27 Jan 2010
The Healing Power of Cats
There are many stories of animals as healers. Research shows that simply petting a cat or dog can lower your blood pressure. Therapy animals who visit nursing homes and hospices bring peace and joy to patients who may not have smiled in months. There are stories of horses who help people heal emotional and psychological issues, stories about dogs who can somehow sense cancer in people, even before doctors can find it, and dogs who can tell when a person is about to have a seizure. At one time or another, all pet owners have experienced the comfort of having our pets close by when we are sick even with something minor like a cold or the flu. Research has even shown that the frequency of a cat’s purr can aid with healing of bones, tendons, ligaments, and muscles as well as provide pain relief.
I’ve met a number of these healer kitties during my years of working at veterinary clinics. They would work their magic in various ways – by curling up next to a recovering cat or dog, by cuddling up to a worried client in the waiting room, or by comforting a staff member who had just assisted with a difficult case or a euthanasia. But none of these cats was more of a healer than Buckley, the subject of my book Buckley’s Story – Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher.
Buckley would do all of the things mentioned above while she lived at the animal hospital. After she came home with me, she became my assistant Reiki practitioner. Reiki is an energy therapy that originated in Japan. As a Reiki Master Practitioner, I transfer energy to my client by placing my hands either directly on or slightly off the body. I work with pets and with people, and I’ve found that animals, especially cats, are incredibly receptive to the Reiki energy. Some even say cats invented Reiki. While that may be a little far fetched, cats seem to intuitively how to utilize the energy for their greatest good.
Buckley loved being in the Reiki room while I was giving treatments, and as long as the person receiving a treatment liked cats and did not mind Buckley’s presence, she was allowed to stay. But just being in the room was usually not enough for her—she became an active participant in the healing session. She would get up on the Reiki table and often curl up next to or on top of the client. I realized after a few sessions like this that she intuitively knew where extra energy was needed, and the client would often report an added feeling of heat or pulsing in the areas where Buckley had been situated during the session. I often skipped the areas Buckley laid on during a session and concentrated on others instead. I knew my little healer kitty had it covered.
I think she also transmuted the energy in the house in general. All cats do this to some degree. Cats are sensitive to energies and have the ability to change negative energies into something peaceful and calming. Buckley seemed to be a master at this. More people commented on the peaceful energy in my house after she came to live with us than ever before.
Animals bring a spiritual component to healing as well. Buckley’s intuitive knowing during a Reiki session about where the energy was needed came from a spiritual dimension. It takes many human Reiki practitioners years of practice to achieve that level of intuitiveness.
How have the animals in your life helped you heal? I’d love to hear your stories.
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I’ve often wondered why some cats are more natural healers than others. My cat Merlin knows exactly when I need healing, but his sister Coco not so much.. When I used see aromatherapy clients at home, I had many clients who would insist the treatment could not begin until the cats hopped onto the massage table!
Layla, I think some cats, just like some people, are just more in tune with energy, and as such, more in tune with healing.
I love that some of your clients insisted on feline assistance for their treatments. I know it would be difficult, if not impossible, to measure, but I wonder whether the cat-enhanced sessions were more effective than the regular ones.
There’s just something about Buckley’s look that would probably heal me from whatever ails me. She has a look that melts me. Thanks for continuing to share her. BEAUTIFUL!!
Aww, thanks, Debbi! It’s nice to know that she has this effect on others, too, and not just me.
Hi there. I’ve so enjoyed reading about the healing cats. I too have had experience of this. We recently lost our darling ginger Tom cat, Simba, who grew up with our children and was for 19 years, one of the family. He could always sense when we were ill, particularly when we suffered from trauma, grief, depression etc. He would come up and sit on my or my husband’s chest and just absorb the pain. He didn’t purr usually when he did this; the healing didn’t come from his purr but from his weight. He wasn’t normally the kind of cat to sit on your lap. Another time, when I had a sore eye, he stretched his paw out and gently placed his paw on my eyelid and kept it there for a long time, till I fell asleep in fact. Shortly after Simba died we adopted two little sister kittens, who are now 10 months old and adorable. (Missy and Mossy; grey, fluffy) I am absolutely astounded to find that Missy does the same thing as Simba used to do! I had a tooth out this week and went off to bed during the daytime. Missy was very interested and made a full investigation. She first of all laid herself across my neck and snuggled in. Then a few minutes later, she made her way round to the side of my face where the tooth had been extracted and actually laid her pawws on my cheek and began to massage (as they do) but ever so gently. It was amazing! I ended up shooing her down to my feet though as I was worried about infections getting into the gum. The fact that a second cat was acting in this way makes me wonder if certain humans are more receptive than others. Perhaps cats ‘tune in’ to people who are on the same wavelengths as they are. Dying to know what you think!
