Meet Ferris, South Portland’s literary-minded therapy cat
Amy Martel and her registered therapy cat, Ferris, at the South Portland library. (Dana Richie/Staff Writer)
Eight-year-old Isabel nestled into the black bean bag chair and cracked open “The Runt Pig.”
“Maybe there’s a cat story,” she said to Ferris, her reading companion.
The 9-year-old registered therapy cat is about 13.5 pounds (a pound or so larger than he should be, according to Amy Martel, his human mom), and he contorted his body into a loaf at the opening of his cat-sized travel backpack, parked on the striped carpet in the basement of the South Portland Public Library.
Ferris the therapy cat listens as a young library visitor reads out loud to him at the South Portland Public Library. (Courtesy of Amy Martel)
Isabel, who rocked sparkly, light-up high tops and a pink butterfly bow to match her floral dress, paused between sentences to give Ferris a pat on his back, a scratch behind his ears or a brush of his soft, gray fur. He blinked affection and relaxed his ears as he listened to the story.
“What do you think, Ferris?” she asked him. He started purring quietly and then louder, like a sputtering engine.
Isabel grinned through gaps of missing teeth. “I think he loves stories,” she said.
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Ferris has been helping young readers at the library for nearly two years, listening to them read aloud as they build their confidence. Children who are shy about reading get extra excited to see Ferris, said Jess Milton, a youth services librarian.
“I think anyone would feel more comfortable reading to an animal than to another human,” Milton said. She was inspired by other libraries that host events with service animals.
Though he’s not a lap cat, Ferris is mellower than his movie character namesake, Martel said.
“He’s a sweet boy,” Martel said, and he’s calm in the face of the kids’ sometimes excessive energy, or what Martel calls “forced affection.”
At each hour-long session, four children get to spend 15 minutes reading to — and petting — Ferris. “You can pretty much touch him anywhere, and he won’t hiss, growl or scratch,” Martel said.
Ferris spends time at the library at least once a month. Sometimes he goes twice a week, so more young readers can read to him, Martel said. Isabel is a regular, signing up for a Ferris session just about every time.
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Ferris as a kitten. (Courtesy of Amy Martel)
He’s also been volunteering with Hospice of Southern Maine for seven years, calming patients with his gentleness, Martel said.
“I didn’t know how popular it would be to have a cat,” Martel said. All of the patients love him.
He has the perfect attitude for it, Martel said. “He’s amenable to lots of pets and scratches.” Ramen Noodles, Martel’s other cat, is too twitchy to be a therapy cat.
At the end of her session, Isabel lured Ferris out of his carrier with a path of treats. She wrapped her arms around him. He blinked, unbothered.
“He knows you,” Martel said. “He feels comfortable with you.” Isabel beamed.
She has a dog, Pickles, and a fish, Juliana Bubbles, at home. She sometimes reads to the fish, but Pickles isn’t the best at listening, she said. At least, not like Ferris.
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Tagged: cats, library programs, south portland public library
Dana Richie is a community reporter covering South Portland and Cape Elizabeth. Originally from Atlanta, she fell in love with the landscape and quirks of coastal New England while completing her undergraduate. More by Dana Richie
