Complete Care for Your Aging Cat - Amy Shojai [37]
Start slow, and gradually build up the duration of exercise. Try setting the food bowl thirty inches away so she must move to eat. At first, reward her just for trying. If she stops and refuses to go on—listen to her. Give her a break, let her rest, and then urge her on.
Enticing blind cats to exercise is particularly challenging. “Sometimes we’ll do passive range of motion,” says Dr. Cook. That at least keeps the muscles and joints flexible. For instance, the cat recovering from a stroke may have very weak rear quarters, and the simple support of the owner slipping a towel underneath her belly provides enough balance to get her moving. “You can kind of wheelbarrow them, or do dancing with them, so you work the front legs and then the hind legs,” he suggests, but be very careful not to overdo. Some blind cats will follow their noses for a smelly treat, says Dr. Cook. Get creative in tempting her to move.
“I think massage is so critical. They really feel better when you work them,” says Dr. Wynn. Massage can be an acquired taste, though, and it will likely take repeated sessions before your cat accepts massage at your hands.
Many large veterinary practices now have a massage therapist or physical therapy specialist to work with clients and their animals. Massage targets the muscles and tendons. Injury to these tissues causes a release of chemicals that prompt inflammation, pain, spasms, abnormal contractions and tightness of the muscles and tendons. That makes it even more painful to move. Massage applies varying pressure to these areas to increase blood circulation. “Basically you’re looking for sore spots, and you work at the level of pressure that the animal can tolerate, so you don’t cause pain,” says Dr. Wynn. That helps nourish the tissue, relieve pain and promote healing. It is particularly helpful for animals recovering from illness, injury or surgery.
Different techniques work best for different purposes, and some require special training so you don’t accidentally injure your cat. Keep massage treatments to 10 or 15-minute sessions. Once a day is plenty, says Dr. Wynn. Listen to your cat and she’ll tell you when she’s had enough.
Maryjean Ballner’s book “Cat Massage” provides details and she’s shared some of her photos to illustrate some of the techniques. Firm, even-pressured palm strokes are called effleurage. This technique helps the cat relax when you stroke slowly from the head to the tail, and down the legs to the feet. Use effleurage to begin and progress to fingertip massage. Use the flat of your extended fingers, held close together, and rub in a circular pattern with enough pressure to move muscle beneath the skin.
Petrissage uses a deeper technique that kneads the muscle to relax the tissue, promote blood flow, and stimulate the lymph system and a release of toxins. Cats must be fully relaxed for this massage technique to be beneficial. Fingers grasp, and gently squeeze, roll and compress the muscle beside the bone, in a bread-kneading motion. Finish each session with the effleurage technique—a head-to-tail petting session that leaves her purring for more.
Comfort Zone
Cats may be more willing to try to move around if they aren’t frustrated by inaccessibility. Provide ramps or steps so they don’t have to make giant leaps that achy joints can’t manage. A hassock or simple cardboard box may work, and commercial products also are available.
C & D Pet Products provides carpeted Pet Steps in various sizes—single, double, triple, quadruple steps and more.
Pet Classics offers ramps, feeders, and steps designed for elderly or disabled cats.
Grooming
Fur care is important to your aging cat’s emotional health, and also benefits her physical well being. Cats spend up to fifty percent of their