Nothing but Trouble for the UP Home

   For many years, the residents of the United Presbyterian Home in Washington have enjoyed the company of a feline friend, but few have been as sociable as the one they have now. ?Trouble? is the name of the cat that calls the UP Home his stomping grounds. He has lived at the home for a year, where he has been received with open arms.

    ?Everybody loves him here,? said Herbert Bunk, a resident of the home. ?He comes to visit me about every other day.?

    Prior to making the move to the home, Trouble lived with Cecilia Fenton, who now resides at the home. Fenton said she adopted Trouble from a farmer about 13 years ago. Last year, Fenton decided to share Trouble with the UP Home, which now takes care of his room and board.

    UP Home Activities Director Carol Enfield said that the home has kept a ?therapy cat? for the past 25 years. She said Trouble is now the fourth cat to live at the home and also one of the best liked.

    Elizabeth Tschantz, Enfield?s assistant, said that Trouble fulfills his role as a therapy cat very well, which is to relax the residents.

    ?He?s a lovable cat,? said Tschantz. ?Luckily, he doesn?t mind being petted. He looks very healthy, so we think he will be around for a while.? 

    Fenton remarked, ?This cat goes out and visits everybody. The previous cats just slept all day.?

    Oftentimes, Fenton puts Trouble on her walker and wheels him around from room to room, brightening the day of the people he sees. Trouble does little more than swing his tail from side to side while Fenton takes him on a tour of the building.

For the full story, see the Oct. 16 edition of The Washington Evening Journal