"Service" cats?

[Toad]

"It's not a dog, it's a (large) cat, and I'm not blind, or deaf, and I don't have him for mobility issues (or emotional support), but due to HAL's service animal policy, we need to bring him along *everywhere* we go. Which is fine, he's used to it, but it just kind of limits our ability to do things like, say, go horseback riding.

 

We're not interested in doing the indiginous village tour - we're very "techie" people and were more interested in seeing the locks and the workings of the canal, and my husband likes the old train cars, so he wanted to do the domed excursion.

 

It may be, if this group of blind people had any assistance dogs with them, they were limited by the same warnings and that HAL has been slapping me with - the kinds of things that would make them not want to leave the ship at all. Lots of "We're not responsible if your animal is harmed in a foreign port" type of stuff. "

 

 

This is a quote from a thread on a RR excursion in the Panama Canal. I am really curious, is someone pulling my leg, or is this really true? Do people have "Service Cats"? Are they allowed onboard? I have never heard of such a thing, but would think that many people who are allergic to cats would be very unhappy.

[brucory]

I don't think anyone is pulling your leg... You can find more info on cats as service animals by using google. We are going on this cruise (if it is the same one) and most of the people on our roll call seem very keen to meet the bengal tiger - Apparantly there are no problems for those with allergies because the cat is hypo allergenic... Also, the poster bringing the service animal has been amazingly productive and helpful to others on our roll call too. We look forward to meeting them!!!

 

:D:D:D

[IRL_Joanie]

"It's not a dog, it's a (large) cat, and I'm not blind, or deaf, and I don't have him for mobility issues (or emotional support), but due to HAL's service animal policy, we need to bring him along *everywhere* we go. Which is fine, he's used to it, but it just kind of limits our ability to do things like, say, go horseback riding.

 

We're not interested in doing the indiginous village tour - we're very "techie" people and were more interested in seeing the locks and the workings of the canal, and my husband likes the old train cars, so he wanted to do the domed excursion.

 

It may be, if this group of blind people had any assistance dogs with them, they were limited by the same warnings and that HAL has been slapping me with - the kinds of things that would make them not want to leave the ship at all. Lots of "We're not responsible if your animal is harmed in a foreign port" type of stuff. "

 

 

This is a quote from a thread on a RR excursion in the Panama Canal. I am really curious, is someone pulling my leg, or is this really true? Do people have "Service Cats"? Are they allowed onboard? I have never heard of such a thing, but would think that many people who are allergic to cats would be very unhappy.

 

 

While my hubby is allergic to cats and dogs both, he does suffer, willingly, with our beautiful dog Mid Night (Whom I just discovered from another CC member (Thank You ANNE!!) is a Schipperke and NOT a Chow/mix as we'd be told)

 

Anyway, my point is that if a service animal of any type is needed for a fellow cruiser, he will suffer, willingly for them to be able to cruise also.

 

Here is the info from a google search:

http://www.itchmo.com/cats-as-service-animals-1558

 

Joanie

[Toad]

I don't think anyone is pulling your leg... You can find more info on cats as service animals by using google. We are going on this cruise (if it is the same one) and most of the people on our roll call seem very keen to meet the bengal tiger - Apparantly there are no problems for those with allergies because the cat is hypo allergenic... Also, the poster bringing the service animal has been amazingly productive and helpful to others on our roll call too. We look forward to meeting them!!!

 

:D:D:D

 

Do you really think this is a tiger, and not just a large cat?

[Toad]

I guess I am just incredulous, that posters would get their knickers in a twist over so many things and yet no one has questioned this!!!!! I agree the poster on the roll call board seems very intelligent and helpful HOWEVER, many, many people are severely allergic to cats and I do not think would appreciate dining with one.

[willowoodf]

I had asked for a link to the original threat, but I found it!

 

And BTW, this is probably a Bengal CAT, not TIGER. The Bengal cat is a highly trainable large domestic cat with leopard-like spots.

 

Mary

[brucory]

Do you really think this is a tiger, and not just a large cat?

 

I think I should have said leopard, not tiger. Maybe the poster will share more with you if you ask on the roll call where you saw the post. If people get their "knickers in a twist" about a service animal, they probably just need a little more education about it...

 

Are you coming on the cruise to the Panama Canal? We have a very welcoming group with lots of great info...

 

:D:D:D

[LAFFNVEGAS]

OK so I just sit down to look at the computer and my cat Joey who loves me jumps on my lap and is purring loudly and the first thread I look at is this :D Trust me he would love to be a Service animal for me ;) And in all honesty I could see him being far easier to take on board rather than a dog :)

[English_in_Spain]

I don't see how this is a 'servce' animal when the person states

"I'm not blind, or deaf, and I don't have him for mobility issues (or emotional support)"

What is the 'service' this cat supplies then?

[heathriel]

There are *many* type of service animals out there (horses, monkeys, dogs, cats, ferrets, etc), and *many* type of disabilities.

