Cats, like humans, are sensitive to touch and some are fond of massage. So there are techniques that can only be used if your cat is close enough to you that you can handle it easily.
index:
Why should you massage your cat?
How do you prepare for a massage?
Some areas you can massage
Why should you massage your cat?
Massage can be done for various reasons:
- Share time with your cat, a moment of tenderness and complicity
- Relax your cat, this relaxing moment is valid for both parties
- Treatment After certain surgeries, your vet may ask you to massage a specific area.
How do you prepare for a massage?
There are courses for learning how to massage your cat, but you can start without taking any of them. Cats that are accustomed to being petted and handled are the best candidates for a massage. Listen to your cat, there may be areas that the cat does not like – under the abdomen, lower back… – that do not insist and stay in places that give him strength and pleasure.
Start by finding a peaceful area where your cat is at ease. There’s no need to place it on a table because both you and it should look beautiful (the sofa looks perfect then). There are no restrictions on how he can sit or lie next to you; what matters is that both you and your cat feel at ease.
Don’t try to massage your cat in a situation where he is uncomfortable or even tense: a visit to the vet, or a car trip…wait for him to come home and come to his senses.
To calm your cat before a massage session, you can use a calming essential oil or pheromone products – ask your vet for advice.
Some areas you can massage:
- Head: the top of the skull, the circumference of the ears, the obturator (the fracture between the forehead and the nose), the forehead, and the cheeks.
- Neck: From the bottom of the throat to the back of the neck.
- Back: From the shoulders to the lower back, gently descending to the sides.
In cats, they can feel affected by their privacy. In this case, do not insist.
Massage should resemble more intense foreplay than usual, but under no circumstances should you “feel” the skin. The cat is very sensitive and this pressure can be felt to be painful.
For your cat to enjoy a massage, you must get used to it from a young age. Some kittens love it right away, so take the time you need, minute by minute; No need to practice every day, just when you and your cat are in a calm and relaxed position.
If your cat enjoys being massaged, you will have to be satisfied with the usual caresses and hugs which are already a common pleasure!