Marybell, first of all, let me say how sorry I am about your loss. Simba sounds like he was an amazing cat.
I’m glad you have Missy and Mossy now (cute names!). It sounds like Missy is stepping into the void Simba left behind! I think cats have the ability to connect with their humans on an energetic level. Whether they adjust their vibration to match ours, or whether there’s an even bigger story in that they find us based on some sort of energetic “match,” I’m not sure. I think it’s pretty amazing that a cat as young as Missy is already exhibiting these healer tendencies – you’re very fortunate.
I also had a cat named Simba a number of years ago that helped me when I was in a lot of pain. I hurt my back so bad that it was hard for me to breathe. I was flat on my back on my bed. Simba came up and laid right in the crook of my arm near my shoulder. She put her paws on my shoulder and purred loudly and stared right at me. The next thing I knew the pain was gone. It was an amazing experience.
What an amazing experience, Diane. Simba must have one powerful purr. It’s always humbling to me how these cats know exactly what we need.
That’s a lovely story, Diane, and it reminds me of our own poor Simba who we lost last January about this time. We are very happy with our 2 new kittens though. They are over a year old now and they are so loveable in that undemanding Cat way! Missy and Mossy are no particular breed but seem to have some Persian and possibly even a touch of Scottish wild cat. (We live in the Highlands of Scotland). Missy is the one who has the gentler, more caring nature whereas Mossy is more of a character! I don’t know if anyone knows the artist Louis Wain, who painted cats? When Mossy stands on her hind legs to play or tap on the window, she is just so like one of Wayne’s cats! We notice that the cats’ personalities are changing as they mature. Mossy is gradually becoming more affectionate. Her funniest trick is to swipe at my alarm clock before it goes off in the morning; evidently trying to wake me up to get her breakfast.
I am so thrilled to come across this site with all these stories! I too have a cat that is out of this world & amazes me time & time again! His name is Odin & we saved him as a kitten – he had a horrible infection in his sinuses & he eventually had to have surgery to clear it all out but lost some hearing in the process when they went in through the ear canal. The vets always love to see him & when most of the cats that have been in our lives have been scared on the exam table Odin will be purring so loud that they can’t hear his heart beat lol! He has unusual white, gray, & black markings & the softest fur that any who pet him are amazed & say he’s as soft as angora
The most amazing part of him is this: I have had years of health problems & he has been by my side through it all. I have what was finally diagnosed as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome after many surgeries & years & years of excruciating pain. He has always known when I am in pain & insists that I get in bed or sit down by pawing at me or nipping at me till I did so. He then gets by my side,on my lap, or right above where my pain is purring & comforting me getting up every once in a while to give me kisses & rubbing my cheek, chin, or nose
He’s always there to comfort me with my heart aches & when I am sick, many times not leaving my side to even eat my mom having to bring his food to the bed so he would eat something.
Odin has also gone to my dad’s side when he’s had heart surgery & other health problems.
I see a massage therapist & reiki practitioner who says I have a natural energy that boosts the healing she does & she’s taught me some ways to help myself. Odin will always be right there when I’m doing so & it does feel like he’s putting his energy in too to help. He insists on being on my lap or by my side when I meditate.
What else can I say? This little kitty with a big name & heart is my own heart & I don’t think I would have survived through all the years of my pain without him! Infinite Love & Gratitude to him forever & ever!
I love hearing stories like yours and Odin’s, Kristine. He sounds like a true healer kitty. I’m so glad you have him by your side as you’re dealing with your health challenges.
i know my cat named momma always knows when i sick, i had her for 17 years. when i dont feel well. she balls up on my chest, and like this morning. i ate something bad. she came up to me and like felt around amost like a medicine doctor. and usually when im half aleeep, oddly its obvious she is doing something to help me. its so unusual..almost like medicine man doing his magic, she tend to use her paws and feel around, sometimes in a feeling it out kinda way, after she did all this i went to the bathroom for a while and felt better. maybe cats are natrual healers. and we just see them at pets.
