Cat Massages

No, this isn't where you lie down on your stomach and your cat walks all over your back (although it's niiiiice when that happens!). This is where you learn to give your cat her favorite kind of massage. I've noticed that there are different strokes for different...cats. So here's a list to begin experimenting with. Discover what your cat loves!

1. Scruff rub: Pick up the skin from your cat's scruff (the back of his neck) and stretch/rub it gently.

2. Skin massage: Cats have very loose skin so that stretches when they use their amazing flexibility. Some cats like it when you gently squeeze their skin at different points all over their body into a little fold and rub (as with the scruff rub).

3. Tissue massage: Many cats prefer this to the skin massage. For the tissue massage, gently squeeze handfuls of her back, sides, and stomach (if your kitty tolerates tummy rubs). Gentleness is key...use the light pressure you would use if rubbing a child's back.

4. Lip massage: I have never met a kitty who doesn't consider this his favorite. With one finger tip, trace a line from right next to kitty's nose, along her upper lip and around the side of her face. Cats give themselves this massage all the time when they rub the sides of their head against doorframes, furniture, legs. Cat experts say that there a pheromone is released in this area of a cat's anatomy, and rubbing their faces around their territory marks it with their scent!

*Special thanks to Vespers for posing for this pick! :p