Have you ever given your cat a massage?

[City Lights]

[serryjw]

1. All the time....

I working to get certified in animal massage and acupresure

[City Lights]

8. Does your cat have a medical issue requiring a massage, or are you

just practicing?

[serryjw]

10. BOTH

he is 16 and having arthritis just like me!

[City Lights]

15. My 15-year-old had it in his back.

Has your cat's condition improved because of the massages, and more importantly, does your cat reciprocate? ;-)

[serryjw]

16. Yes! YES!

[City Lights]

20. Is your cat certified?

;-)

It's great you're able to help each other.

[serryjw]

21. There has only been the two of us.....

for 16 years. He starts the sentence (meow!) and I finish it....

[City Lights]

22. That's kinda how it was for me with Tigger.

He was my first pet and we were totally on the same wavelength. His ashes are going in the casket with me. We have 7 cats now, but none of them can hold a candle to Tigger. He was the best. He's been gone almost two years, but I still miss him terribly. :-(

[serryjw]

23. How many years were you and

tigger together? Having 7 cats must be fun. I live in 550 sq feet..I may have to move out and leave the kitties.

[City Lights]

24. 15-1/2. He arrived as a 6-8 week-old kitten.

He had congestive heart failure. He probably would have lived longer if he hadn't been such a pisser about going to the vet. The only way the vet could examine him was under sedation, which became a catch-22 as he got older because they couldn't sedate him without doing blood work, yet they couldn't draw blood without sedation. He was diagnosed with an enlarged heart about 5 or 6 years before he died. When he was neutered they made me go back and remove him from his cage. When I get back there I noticed they had a "will bite" sign on the front of his cage. They used to get the thick gloves out whenever they saw Tigger comin'.

I thought having 7 cats would be fun, too. It is fun, but it's also a lot of work. Fur balls everywhere. What is really interesting is seeing them interact with each other. Each one has a unique personality. Some of them clean each other. Some like wrestling. Others prefer to be left alone.

Mozart is singing as we speak. He has a beautiful voice, but it's incredibly loud and my kids are in bed.

[serryjw]

25. WOW!

Alot of wonderful years, but not enough. I was giving Einstein antibiotics and was not happy until be had a conversation and I explained why we were doing it, then he was fine. He was about 7 when my friend and I shaved him(gave him a lion's cut) during the HOT summer in Atlanta. He scratched the hell out of us.....but when he realized what we had done and how much more comfortable he was, he apologized with lots of kisses.
I adopted him also when he was about 8 weeks old from a pet store. He was in the cage with his brothers and sisters, They all stayed sleeping EXCEPT Einstein. He told me he wanted to come home with me. I knew he was the one.OMG, I love him so much. I know someday that he will leave me. I hope I still have many more years.
So what are the kids getting for Xmas?

[City Lights]

26. I love the name Einstein!

It's one my husband and I considered for one of ours, but our kids vetoed it. They said too many kids use it to make fun of their peers when they do something stupid.

Our cats names are (in order of seniority rather than age) Kaylee, Alex, Watson, Clio, Cairo, Monet, and Mozart.

We had to have Mozart shaved over the summer. He has the longest fur I've ever seen, and it's too difficult to keep his belly combed. He had a few knots elsewhere too, so we decided to have him shaved. I'd never attempt it myself. You are very brave!

Tigger was delivered to my door when I lived outside Chicago by my future sister-in-law. I was finally living on my own and had wanted a cat since I was a little kid. My then boyfriend's sister was coming to visit over Thanksgiving and knew of a kitten that needed a home. His owners and mother were moving to Australia. He was reported to be the only one in his litter to survive.

