Volunteers' Week 2025: Josie's story

Volunteers’ Week 2025: Josie’s story

It's Volunteers' Week and we're now shining a light on our volunteers who visit with PAT Cats.

Benjen is an adorable Maine coon, who makes regular PAT visits with his owner Josie Gordon.

Tell us more about your volunteering role with PAT
I've been a PAT Volunteer for about seven years, initially with my dog Woody and my two cats Allie and Benjen. I sadly lost Allie a couple of years ago, but recently registered two more cats – Whisky and Cubby – all Maine coons. I take Woody into Northampton General Hospital, and he's previously visited schools and care homes. The cats visit CAMHS wards at a mental health hospital. Allie and Benjen have also visited care homes. Visiting with dogs and cats is quite different. Taking Woody into the hospital is quite high energy and joyful, while the cats seem to bring more a feeling of calm on the wards we visit. I think both are really important aspects of PAT visits.

Share more about all your PAT Pets
Benjen, Whisky and Cubby are all Maine coons that I've bred. They're very chilled, but have quite different personalities. Benjen always seems to know which young person 'needs' the most comfort on our visits, he's a very steady 11-year-old cat. Cubby is more playful – he's got a very loud snorting-purr that the young people seem to really like. He's six years old. Whisky, aged four, is the baby of the group. He likes to go and sit on knees and snuggle. Woody is my 12-year-old Tamaskan – he's very much a clown-dog. He will woo-woo and demand attention from the staff, but is very calm and gentle with the patients and their families.

What does volunteering with PAT mean to you?
Pets As Therapy is an amazing charity. Dogs and cats bring such joy and comfort to people, whatever the setting. I've seen non-verbal young people speak for the first time when they meet a PAT Cat, and stroke patients, who struggle with physiotherapy, use their hands to stroke a PAT Dog. For those in a residential setting, seeing a PAT Cat or PAT Dog can be the first animal they've met since they left their own pets at home. Having a cuddle can help them miss their own pet a little less.

Would you recommend volunteering to others?
Yes. It's incredibly rewarding for both me and my animals – I get to show off my pets, and they get an hour of undivided attention. As an added bonus, we make someone's day a bit brighter. I became a PAT Volunteer because I saw the difference that it made to my step-dad when Woody visited him when he was ill and in a stroke re-hab centre, so I know first-hand how important it is. I'd really encourage anyone who's thinking of volunteering to go ahead and do it!

We are always looking to recruit more volunteers.

You can find more info here

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