 

1. Not all cats are trainable - it needs to be a special breed (Bengal, Savannah, etc)

2. As a service animal, they need to be trained to perform their assistance tasks in the proper situation, as well as some other basic things (walk on a leash, learn some verbal commands, etc.) Basically, they have to go through obedience training.

3. A by-product of being this breed of cat is that they don't have fur (but hair), and thus have no dander, therefore are hypoallergenic. Anyone who is allergic to them is is allergic to something other than animal dander, and I haven't seen that.

 

As much as my DH wanted a dog, we just don't have the space for one, nor do our living arrangements allow us to have one. A cat we can take care of, since it takes care of itself. So, we have a cat.

 

http://www.invisibledisabilities.org/serviceanimals.htm

[heathriel]

I guess I am just incredulous, that posters would get their knickers in a twist over so many things and yet no one has questioned this!!!!! I agree the poster on the roll call board seems very intelligent and helpful HOWEVER, many, many people are severely allergic to cats and I do not think would appreciate dining with one.

 

Yeah - DH and I are kind of upset that HAL is making us bring him *everywhere* on the ship with us. We're kind of hoping that we can work something out so we can avoid bringing him into the MDR. It's really not fair to the other guests, and I'm certain the Maitre'D doesn't want him in the dining room if he can avoid it.

 

I mean, the lounge, the pool, the casino, even the Lido, whatever, but please let us keep him out of the MDR. He's a trained animal. He's not going to freak out if we leave him alone in our cabin for 20 minutes to go eat.

 

DH says that if it comes to it, we'll just eat dinner in the room (which he doesn't have a problem with, since he can order 5 entrees if he feels like and no one will say a word) and then wander out for pictures, etc, the show, etc.

 

Oh other cruise lines, you can leave them crated (which the cat won't like either) if you have to leave them alone. Or you can find someone to babysit them.

 

But anyway, that's a rant that has nothing to do with this thread. Point is - he's a valid service animal, not a pet, and he's trained, and wherever we go with him he does much for service animal awareness and Bengal relations. People always want to pet him, and he generally obliges.

[SandyMc]

The owner of this cat has stated in another post that it is a "wake" service animal. I assume that means it watches her sleep and knows when she gets in trouble. It sounds wonderful to me! Our cat is certainly more interested in us when we are sleeping than our dogs and I am sure this particular cat is very well trained as to what to alert to.

I have no doubt traveling with a cat will be as easy or easier than traveling with a dog - so why should this be a big deal??

[Cruiz'nBaers]

I'm curious. Just what service does this animal provide?

[IRL_Joanie]

Yeah - DH and I are kind of upset that HAL is making us bring him *everywhere* on the ship with us. We're kind of hoping that we can work something out so we can avoid bringing him into the MDR. It's really not fair to the other guests, and I'm certain the Maitre'D doesn't want him in the dining room if he can avoid it.

 

I mean, the lounge, the pool, the casino, even the Lido, whatever, but please let us keep him out of the MDR. He's a trained animal. He's not going to freak out if we leave him alone in our cabin for 20 minutes to go eat.

 

DH says that if it comes to it, we'll just eat dinner in the room (which he doesn't have a problem with, since he can order 5 entrees if he feels like and no one will say a word) and then wander out for pictures, etc, the show, etc.

 

Oh other cruise lines, you can leave them crated (which the cat won't like either) if you have to leave them alone. Or you can find someone to babysit them.

 

But anyway, that's a rant that has nothing to do with this thread. Point is - he's a valid service animal, not a pet, and he's trained, and wherever we go with him he does much for service animal awareness and Bengal relations. People always want to pet him, and he generally obliges.

 

 

heathriel, if you are on the Westerdam 7-21 February, I WILL Cat sit him for you while you eat in the MDR!! And my hubby is allergic to animals, cats, dogs, horses, etc. BUT he is willing to suffer if it means you and your hubby can enjoy your cruise to the fullest!!

 

Joanie

[IRL_Joanie]

I'm curious. Just what service does this animal provide?

 

If I read correctly' date=' the Cat alerts to Sleep Apnea, a deadly disorder that causes a person to literally die as they sleep due to the person stopping breathing for periods of time as they sleep. A Sleep Apnea service animal alerts to the length of time a person stops breathing as the human sleeps.

 

[/b']Sleep apnea is a common disorder in which you have one or more pauses in breathing or shallow breaths while you sleep.

Breathing pauses can last from a few seconds to minutes. They often occur 5 to 30 times or more an hour. Typically, normal breathing then starts again, sometimes with a loud snort or choking sound.

Joanie

[Parrot57]

To the poster you said the service cat alerts to sleep apnea. Yes, sleep apnea is serious but a lot of people have it, myself and DH included. We use a cpap mask which is easily brought and used anywhere. Most machines even have an alarm which will alert if the power fails or pressure drops.

[coffeeclutch1]

I truly love cats, and I am very interested in the logistics of your taking your cat on board. Please keep us updated on how it goes, and passenger reaction. Pictures would be good. Bon Voyage have a good trip.