I had similar thoughts to yours as Tigger aged. I simply didn't know how I would be able to part with him. He died in the vet's office with his head in my hand. We never had to make the decision to put him to sleep - something I will be eternally grateful for. Only one event in my life brought more tears, and that was my mom's death. I still have days where I get choked up when I think about him. I am thankful for all the pictures I have, and my precious memories. Please cherish all your days with Einstein. :-)

The kids are getting instruments for Christmas. My daughter is getting a guitar and my son is getting a starter drum set. They both play the piano (not by choice) and have decided they want to move on.

[serryjw]

28. I love the name Mozart...maybe next time I adopt a new baby

Believe me, I do cherish all the moments together. And what are the furry kids getting for Xmas? In 16 years Einstein has never liked any toys I have bought him. He never played with any of them. BUT I did succeed with his furry bed. He loves that. He is such a guy. The way to his heart is thru his stomach. I will probably give him a seafood dinner. That would make him happy

[City Lights]

29. Our cats love catnip-filled mice more than anything.

Another big hit around here is Da Bird. Watson killed ours, so they'll be getting another one. Our cats love anything attached to a string. In Tigger's later years, he didn't play much. He preferred my lap. :-) The way to Tigger's heart was also through his stomach. My dad nicknamed him Mr. Food. His favorite time of year was around the holidays because his all-time favorite food was turkey. He also loved nesting in the garland before it was on the tree, and lying underneath the tree once it was decorated.

[serryjw]

32. Fond memories......

the same friend whom helped me shave Einstein bought him cat nip the first time. He rolled around in it and his eyes went back in his head. I got so scared I called the vet, she laughed and told me he was fine. He loved it!
Einstein's nickname is feline garbage can...he will truly eats anything (but not fond of eggs!). Einstein loves turkey, had a blast at Thanksgiving. he is not happy that I have reduced hs human food. He simply can't digest it any more and throws up.
I raised a pacifist, he would never kill a bird.

[City Lights]

33. LOL. Cats on catnip is something to see.

The first time I saw a cat on catnip, it was zipping around the apartment, bouncing off the walls. Tigger got mellow. :smoke: And true to form, he ate catnip after rolling in it.

Einstein sounds like a real sweetheart. Please give him a :hug: from me.

[serryjw]

35. I will post PICS as soon as I get in digital form

he is a sweetheart....he thanks you for the hug...MEOW!

[City Lights]

37. Goody!

I'm eager to "meet" him. I tried to post a picture of Tigger as a kitten earlier, but it was way too big. I'll have my hubby shrink it, and post it later - probably over the weekend.

[serryjw]

38. I have the same problem.....

I have a great PIC of us with Santa.....the file is way to big

[City Lights]

40. Yes, and since men seem to know all about shrinkage, I'll have my

husband solve this one. :evilgrin:

[serryjw]

41. If I email you the pic can hubby shrink it?

[City Lights]

44. Sure.

I'll PM you with my email addy.

[City Lights]

52. Oh my! I just realized you may be thinking that Watson killed a real bird.

Or, maybe I'm misreading your post. In any event this is Da Bird:



Watson "killed" it by removing all the feathers.

[barb162]

47. what do you mean: I may have to move out ...leave ... kitties.

[LeighAnn]

2. My cat gives me one

When I'm laying on my stomach he walks up and starts pressing with alternating paws on my neck and shoulders. The first time it happened I thought it was groovy, until I caught his act in the litter box the next day. Now I sleep on my side

:(

[City Lights]

9. I get those too.

I feel so loved until I feel the claws.

[Cadence]

3. No but I've given my dog a massage.

I went to massage therapy school...didn't finish because it wasn't for me. Anyway I notice that if I massage my dog's shoulder muscles he falls asleep. It's really cute.

[City Lights]

12. That's cool. eom

[Runcible Spoon]

4. sure..also give him chiropractic adjustments!

if I pick him up a certain way, his back goes crack crack crack:shrug:...he seems to like it, starts purring..wierdo cat

[City Lights]

14. Sounds like whatever you're doing is working.

I had a cat whose shoulder cracked when he walked. It didn't seem to bother him though.

