes brides and grooms well in their new lives together and attends choir practice.
Reverend Edward Barlow said: “At church services, Zara heckles during my sermons, then finds a comfy lap in the congregation to settle on. Our services were livestreamed on the church’s Facebook page through the pandemic and always received far more views if Zara was on my shoulder. She loves to be in wedding photographs and chip in, very assertively, during meetings.
But her talent for pastoral care really shines at funerals when she sits on the bench outside comforting mourners. Intuitively, she possesses a wisdom for when people need her, which she also displays in her relationship with our son Elliot. She’s been looking out for him since before he was born when she’d sit on Kate’s baby bump! Now, when Elliot is anxious or struggling she is a comforting presence, staying with him until he’s calm. Zara is central to our family and the wider church family, she truly is a Godsend.”