Are you a cat lover? You know, the first person all of your friends think of when they want to share the latest cute kitten video? While cute cat pics melt your heart, the plight of cats who end up in shelters bothers you, too. You are aware that many of them don’t usually make it out. You might even have thought you would do something about this problem if you knew what and how. If this is you, we want to chat! Paws and Claws Cat Rescue might become your newest hangout spot where you also make a significant impact. Right now, we are looking for people to join our tight-knit community of volunteers. The beautiful side benefit? Being a volunteer and working with animals can provide anxiety therapy. Let’s look at how doing good for the cat community can also bring good outcomes to your mental health.
Come Join Us: What Being a Volunteer Can Do for You
Do you know what the research suggests about volunteering? The Mayo Clinic cites many benefits. First, you can improve your mental and physical health. Next, you’ll most likely feel your sense of purpose boosted. Score! Then, you’ll nurture new relationships. This beautiful truth remains: you may start out wanting to improve the lives of our cat community, but you end up gaining better health, purpose, and friendships in the process!
Focus on the Mental and Physical Health Benefits of Volunteering
Stressful day at work? Does anxiety feel like a knot tightening in your chest or stomach? Giving your time, energy, and skills as you volunteer can boost the release of your feel-good hormones. Susan Albers, Psy. D. from the Cleveland Clinic expresses it like this: “[Volunteering] has been shown to decrease stress levels, depression, anxiety and boost your overall health and satisfaction with life.”
Dr. Albers describes how helping others trips the reward centers in your brain, releasing serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins. As your body emits these anxiety-busting hormones, feelings of relaxation and peace evict your stress.
Members of the Paws and Claws Cat Crew agree with what the research says. Volunteer Ruthie S. shares, “Coming down to the shelter to help out adorable cats and experience camaraderie with other volunteers never fails to lift my spirits!” Peter, another member of the Cat Crew, adds, “Absolutely a stress reliever! And it brings me happiness to see the cats progress.”
The lowered stress levels that volunteering produces also reduce the risks of physical issues. Those who volunteer are at a lower risk of stroke, heart disease, and general illness. Even your mortality rate gets a knockdown with the power of sharing your time, presence, and skills as a volunteer.
Despite these life-giving benefits, our volunteers cite being part of a community as the most significant motivator to serve at Paws and Claws.
Felines are Fun, but It’s About the Human Connection, Too!
Camaraderie. Another built-in plus to volunteering is the sense of community you’ll develop.
Many of our volunteers say the new circle of friends they’ve met keeps them coming back. One volunteer, Ludovica, says the people they’ve met are what they enjoy most about being at Paws and Claws. Emily O., another member of the Cat Crew, shares: “Aside from the kitties, of course, I love the community that Ashlynn, Sean, and everyone at P&C have worked very hard to create!” Ruthie says she’s “gained a whole new community!”
The sense of shared purpose binds people together. Even if you’re folding laundry or mopping floors as a volunteer, you know that everything you contribute helps improve the lives of vulnerable cats. Every part of your work joins you with the people who share your mission. That’s where the power of purpose lies.
Research indicates that having a deeper purpose in life was closely linked to lower levels of depression and anxiety. Studies have also found that “your body releases endorphins during positive social contact, similar to the physical response after a hard workout, which increases happiness while reducing stress.”
Once again, your mental health gets a bump up from having a definite purpose and spending time connecting with others.
Volunteering as Anxiety Therapy
So far, you have seen how your time at Paws and Claws could impact your well-being. But it gets better: volunteering with animals offers a bonus.
Catherine Boyce, Ph.D., director and founder of Evanston Counseling, explains:
"In my practice as a therapist and in life, I've always been amazed by the healing power of the human-animal connection. It is the best source of anxiety therapy out there. We always recommend to our clients who are suffering from anxiety or depression to get an emotional support animal. We also suggest that our therapy clients get more involved in the community and spend time with others. Volunteering at an animal rescue allows people to experience the best of both worlds! People and animals. Plus, you are helping needy animals; that feels good, too. Research shows that the happiest among us are those who feel they are helping others."
How You Can Help
By now, you might be thinking,” Ok. I’m ready. Sign me up!” Yet, you might also be wondering how you can help and what you’ll do. We’ve got you covered. Here are the deets.
The bulk of our volunteers take on Cat Crew duties. You might:
Play with and help foster confidence in cats
Assist with socialization and easing stress
Clean free-roaming cat rooms and cages
Change food and water dishes
Help with dishes and laundry
Perhaps you don’t mind helping our feline friends when it’s time for a vet visit. Some volunteers serve on the Kitten Transport team, taking the kittens to and from our location to get care. We’ll provide you with the kittens and their carriers. And maybe earplugs?
Maybe you’d like to help Paws and Claws by sharing your professional skills. Are you a wizard with words? We need someone to write our adoption bios. Do you love the mayhem of a kid’s birthday party? Jump right in and help us lead kitten parties!
Go ahead, pounce on this opportunity!
Check out all of our volunteer opportunities here.
Take a few moments today and complete the quick volunteer form.
Our volunteer, Peter, says you’ll love seeing the transformation as cats progress from the intake room to the adoptable room. Ludovica assures you that you won’t regret diving in.
We’ll be forever grateful for all that you do. You’ll get the best anxiety therapy in town!