Sharon Kaye (2023)
20 years ago Sharon Kaye adopted her first ever Birman cat, a cat known for being particularly sweet natured and affectionate, but unknown to her, this cat would be the start of a long lineage of cats that would go on to be a highlight of the Royal Easter Show for children with disabilities.
When Sharon went to get her cat de-sexed she was told not to because “she was born without the protein in the saliva that makes you allergic to cats.”, which is particularly rare in cats, and with 1 in 5 people allergic to cats, that’s a pretty big deal. She soon realised this wasn’t the only special thing about the cat, “she was so calm and didn’t react to machines, vacuum cleaners, or to anything!”
Soon her cat had kittens, which she brought to her friend’s children with autism, and they responded really well. “Most of the time, people will shy away from petting the animals because they think it might scratch them or something. Whereas these cats just jumped up on them!”
Sharon Kaye (2025)
Noticing this success Sharon was on a mission, “I started breeding them specifically and advertising that I have cats that I could train to help if you have children with autistic or on the spectrum or disabilities.” She still keeps in contact with many of the families who have bought her kittens to this day.
It’s not just in the genes though, as there is also training that goes into keeping these little companions extra comfortable.
“You’ve got to train them from about three weeks of age…I get a whole lot of two-year-olds to come and play with the kittens, so the kittens become quite desensitized to noise”
Sharon Kaye (2025)
For families who can’t always partake in this kind of activity it is a really special moment “I’m sure the kids are excited, but oh my God, the expressions on the mother’s faces are beyond, and it makes me cry.”
This year Sharon will be bringing back 3 of her cats, named “Capi Shan, Kachin and Penelope”, they will be located in a wheelchair accessible corner of the small animal pavilion at the Royal Easter Show on Easter Monday, the 6th of March. “Bring your kids along, no disabilities too hard or anything. And even if the kids have a meltdown, it doesn’t matter, the cats don’t care!”
Sharon Kaye (2024)
