Animal-Supportive Homes

The benefits of having a pet in the home are well-documented and include:

• Reduced Stress and Anxiety: Interacting with animals can lower cortisol levels and increase the production of oxytocin. Simply petting an animal can have a calming effect, plus cats have a naturally calming effect, with their purring occurring at therapeutic frequencies that can promote relaxation, reduce stress, and lower blood pressure.

• Alleviation of Loneliness and Social Isolation: The companionship from pets can significantly reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation, especially for those living alone. Animals can also act as social facilitators, making it easier for people to connect with others.

• Improved Moods and Mental Health Conditions: People with pets report lower levels of depression and anxiety. and a wide variety of studies have shown animal companionship to lessen several symptoms of PTSD.

• Structure and Routine: Caring for a pet provides a sense of routine and responsibility, which can be particularly beneficial for those struggling with disorganization or lack of motivation. Pets thrive on consistency and their needs can help people establish a more structured daily life.

• Emotional Support and Unconditional Love: Pets offer non-judgmental acceptance and unwavering affection, acting as a crucial source of emotional support during difficult times. This emotional bond can be comparable to human relationships when measured by its impact on psychological well-being.

• Enhanced Self-Esteem and Purpose: The responsibility of caring for another living creature can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of purpose and meaning in life. Knowing that they are helping another living being can be incredibly fulfilling to people.

• Increased Physical Activity: Although this applies far more for dog owners, having a pet encourages regular physical activity through walks, playtime, and other activities. This physical activity, in turn, contributes to better mental health by reducing stress and increasing endorphins.

However, the practical challenges that come with animals typically preclude them from being a part of trauma recovery therapy. Some of the top concerns:

• Anxiety or injury from aggressive behavior
• Eye and skin irritation from allergens
• Unpleasant odors, particularly from litter boxes
• Disruption from pet sounds

Furthermore, having animals in the home requires additional work to care for and clean up after them. In individual living facilities, while routine caregiving responsibilities can be therapeutic, they can also overwhelm a person already operating at diminished capacity, leading to follow-on concerns over cleanliness, health, hygiene, and animal welfare. In group living facilities, animal tasks can be taken care of by staff, but this increases workload and can be an unwelcome distraction when residents need attention.

These are significant barriers; however, they are all greatly reduced in an environment designed to accommodate the living needs of animals. Creating such an environment requires considerable effort and resources; however, it is especially warranted for trauma recovery housing facilities, as animals have been shown to be able to help survivors of extreme trauma, even when they were unresponsive to all other human contact. To that end, Haven House and Cloud Nine Studios were built to support the physical and psychological needs of cats without detracting from the living environment for people.

Animal-supportive architectural elements were used throughout each home. Litter closets completely eliminate litter box odor and contain other features that greatly reduce the distribution of allergens. Bowl basins and cat lofts take care of cats' most essential needs, leading to lowered stress and calm, docile behavior.

The Animal-Supportive Architecture section has a complete list of features in each home and more information on how those features work. However, in general, Haven House was built for flexibility, with five dedicated areas for litter boxes and ten different configurations for cat-safe living environments using various combinations of bedrooms. On the other hand, Cloud Nine Studios was built for high functionality, allowing one person living alone in a small space to have up to three cats while maintaining a pleasantly clean and harmonious home.

Please Note: While dogs are more often used in animal-assisted therapy, much of that consists of short sessions where the recipients do not live with or have to care for the animals. Cats were chosen as ideal animal companions for trauma recovery because of their relatively undemanding maintenance requirements, ability to be safely left alone for long periods, and lower potential for disruptive noise. Plus, cats have a naturally calming effect, with their purring occurring at therapeutic frequencies that can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and promote relaxation.