I’ve always felt that cats are natural healers, Jesse, and your Momma sure sounds like she’s one of them.
[...] The healing power of cats [...]
Amazing! Because my friends laugh when I tell them about my 2 healing cats and how they have been working arduously to heal my back for the past few months. Punkin and her son Panther are both sweet barn cats that I rescued, now they are indoor kitties who receive a ton of loving. I ruptured a couple of vertebrae 8 months ago and developed chronic sciatica. I have 2 areas of severe pain that feel like the size of silver dollars perhaps larger. The major pain is in my ischial tuberosity(my butt) and then around the ruptured disc in my lower lumbar is the other pain location. Punkin performs this procedure on my back 70% of the time, and Panther 30%. All together between them they have done this over 100 times so this is no bizarre coincidence here. Many time I fall asleep while Punkin is giving me Catupunture, and wake up hours later only to find that Panther has taken Punkins place as Catupunturist extraordinaire.
Punkin never got too close to me before my injury typically she likes to sit near me but she is not over cuddly. Except when I am in pain then she gets affectionate and closer I have to move slow and be very gentle with her or she freaks. When the pain is terrible Punkin rests her hind end against my butt and then she applies some pressure…..exactly at the point of pain. She will lay there for hours and not move an inch healing me night after night. Now Panther is doing it too they work in shifts it is unreal! Thought I was going crazy and like I said nobody believes this story. Punkin and Panther are very accurate too within millimeters I swear when it comes to pin pointing the pain exactly. Now get this here is the most amazing part…..Punkin has a new method of healing my back….She takes one rear paw and presses it against the pain in my butt precisely in the center of the silver dollar size pain area EXACTLY! The other hind paw she places on the left side of my ruptured disc…again exactly at the epicenter of pain. Note: Disc is ruptured on the left side. Then she applies pressure and I call this “Catupuncture” She will hold the pressure with the muscles in her legs for periods of up to one hour, her claws slightly embedded in the skin, without letting up. Very loyal and dedicated and if this is not real love then I do not know what is. They heal me every night and it is working I am getting much better, I am back to work and my cats are healing my injury and easing my pain. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this is their intention completely…too heal my injury and subdue my pain, and perhaps even reduce inflammation I strongly suspect. All I know is that some how some way they know exactly what they are doing, they know precisely the location of my pain, and they are both absolute masters at the art of healing.
My sweet, smart, healing Fe-Lions! Punkin and her little Boy Panther. Master Catupunturists!
Thank you for sharing this amazing experience with your two Master Catupuncturists, Kenny. This is one of the most powerful demonstrations of cats’ healing powers that I’ve heard of. Best wishes to you for a quick and complete recovery – but how can there be any doubt of that with your two feline therapists helping you!
Yes, they are both incredibly sensitive, nurturing, and completely amazing animals. This is also a great testimonial of how two feral cats ended up becoming happy loving indoor cats and how I rescued them from certain death. I was living at a large horse farm 2009-2010 where when I first encountered Punkin she was a 6 month old horse barn cat. Then at 10 months Punkin had a litter of 3 kittens behind a barn wall where she dug a trench and created an absolutely non impenetrable fortress to bare her young. I kept the only male of the litter the black one and named him Panther cause he looks like a little Panther. Then I had Punkin spayed and Panther neutered. De-wormed them both and made sure they received all of their required shots and vaccinations. Then in early 2011, I moved away from the farm and took Punkin and Panther with me because I knew that there chances for survival on the farm were poor at best. Predators, main road heavy traffic, and a psycho lunatic Dude who lived in the Cottage there repeatedly tried to poison, injure, shoot, and kill these precious lovely creatures. Why? because they climbed up on his SUV and left muddy paw prints all over the place. And then they pooped in the grass that he was trying to grow on his front lawn in record low temps during January 2011. Yea this guy is nuts clearly.
I tell this story because I want people to know that there are people like this out there in our world who do not have a conscience. There are horrible people like this living in your own neighborhood who hurt and kill innocent animals. Report them to the police and the SPCA immediately if you witness or suspect any type of animal abuse whatsoever! And if possible rescue and adopt these innocent victims. You will be glad that you did. And the animals will appreciate it too and they will know and be fully aware of what you did for them, the fact that you helped them in this way, they will be forever grateful and repay you everyday with love, healing, and loyalty.