[Notes:YACOLT, WASHINGTON. SOURCE: AP](NATS)2:05 it's all right. It's all right.PRINCESS NATALIE GETS A FEW WORDS OF ENCOURAGEMENT. SHE'S NERVOUS WITH AN UNFAMILIAR PHOTOGRAPHER IN THE ROOM. BUT HER RELATIVELY CALM DEMEANOR IS A FAR CRY FROM WHAT SHE WAS LIKE WHEN SHE FIRST CAME INTO THE CARE OF JOEY CONTRERAS. (SOT: JOEY CONTRERAS/INMATE)1:38 she was spraying a lot and she was scratching and biting and just having all these behavioral issues. She was going to be left with no choice but to take her to the pound because nobody was wanting to adopt her.CONTRERAS IS AN INMATE AT THE LARCH CORRECTIONAL FACILITY IN YACOLT, WASHINGTON. HE'S ALSO PART OF A PROGRAM PAIRING TROUBLED CATS AND PRISONERS. (SOT: JOEY CONTRERAS/INMATE)2:30 it's trial and error really. You gotta figure out what works best for that cat and you. CONTRERA'S CELLMATE RICHARD AMARO ALSO PASSED A SCREENING PROCESS TO PARTICIPATE IN WHAT'S CALLED "CUDDLY CATZ."(SOT: Richard Amaro/INMATE)52 we're giving them a second chance. We'll give them a second chance at life and we believe by them coming here we're helping them out, doing everything we can for them. And taking care of them. AMARO ACKNOWLEDGES THAT WHILE THE CATS ARE BEING SAVED FROM POSSIBLE DEATH, HE AND THE OTHER PRISONERS ALSO GET REWARDS FROM CARING FOR THE FELINES.(SOT: RICHARD AMARO/INMATE)1:35 i'm here for theft. Multiple counts of theft. And I messed up. First time i've been in prison. My last time. I'm doing something now, i'm giving back. Helping somebody else out. Instead of just getting myself right, i'm also helping out animals so they can get a home too. 1:54. Mo(SOT: MONIQUE CAMACHO/PRISON COUNSELOR)1:02 they learn how to take care of somebody other than themselves. In prison, they tend to just think of themselves and now they have to look out, care for and have responsibility for somebody else. (SOT: Superintendent: Eleanor Vernell)5:49. If they get an infraction, then their cat is taken away so that's another incentive for them to stay out of trouble, 5:56 so this is new but as we expand then we'll have more data to just figure out how well it's working. THE PRISON HOPES TO ADD FOUR MORE CATS TO THE PROGRAM.MATT FRIEDMAN. ASSOCIATED PRESS.(****END****) ANCHOR VOICE: -------------------------VIDEO PRODUCER: matt friedman---------------------------VIDEO SOURCE: ap-----------------------VIDEO APPROVAL: ----------------------------VIDEO RESTRICTIONS: ----------------------------------MARKET EMBARGO (S): --------------------------------SCRIPT/WIRE SOURCE: