Stray cat in Ohio ventures into nursing home and is given a job
One day a stray cat hanging around outside of an Ohio nursing home decided that being an outdoor kitty wasn’t as good as being an indoor kitty. That’s when Oreo, a black and white beauty, decided to venture inside and apply for a job.
Patients once in seclusion now come out to visit Oreo (photo St. Augustine)
“Oreo” is the newest addition to the staff at the St. Augustine Health Ministries in Cleveland. Here she performs duties such as warming up wheelchair seats, sitting behind the reception desk after hours, and comforting residents and staff at the nursing home.
She’s been such a big hit that some of the staff even carry around photos of her to show their friends. And the residents….they’re so happy to have a cat inside the facility. Many of the patients had cats they had to leave behind, and spend a lot of time with Oreo.
Dana Carns, director of advancement, stated in an interview with Cleveland.com
“Most of the people we serve here had pets… so to have Oreo here, for them to be able to come out and pet the cat and see how the cat is doing… it brings a lot of laughter, smiles, those feelings of home.”
Residents who once stayed secluded in their rooms now venture out to talk to Oreo. To thank her for her service, the folks at St. Augustine Health Ministries have given Oreo a forever home.
Oreo even greets after hours visitors and staff (photo St. Augustine)
This isn’t the first story of cats comforting nursing home patients in Ohio. Click here for a previous PoC article.
Elisa