Conference misery::feline_v1

909.0. "Become a Cat Masseur/Masseuse!" by BAGELS::ALLEN () Fri Nov 20 1987 13:55

    
    Hi everyone...
    
    I just had the *pleasure* (cough -ahem) of sitting home in bed for
    two days with a nasty cold with no one to care for me but my two
    kitties (who did their best, but they kept spilling the chicken
    soup all over the place).
    
    Anyway, I was watching the Will Shriner show one morning, and he
    did a great show on pets, and how special and important they become
    to people.  Among other fun things (like having Michael Jackson's
    pet monkey on the show - sans Michael, of course). They had an animal
    psychologist on the show who demonstrated how to perform pet massages.
    She demonstrated on a beautiful black cat who went into ecstasy
    he was enjoying it so much.
    
    Now you may wonder, as I did, WHY in the world, would a cat need
    to be helped to relax?  Well, she said that it is especially important
    for older, or arthritic animals that have trouble moving their joints,
    and that studies have shown marked improvement in animals that have
    such afflictions.  She said they can move more comfortably and regain
    some agility and limberness.  She also recommended using the technique
    when the animal is under stress, perhaps when they are at the Vet's
    -a problem I have with my big baby Sebastion.
    
    Anyway, I will explain the procedure (if I can remember it).
    
    First you start by laying the cat down, on its stomach, head up, in a
    relaxed position and stand or sit to one side.  Start by scratching or
    massaging under the chin on both sides so the animal knows you are
    providing a healing, pleasant touching.  She then began to massage the
    jaw area on both sides of the cats head explaining that when an animal
    is tense, this is the area that is most likely affected.  From there,
    she moved to the points directly above the cats eyes, where the
    whiskers grow from.  I guess that is similar to our temples.  When I
    tried this on my male cat, he didn't like it too much at first.  She
    said that it might take a while for the animal to get used to having
    some of the areas massaged, but after a while, it may even come to you to
    ask for it. 
     
    There are several ways to massage the back, she first just gently
    ran her fingers down the cats back, on both sides of his spine a
    few times.  then she showed how you can actually massage the skin
    around the spine either by gently folding the loose skin back in
    sections, or massaging in small circular motion down the spine (the
    cat was SO ecstatic at this point!).
    
    The last thing she did was to massage his paws using pressure from her
    fingers to extend and retract the claws.  She mentioned that it will
    take some cats time to get used to this, because most don't like having
    their paws handled. Cats that are used to having their claws clipped
    will accept it most easily, while it will help cats who won't allow
    their claws to be clipped to get used to having their paws touched and
    relaxed. She also recommended once they become very relaxed to try
    gently manipulating the joints in their paws and legs and massaging
    the shoulders, especially in older and/or arthritic cats.
    
    I tried this, as I said, on both of my critters and they loved most
    of it.  Claude had a hard time sitting still because she usually
    goes berserk when she is petted, and has to stand up and turn around
    and around and purr, and lick my hands rub against me to show her
    appreciation!  I'll have to have a lot of patience to make it work!
    
    Try it a few times, your kitties will love you for it!
    
                                                      
    Amy.
        

    Hi,
    
    I've been doing that to my cats for years and never knew I was actually
    giving them a massage!  It really does work even on my Serena who
    does not like being handled in any way (unless of course you pick
    her up to carry her to her food dish).
    
    Now if I could just get the cats to massage my shoulders without
    using their claws! 
    
    Ande, Sherlock, and Serena

    Thank for sharing this Amy.
    
    My parents cat is at the ripe old age of 17 and very relaxed.  I
    am sure he will love this.  I have massaged him before but didn't
    know about all those other places to do it, especially the back.
    
    Thanks a million for the info
    
    Linda

    My Butterscotch often won't stay put either when I try some massage
    techniques on her, but she loves the attention!
    
    Evening Magazine recently featured a woman who massages both pets
    and farm animals.  You should have seen how excited this one pig
    got at the site of the masseuse!
    
    While massaging Treble Clef at a program I attended last spring,
    Dr. Anita Migday mentioned several benefits of massaging your pet:
    
    o  Massaging helps to build a strong bond of love and trust between
       you and your pet.
    
    o  The massage relaxes *you* as well as your pet!
    
    o  Massaging helps your pet's circulation (which is especially good
       for older and/or arthritic pets, as already mentioned).
    
    o  You come to know your pet's body and thus to be able to identify
       any problems or potential problems.
    
    Yes, wouldn't it be nice if our pets could give us a massage!  I
    guess we'll just have to settle for all the many other rewards their
    companionship gives us.
    
    Cindy
                                                            

    
    
    
    Cleo, Pistachio, Amber and Buster Brown love to be massaged.  I'm
    still working on the grouch Noel.  She can only let me touch her
    for a few minutes before she realizes that she _is_ relaxed and
    not growling.  It's almost like she suddenly realizes she needs
    to be tense and growling to be in control.  Her little psyche got
    messed up when she was living on the streets :-).
    
    Carole