[Cruising-along]

To the poster you said the service cat alerts to sleep apnea. Yes, sleep apnea is serious but a lot of people have it, myself and DH included. We use a cpap mask which is easily brought and used anywhere. Most machines even have an alarm which will alert if the power fails or pressure drops.

 

My thoughts too....DH uses a cpap machine at home and when we travel. Just thinking this would be easier than bringing a large cat. I must add that I'm a cat lover to the nth degree and if I saw your service cat on a cruise I'd be the first to run over and ask to pet him/her! :)

[rangeley]

Heather, We too are curious of what the cat does for you. Did I read correctly that the cat "wakes you up"? We have a service dog that will be going on his first cruise and we also have to take him everywhere. You are not allowed to leave any animal in the room alone.

[whogo]

 

http://www.invisibledisabilities.org/serviceanimals.htm

This link could be used by unscrupulous pet lovers as a how to guide for taking your pet anywhere. Just say that little Fluffy is a service animal! A vest saying so would help, but is not required. Quote a few passages from the Americans with Disabilities Act. Watch restaurant owners, store owners, and taxi cab drivers wilt at the thought of fines and lawsuits if they try to restrict little Fluffy.

 

Now is the time to start lobbying to get the cost of unlicensed service animals covered by new health care legislation. Kitty litter, cat food, and veterinary visits should be paid for by a government that cares about your emotional well being.

[fann1sh]

I have a friend who runs a kennel. She's taught me service animal protocols. I'm glad Heathriel's Bengal responds well to attention, but many people don't understand a service animal - at least, while they are working - isn't a pet.

 

I also know CPAP machines aren't for everyone, for a variety of reasons.

[debsjc]

Heathriel

 

I think your cat sounds amazing, it's fantastic to hear about animals providing such valuable help. I wish I was on your cruise so we could meet him. Would love to see a photo of him if you didn't mind posting one. :)

[heathriel]

It's not sleep apnea, but it's along those lines. A CPAP would not do me any good.

 

And in general, day to day life, he does not need to accompany me everywhere. Therefore, I don't run into the issue of bringing him into taxis, restaurants, stores, etc. It's just a problem on HAL, but it's cool, we'll roll with it. He's leash trained, well-behaved and good with people. And when he's working, he does not let anyone touch him. He'll give a little "sputter" noise (it's not a growl, just a... my husband filmed it. It's a "sputter".) However, I'm in bed at that time, so no one else he comes in contact with has to worry about hearing his sputter (except my husband, or visiting members of family.)

 

There are people who have mental disorders who require ESAs, prescribed by their physicians, and those are the ones you are more likely to run into in daily life. There are cats that are being trained to "be pet" by people with OCD (this sounds very strange, but just ask a cat owner if *their* cat will sit there and let you pet them FOREVER - these cats do), and birds being trained to accept treats (for PTSD, OCD), as a type of behavior modification treatment.

 

So, the guy who is sitting next to you on the bus, with a cockatoo on his shoulder, who keeps feeding him a treat every 15 seconds, exactly, that bird may be the only way he's able to get out of bed in the morning.

 

Should the government be paying for service animals? I don't think they are right now. I mean, there are *some* tax credits, very little, for specific things, but there's no health plan that pays for them right now, so why on earth would a government healthcare plan would pay for them? Although, it may be less expensive to procure, train and maintain dogs than to buy a CPAP. A *Savannah cat* can cost $3000 (usually more), and then you need to train them, so you're pretty much a wash there. (Note: I do not have a Savannah cat, but you're *very* limited in cat breeds if you want to train one.)

 

It's relatively obvious when you meet one if it is someone trying to pass off a housepet or if it is a real, intelligent, trained animal. Even if you have prejudices and misconceptions about the disease in question that the animal is there for, the animals are in a class by themselves.

[heathriel]

You are not allowed to leave any animal in the room alone.

 

Yeah, I know - we're not planning on it. We just think it's a silly requirement.

 

I mean, I understand when we're at ports, you have to take them with you because - well - what if you don't make it back to the ship?

 

But it will make a lot of people upset to see him in the dining room - staff included - I'm sure. If he doesn't need to be there, why force him?

[momofmeg]

I think I should have said leopard, not tiger. Maybe the poster will share more with you if you ask on the roll call where you saw the post. If people get their "knickers in a twist" about a service animal, they probably just need a little more education about it...

 

Are you coming on the cruise to the Panama Canal? We have a very welcoming group with lots of great info...

 

:D:D:D

 

I agree. I know my friend's daughter has a service dog, a beautiful golden retriever-this dog is trained to go to the girl's parents to alert them, or to catch their attention if she starts choking-she has a rare condition where she can choke easily-even in her sleep-the poor girl had cancer at the back of her throat when she was only 9 years old,(nothing to do with smoking obviously, at that age) and the surgery she had to remove the cancer left her with this condition. The parents have been trained on what to do for her. She has almost died MANY times. That dog has saved her more than once by alerting them.

 

My thinking is, if a person has allergies to animal dander, then perhaps they should be kind and ask to be moved to another part of the dinning room.