Although cats have the undeserved fame of being little affectionate animals, the truth is that the vast majority of our feline companions will greatly enjoy the massages that we can dedicate to them. Especially if we want to improve our bond with him, the practice of massages is especially recommended.
In this article on our site, to achieve the best results, we are going to explain how to give a cat a massage so that they relax in a full step by step. We will see the benefits that this practice can bring us, as well as the precautions that we have to adopt and some additional information about massages for cats.
Do cats like petting?
Before explaining how to give a cat a relaxing massage correctly, we must be clear that the vast majority of cats like and enjoy caressesthat we humans provide. Cats are animals that we have domesticated and this has allowed them, even as adults, to maintain childish characteristics. For them, their human caregivers, we are like their mothers and that is why they request us and willingly accept our cuddles
If we observe our cat carefully we will realize that, when it rubs against our body, it always follows the same pattern, starting with the face and head and ending with the body and tail. This behavior is explained because they are their favorite areas to receive our contact due to the presence of pheromones that produce a relaxing effect on them. This pattern that they follow will give us the necessary clues so that we perform the massage correctly, as we will see.
The benefits of massage for cats
Giving a massage provides benefits to those who receive it, but also to those who perform it. A well-done massage is a moment of well-being and relaxation and works as a tool to combat stress, which will be beneficial for all cats and, especially, for those most vulnerable due to age or illness.
In addition, the relationship between caretaker and cat will be reinforced by adequate physical contact. Massage can become a practice, pleasant for both, which will establish, maintain and enlarge the bond between humans and cats. For humans, petting a cat means, at least and according to studies, a drop in blood pressure, which contributes to he alth maintenance but, In addition, the success of therapies implanted in hospitals, centers for the elderly or schools in which physical contact between animals and humans is encouraged is well known.
Another beneficial effect of massage is that it allows us to control our cat's body so that, with practice, we will be able to detect any dermatological problem in the initial stages., such as alopecia, wounds or the presence of parasites or, also, the growth of a lump. With this we will achieve early veterinary attention that, without a doubt, will favor the diagnosis and treatment of any condition, resulting in benefits for our cat.
In the next section we will deal with how to give our cat a relaxing massage.
How to give a cat a relaxing massage?
If we remember how our cat seeks contact with us, we will observe that the crucial areas for caresses are going to be the face, the head, the neck, the back and the tail, following the order in which he himself greets us.
Thus, to explain how to give our cat a relaxing massage, we will continue its pattern with the following recommendations:
- We will wait for the cat to approach us to start the session.
- It is essential that we are in a moment in which we have time to dedicate to it and we are calm. Stress, haste or nervousness on our part will be perceived by the cat, so it is possible that he prefers to move away
- We must settle in a place that is comfortable for both of us
- The contact must begin orally, that is, we will address our cat speaking calmly and affectionately, so that he knows that we are interacting with him and that we are going to touch him.
- Once we have established contact we can start caressing the sides of its face, an area in which it will release appeasing pheromones that will increase your well being. For these caresses we can use our extended fingers or even just the tips, exerting light pressure.
- If our cat refuses contact we must stop immediately and leave the massage for another time. Never, ever, we should force him as it would be counterproductive and our relationship with him would suffer. Respect is essential. Also, our movements always have to be smooth.
- Behind the face we can pass our hand over the head, focusing on the area behind the ears and the chin. We can also draw small circles with the tips of our fingers.
- On the neck we can carry out the movements that we have already described and add, in addition, the "kneading" on the sides, carefully always not to put pressure on the trachea, as it could be annoying.
- With an open hand, we will pass it along the back, from the head to the beginning of the tail, making repeated passes. It is possible to do this exercise also on the flanks, avoiding coming into contact with the belly, since it is usually an area where the cat does not accept caresses as it is a vulnerable part of its anatomy.
- Finally, we can make passes through the queue, from bottom to top.
The duration of the massage can be as little as 5 to 10 minutes, always adaptable to the wishes of the cat, just like the areas massageable, as these can differ from one cat to another. The important thing is that we observe our cat and get to know him, massage being one of the best ways to relate to him.
Cat's body language during massage
In addition to explaining how to give a cat a relaxing massage, we have to know how to pay attention to the signals that it can emit, since they constitute its non-verbal communicationRemember that knowing cats' body language helps us understand them better and communicate more positively with them.
We will be able to observe the following reactions:
- Purr: this sound so characteristic of cats, as we know, is one of the signals that tell us that they are comfortable, in this case enjoying the massage.
- Drooling: some cats drool in moments of pleasure, so if we see our cat hypersalivating we can be sure that he likes the massage.
- "Kneading": these are the contraction and extension movements that the cat makes with its fingers, just as if it were kneading. It is a memory of the first stage of their life, as it is the gesture that kittens make on their mother's breast to stimulate the release of milk. It is synonymous with well-being.
- Folded ears: if our cat crushes its ears against its head so that they hardly protrude, it is indicating that it is not at ease and even that it is preparing to attack us if we do not stop touching it. Cats can be affectionate but won't accept more than a few petting sessions. We must respect them, pay attention to their first signs of discomfort and, from that moment, suspend the massage.
Of course, any escape principle or attempt to stop contact implies ending the massage.
Deeping into massages…
Now that we know how to give our cat relaxing massages, we can use accessories that we find on the market, such as massage centers, some utensils with different textures specially designed so that it is the cat itself who massages itself.
These massagers serve as entertainment, enrich the environment, especially if you are alone for a long time, while maintaining the massage routine. On the other hand, other techniques such as Reiki, the Tellington method or tapping can help us deepen our contact with our cat.
