Giving your cat a luxurious massage can make it feel like they are living the high life. Before anyone can become the local expert in top-notch cat massaging techniques, there are just a few things to remember. This essay will provide you with the knowledge necessary to curry favor with your cat.
Why is it vital to massage your cat?
We all agree that getting massages is so enjoyable that justification is unnecessary. But massaging your cat has some genuine advantages as well. It has significant effects on a feline friend's well-being and vigor, so it's not just a pampering session. A cat massage reduces tension and anxiety in cats more effectively than anything else, increases circulation, enhances joint mobility, and encourages low blood pressure. In order to prepare for all those delightful purrs of joy, flex your fingers. We created a quick guide to answer all of your questions about cat massage if you are unsure of where to begin.
3 steps to massaging a cat
Waiting to be contacted is the first step before beginning your cat massage. It's a sign that your cat is at ease enough to enjoy 5–10 minutes of peaceful massage bliss when you observe her rubbing up against you.
Speak to your pet first. Change your voice, sing your cat's favorite song, or make any other noises you know will reassure your cat. The secret is to speak in a soothing, quiet tone. Then, you can employ our Circle, Activate, Tap (CAT) three-step technique.
1 - Circular motion: go in circles.
Start a cat massage by giving your cat a gentle stroke from the base of its tail to its neck with an open, relaxed palm. This method, often referred to as effleurage, promotes blood circulation, warms up the muscles, and puts your cat at ease.
Move onto the cat's shoulders when you can feel the muscles in your back starting to relax. Make gentle circles over her shoulder blades with your fingertips rotating clockwise or anticlockwise while using your thumbs to hold the object. For the face massage, use the identical cat massage technique but with very low pressure. The forehead or cheeks can also be massaged using the tiny circular motions. Use the palms of your hands to stroke the outer edges of their faces.
If you give the cat a facial massage, pay close attention to how they react because some cats prefer this treatment over others. After the face, lightly massage the area behind their ears or their chin with your palm as you pass it over their head. Due to their high concentration of nerve endings, cat ears are extremely sensitive. From the bottom to the tips of your thumbs, use them.
2 - Get the muscles moving: Excite them.
You can begin a more intense massage after you realize that the cat has entered spa-ready mode, which includes purring and stretching. During this phase of your cat massage, you will squeeze, roll, and knead the cat. All of them are appropriate moves, but never forget your pet's comfort level; don't allow it to get out of hand.
This method, known as petrissage, if you'd like to get fancy, includes opening and closing your palm while lightly stroking your fingers down the spine of your cat. This time, your touch is a little firmer than a gentle sliding motion. While pinching, the goal is to get a sense of the tissue's underlying structure. To be able to spot and untangle muscle knots in your cat, you must move slowly.
Particularly good for cats who don't like to roam around is the petrissage massage. For cats who enjoy a slower pace of life, the benefit of this sort of cat massage is that reflexes in their muscles are mechanically stimulated, which aids in increasing muscle tone.
This method, known as petrissage, if you'd like to get fancy, includes opening and closing your palm while lightly stroking your fingers down the spine of your cat. This time, your touch is a little firmer than a gentle sliding motion. While pinching, the goal is to get a sense of the tissue's underlying structure. To be able to spot and untangle muscle knots in your cat, you must move slowly.
Particularly good for cats who don't like to roam around is the petrissage massage. For cats who enjoy a slower pace of life, the benefit of this sort of cat massage is that reflexes in their muscles are mechanically stimulated, which aids in increasing muscle tone.
Due to their calm disposition, your cat will feel more at ease doing movements that increase joint mobility. Flexing of the knees, legs, and toes should be gradually introduced.
3 - Tap it on the ground.
Last but not least, tapotement is a mild, percussion-like motion that promotes blood circulation. As you alternate between soft taps with each hand, watch your cat's response. Make sure your cat appreciates it first, because this feline massage technique works to stimulate your cat's muscles rather than relax them.
We organized the three primary techniques into the helpful acronym cat to ensure that you won't get trapped in the center of a soothing cat massage.
How to determine whether you're doing it correctly
Pay attention to your cat's tail to gauge how she will respond. Your cat is likely content if its tail is at ease or slowly swaying. However, if you see that her tail is rigid or twitching, slowly and softly back away from her, as the next move could include teeth and claws.
Naturally, some vocal behaviors will let you know right away if your cat isn't interested in something. Growling or whining sounds are relatively clear indications that the cat desires to be left alone.
If your cat is purring excessively, take some time to observe her other cues. A rigid, compact stance will indicate tension, but an open, relaxed stance is probably the kitty equivalent of a thumbs up. Extreme purring might actually be an indication of worry or anxiety.
Related Post: