Denver International Airport Introduces First Therapy Cat – Xeli
The Canine Airport Therapy Squad (CATS) at Denver International Airport has just introduced Xeli (zell-ee), DEN's very first therapy feline!
Xeli is a 12 pound, 5-year-old, female domestic short hair cat.. She is a registered therapy cat from Denver, and loves meeting new people. Like all CATS team members, Xeli and her handler, Nathan, are volunteers. Xeli will visit passengers in the terminal and on the concourses beginning October 13.
All CATS teams work a minimum of 10 hours per quarter. While the dates of visits are flexible, CATS and their handlers average three visits each month and walk the concourses delighting and comforting passengers. Each of the CATS has his or her own trading card that includes interesting facts about them, including their “pet peeves.” Xeli's pet peeves include brushing her teeth, while her favorite place is perched atop her cat tree.
The DEN CATS program has more than 79 dogs representing 39 breeds, and now, one domestic short hair cat. The therapy dogs can be found wearing easily recognizable, blue plaid apparel custom designed by Spyder Active Sports Inc.
This YouTube video from the Denver Post shows DIA's first therapy cat, Xeli.