Feeling anxious? This kitty cat has you covered.
San Francisco International Airport has ‘hired’ a cat to help nervous flyers.
Duke Ellington Morrishas his own Instagram account and can be spotted around the airport.
The14-year-old moggy is part of the airport’s ‘Wag Brigade’, which is made up of other animals who can soothe those who struggle with flying.
‘Purrlease welcome our newest Wag Brigade member, Duke Ellington Morris!’ the airport announced on Twitter.
The fur friends programme launched in 2013, using specially trained animals to help calm people.
The team used to just be made up of dogs, but now there’s Duke, Alex the rabbit and LilLou the pig.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CsWb891JKW9/
All animals are certified by San Francisco’s SPCA and have done an Animal Assisted Therapy (ATT) Program.
The cuties are picked based on their temperament and behaviour.
Duke was already a support animal, making him ideal for the role.
Poor Duke has come a long way, as he was first found in 2010 starving and ill in a feral cat colony.
As a kitten he spent a short time at SPCA (similar to the UK’s RSPCA) and then he was adopted by a mum and her young daughter.
They had him certified as an animal therapist after noticing his talents for soothing people.
Since then, he has helped people going through illness and anxiety.
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