CATS AS HEALERS
LET ME COUNT THREE FOR THEE
CATS AS HEALERS
How do cats provide healing for their humans? Let me count a few ways. The adaptive strategies that enable cats to function effectively as predators, prey, and companions to humans have evolved over millions of years. We humans are relative newcomers to their offers of companionship and their ability to communicate with us. Any cat lover is familiar with these sometimes mysterious behaviors toward their humans.
PURRING: How many mammals will come to you voluntarily to sit on your lap, settle into a curve of softness . . . and rumble? That low, humming throb emanates from air and tissues vibrating on your hand and lap. Close your eyes and allow yourself to feel the miracle of that sound. An ultimate sign of animal-human contentment, purring may decrease their human’s anxiety levels, possibly even lowering their blood pressure. Even without that wonderful effect, purring is a welcome moment at the end of a long day, during a human’s processing of sadness or tragedy, or simply a slow and lazy response to this wonderful connection between species.
As a side note, many cat owners have found the secret of eye blink communication. Slowly blink your eyes at your cat and she may respond with a slow blink of her own!
RELAXING BETWEEN HUMANS?
KNEADING, THUMPS AND BUMPS
Oh, those wonderful, sweet paws, those terrible sheathed claws! How do they provide healing and comfort? As much as my cat rolls over, zooms around the room and lands on me, she has never once exposed her claws! Once she is done chasing her tail, she may begin kneading my arm or kneading the quilt nearby. Often accompanied by purrs, this kneading can also be seen when mother cat is nursing her kittens. Kittens knead their mother’s bellies to pump that milk!
The touch of those cushioned toe beans has always made me feel content. If only in that moment the world can take a hike. My cat and I are a comfort team as I pet her while she kneads and purrs. Even in a busy moment that small head bumping against my leg can slow me down. I reach to pet her. She returns a tap with her paw. These small moments of healing are welcome reminders of her gifts of healing.
Smiles, too!
MEOWS AND MIUS
Have you ever noticed how many voices your cat offers? There is the whine of hunger, the magical trill, the strange low-pitched warning when kitty sees prey outside the window. The sound that comforts me is that tiny “miu.” When I hear my pet look at me with a soft, small cry, I take that sound as an invitation to sit together. To warm each other’s hearts and bodies. Kitten mius are especially endearing.
If such a clever, innate predator can speak to me like that, I can believe in a moment of mutual understanding. I find that feeling healing in so many ways.
The ancient Egyptians believed cats had “second-sight, even “insight.” The cat’s eyes could “see all”, hence the general name they gave to cats: “mau.” The cat hieroglyphic reads from left to right:
𓏇 𓇋 𓅱 𓃠
Cats’ powerful night vision linked them to the moon. Is it any wonder that cats have applied their ancient adaptations to their humans? The Cat Goddess, Bastet offered her protection and healing to hearth and home. From within her progeny, she still does.
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Thank you for reading my posts on MORE CATS, PLEASE! You can find 26 of my Substack posts from 2024 and 2025 in my new book:
Mews and Views for the Curious Cat Lover. ISBN: 978-0-9621292-5-4 Paperback and Kindle at Amazon.
Please visit my website. Felineonline.net for updates and purchase options.
This title is also currently available as an Ebook from several online book vendors via Books2read.com/elysemcregar Including on Libby Readers from your local public library within the OverDrive catalog. Please request!
CREDITS: Book cover design (stained glass with AI generative assistance, cover illustration, and original interior illustrations: TamaraClark.com
Winking cat photo:ByABu.2017. Commons.wikimedia.org
Photo:
self-Indulgence.Cat on catnip: katieb50.2008.Commons.wikimedia.org
Smiling kitten photo: Jonathan III, Debra Novotny
“Cats as Healers” inspired by Cindy Ojczyk at Like People, Like Pets
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