[jeff30997]

5. Lol! I just thought of a hilarious copycat thread I could start.

It involves changing the word cat in the title with a word beginning with the letter P...

[yorkiemommie1]

6. all i have to do is say 'Massage!'

...and my big yorkies come right over. they love it and always have a romp afterward.

[City Lights]

17. I had no idea so many people were doing this.

My cats would feel neglected if they got wind of what goes on in your house.

[Skittles]

7. not if I'd like to keep my hands unshredded

:o

[City Lights]

18. Now we're getting somewhere.

I can't see my cats allowing me to do this. Their theme song is "My Way," and unless the mood was right I envision lots of blood.

[Porcupine]

11. Next life I want to be an American cat.

beats a Hindu cow any old day.

[City Lights]

19. As long as you have a loving home.

The death-row throwaways at the pound are singing a different tune. :cry:

[Gothic Sponge]

13. No, but i give him money to get professional massages.......

with release.

;)

[Piltdown13]

27. Oh, I remember that book!

Lost my copy several years ago...amusing stuff! :-)

[ScreamingMeemie]

30. I thought this read,"Have you ever given your cat a message?" Oy.

Bedtime for me. Merlin only likes his face and head touch for some silly reason. He will let me hold his paw sometimes.

[enigmatic]

36. Actually, I have!

The message was, "Please, don't leave squishy hairballs around where I can step in them, and I PROMISE to clean your cat box more often!"..

[slutticus]

31. OMG!

I've seen this book. It seems like the author wanted to hurt cats, not massage them! I couldn't believe what I was reading. No sane cat would sit through a massage like that.

[City Lights]

34. That was my initial reaction also, but I think it was supposed to

be humorous. Remember the part about pinching lips? I actually started this thread last night as an attempt at a copy cat thread, but it took on a life of its own so I went with it. :-)

[Piltdown13]

39. Definitely humor, I think.

It's been awhile, but I remember lines like "grasp forelegs and rotate till they ride free in sockets....Stand facing cat, grasp head and push back on ears with thumbs. Push back until you hear the 'click.'" My fifth-grade teacher gave me a copy as a prize for some sort of contest...guess she knew I had kind of a dark sense of humor. :-)

[City Lights]

43. My husband must share your sense of humor.

He introduced me to the book, and I thought it was cruel. It didn't take too long, though, before I was able to see the humor in it. Then I roared.

Remember the back cover? It said the author is doing blah, blah, blah, and lives some place. She has one cat left.

[Piltdown13]

46. I'd forgotten about the back cover!

That's how I decided, at age 10, that yes, it was OK to find the book humorous. And that last line -- "A well-massaged cat should remain in this position...for quite some time." Heh.

[City Lights]

49. I forgot about that line. I'll have to dig around and see if we still

have the book. Until then, I found this to refresh my memory:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0811802035/002-2895799-1075211?v=glance

If you click on the book cover image, you can scroll through a couple of pages. I can't figure out a way to post any of them here though.

[HEyHEY]

42. Does stepping on it count?

It was dark..I went to the kitchen for water...felt fur and heard a RRROOOOWWWWW!

[City Lights]

45. Ouch!

I've been there. With 7, there is always one underfoot. Luckily, there are very forgiving.

[barb162]

48. I give massages to my four cats, 2 give massages to me

[City Lights]

50. With or without claws?

Being the recipient of a cat massage is great until the claws come out. I've gotten clawed in the stomach and boob too many times.

[barb162]

51. I have had cats for decades. The current 4 for some reason

don't really scratch too much(unless I play- fight) even though all have claws. My female (a tortie and you know how crazy they are) is the one who massages me the most and she just doesn't do the claws bit any more. Though when I first rescued her, she used her claws. My two older males will be the ones who scratch and when they do I just gently lift them off my lap or whereever they are at the time.

[Baja Margie]

53. Bandit

has to have his belly rubbed every night. Sometimes this can go on for hours.