Cats are adorable animals commonly pampered as pets in our homes. Like humans, cats also experience stress, muscle pain, anxiety and other types of medical conditions.

A cat massage is a type of therapeutic massage developed for the purpose of soothing the body, relieving muscle pain, boosting the immune system, and enhancing the mood of our furred friend. This type of therapy not only relaxes our pet but also strengthens the bond between the owner and the cat.

Evaluation is done to the animal prior to the therapy as a way of assessing problems such as abnormalities on the skin, muscular and skeletal system. Serious conditions can be traced through swelling which can keep the owner a step ahead for a possible visit to the veterinarian. The owner can also use this as a time to scan for parasites such as ticks, fleas and mites.

Cat massage therapy can help the cat become friendlier and socialized with every gentle touch and massage stroke. The soft touch of the hand during the massage can calm the cat allowing it to loosen up and less anxious about anything.

When massaging your pet cat, make him or her to lie down on your lap or on the table where you can properly conduct your massage strokes. Effleurage is a type of massage stroke that uses long yet gentle continuous strokes which helps in conditioning and relaxing the body. Use this on your cat to help with the preparation of the other strokes. Friction can also be used on your pet. In case your pet becomes bored during the therapy, scratching them on the back, on the cheeks, chest and behind the ears can help you make them comfortable and ready for the next massage stroke.

Start the therapy from the top of the head gradually going down to the tail. When doing this, make sure that you properly control the pressure you apply to avoid confusion on the part of the cat. Our pets may become anxious with just a little inconsistency in the pressure we exert during a cat massage therapy. Repeat the process from the head to the tail for several repetitions while checking again for physical abnormalities such as bumps and swellings. Refrain from applying pressure or massaging those parts as it can worsen those areas instead of recovering.

Circular motions with your fingers can be done on your cat’s body. This technique also helps in calming our pet although this can also be uncomfortable or inviting for other cats. Belly massage can be quite confusing to most cats as the stimulation of their belly is a sign of invitation for playing. In order to complete the belly massage, it is important to have control over the cat and let it know that this is not the time for play. Repeat the process until the cat gets the idea that it is part of the therapeutic massage rather than an invitation for a happy time. In time, our pet can get accustomed to the soothing experience and actually surrender their body for a massage therapy.