There are lots of stories of animals as healers. research shows that simply petting a cat or pet dog can lower your blood pressure. therapy animals who check out nursing homes and hospices bring peace and happiness to individuals 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 family 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 supply 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 anxious client in the waiting room, or by comforting a staff member who had just assisted with a tough case or a euthanasia. but none of these cats was a lot 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 pointed out 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 family pets and with people, and I’ve found that animals, especially cats, are exceptionally receptive to the Reiki energy. Some even say cats developed 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 normally not enough for her—she became an active participant in the healing session. She would get up on the Reiki table and typically 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 typically report an added feeling of heat or pulsing in the areas where Buckley had been situated during the session. I typically 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 serene and calming. Buckley seemed to be a master at this. a lot more people commented on the serene energy in my house after she pertained 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 lots of human Reiki professionals 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.
Ingrid King
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102 comments on The Healing Power of Cats
wayne dunn says:
June 9, 2022 at 11:21 pm
i have a 3 year old male named alice he is a healer cat i have osteoarthritis bursitis and groin strain he is so intelligent he only kneads me in wintertime when i bring out my thick blanket so he wont scratch me he has been kneading me considering that he was a young kitten he kneads me from chest to feet when im in bed considering that i have had groin strain he has been concentrating on that area at one stage i was quite ill with a virus he stayed by my side the hole night and never left he new i was not well alice is with out a doubt a healer cat
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Ann says:
November 16, 2018 at 6:45 am
I have adopted a cat who has been very skittish but at the same time very vocal and responsive. After my former cat passed, this one started sleeping near me and purring very strongly and loudly, even letting me cuddle him(when I cant sleep or in the middle of the night). Lately hes not done that too much ever considering that Ive been feeling well but yesterday I had a really nervous day and found it hard to calm down. One point early in the morning I observed he purred as he laid himself against my head and over my eyes. Its interesting because he hnullnull