Cat Massage - A Hands-On Experience

A cat's glands are situated under its jaw, before its shoulder blades and in the armpit, groin and upper hock areas.

5. Areas to avoid

Unless your cat, and your vet, are happy for you to gently massage areas which have been injured, you should avoid those areas. Avoid areas which are tender because of illness, injury or operation. In particular be careful of sites where the cat has had surgery, you don't want to pull at stitches or risk damaging muscles or bone which are beginning to knit together and heal. Later on the healing process, the cat may enjoy a gentle massage to stimulate circulation. The vet will advise you of exceptions to these guidelines e.g. where you can use massage as a form of physiotherapy to get a cat mobile again after broken limbs.

The secret is don't try too much too soon and don't massage areas which are tender and which the cat doesn't want touched. If it solicits a pain-relieving massage (such as Scrapper with his pins and needles) then go gently.

6. See the vet

If you find an area which feels abnormal in some way or your cat shows signs of discomfort, get it checked by a vet. You have done your bit by detecting early warning signals. Later on you can help with a therapeutic massage.

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