Cat Massage - A Hands-On Experience

One week in spring, during a routine massage session, I discovered a small hard lump on Sappho's belly close to a nipple. Since Sappho got a weekly massage (and a general belly rub daily if she could persuade me), I knew that the lump was had developed since her previous massage. Using my fingertips, I could feel that the lump was a hard nodule beneath the skin and was not associated with a flea-bite.

Why Massage?

Massage is an excellent relaxant for cat and owner and once you get to know the 'feel' of your cat you can quickly spot anything out of the ordinary that might need treatment sooner rather than later. Massage is regularly used by physiotherapists who can assess the condition of, and any damage to, muscles, ligaments and tendons. Massage can help free up stiff joints and seized muscles and promotes healing by encouraging circulation to affected areas. I found out just how useful massage is as a diagnostic tool and healing aid after I broke some bones in my foot. Muscle doesn't show up on X-rays, so a doctor or physio uses massage and manipulation to find out the extent of soft tissue damage.

I didn't make the mental jump from physiotherapy massage to diagnostic cat massage until I watched the vet examine my cats. He used his fingers to assess the condition of their coats, skin, muscle-tone and abdomen. Sometimes he checked a joint by manipulating it and seeing if he could feel the joint 'clicking'. He ran his hands over the cat's fur feeling for fur condition and to see how prominent the bones were - an old or sick cat may lose weight, equally if the ribs can't be detected at all the cat is overweight.

I realized that I spend a great deal more time with the cats than he does and I get plenty of opportunities to check them over while petting them. In fact I could assess their condition and check for abnormalities at the same time as reinforcing the cat-owner bond. But before I attempted any real massage, I got a friend to give ME a Shiatsu massage and tell me how to use my fingertips for feel for problems! Then I applied this to my cats.

Massage can reduce stress and blood pressure levels in both cat and owner. It stimulates the cat's circulation and can aid convalescence. It is good at reducing swelling by breaking down fluid which has accumulated in the tissue (it's a bit like massaging congealed soap until it becomes pliable). Massage is especially beneficial to geriatric and arthritic cats and, as human athletes know, it eases stiff joints and rubs out muscle knots at the end of a hard day's activity. Both cat and owner should find the sessions relaxing - if you or the cat falls asleep, then at least one aspect of massage is working, but you'll need to stay awake a bit longer if you are to use it as a way of checking your cat's well-being.

Cats need to become accustomed to being handled by humans; this normally happens during kittenhood. Massage in later life can improve socialization in cats which are often aloof. How better to relax or reward a tensed-up show cat or a cat which is stressed out after vet check-up than a quick massage? While you pet your cat, it will show its pleasure by massaging you in return using its front paws.

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