Riverview’s St. Joseph’s Hospital-South has a new addition to its pet therapy program, but it’s not what you might think. Meet Bentley, a 13-year-old chinchilla Persian male cat. Bentley provides pet therapy to patients, patients’ loved ones, visitors, medical staff, team members and others.
According to research from the UC (University of California) Davis School of Veterinary Medicine, 94 percent of therapy animals are dogs with the remainder as cats and other animals.
Riverview’s Kathy Hofstad, Bentley’s handler and owner and a St. Joseph’s Hospital-South pet therapy volunteer, rescued Bentley eight years ago and had him certified in pet therapy in the fall of 2024. Hofstad said Bentley has the perfect temperament to be a therapy pet. Unlike most cats, Bentley is comfortable around a lot of people, doesn’t mind noise and is not bothered by an unfamiliar environment.
“He’s a sweet cat, loves attention, loves to get petted, he’s got dog-like qualities,” Hofstad said. “Bentley has a calm, inquisitive disposition. He loves people. He’s just a ‘chill cat,’ and that makes him a very good therapy pet.”
Bentley joins 11 dogs who are also providing pet therapy at St. Joseph’s Hospital-South.
The hospital averages between 1,500-2,100 contacts, or ‘touches,’ monthly between therapy pets and patients, patients’ loved ones, visitors, medical staff, team members and others.
“For patients, pet therapy is a feel-good, a comfort and makes them happy,” said Kim Wallace, St. Joseph’s Hospital-South’s volunteer manager, who oversees the hospital’s pet therapy program.
For St. Joseph’s Hospital-South team members, pet therapy helps if they are having a difficult day or encounter a particularly sad situation at the hospital.
“Pet therapy cheers them up, rejuvenates them and makes the day at least a little bit better than it was,” Wallace said. “Pet therapy gives them a brief, nice respite and some relaxation, making them feel better about what they’re doing. They can go back to caring for patients stronger than they were before.”
“For patients, visitors and team members, our therapy pets are just a joy to be around,” Wallace said.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is part of BayCare, the region’s largest academic health system. And that means no matter where you go in Tampa Bay and across West Central Florida, you have access to personalized, world-class health care close to home. Your health care records are available across BayCare, your care teams work together and managing your health is easier.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is a full-service hospital offering outpatient services, intensive care, a 24-bed maternity unit, imaging, a lab, surgical services and more in a relaxing, family-centered environment. Located in Riverview, just south of Tampa, this innovative facility is designed to make patients and visitors as comfortable as possible during their hospital experience. It also offers a variety of amenities for patients and visitors, from wireless internet access and flat-screen TVs in waiting rooms to its famous Waterside Café, open to the Riverview community.
St. Joseph’s Hospital-South is located at 6901 Simmons Loop in Riverview. For information, visit https://baycare.org/.
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