In my last blog post I talked about the benefits of Reiki for my cats. It is very calming, reduces their stress and speeds the healing with traumas and recoveries, not to mention how much they love it! Read Part 1 here . In this post I will be continuing to share my experience of using Reiki with my cats, and how it can be used with all animals.
Reiki can help with behavioral problems. When I first rescued my kitten Wimbly, he was very aggressive towards my 6 year old cat Abby. I worried that as he got bigger he would overpower her. Abby is very tolerant of his frisky behavior and will let him know with a growl when he is pushing it too far. I started experimenting with the both of them, and gave them Reiki throughout the day. After a week, they slept together on the couch for the first time! Abby had been so unsure of him prior to this, he was so small compared to her and in her defense, she had been an only child her whole life. They started to spend more time cuddled up together without any ‘kitten frisk attacks’, and I noticed their entire relationship changed. Mostly, Wimbly had become calmer in his body and was much more affectionate, even with me.
Reiki helps with transitions. Ever since she was a kitten, Abby has been terrified of being in the car. From short trips to the vet, to longer drives to the Okanagan. As soon as we get into car she begins hyperventilating, crying and moaning. For this reason, I keep her travel time to a minimum, but occasionally it must happen. When I used to go away for the summers, Abby would stay with my parents. This meant another stressful drive for the both of us that resulted in me behind the wheel while also putting one hand to her carrier giving her Reiki throughout the trip. When I start giving her Reiki, it isn’t more than a few minutes before she is calm and at rest in her carrier. As soon as we reach our destination I will sit with her in ‘her room’ at my parents and give her Reiki until she is settled. She will hide under the bed and not come out until I’m sitting on the floor with my hands open offering her calming energy. Once I started using this technique I noticed a big shift in how she was travelling, and it decreased her ‘settling in time’ once we arrived.
My experiments with Reiki and my cats will continue as they grow, and as needed. Not only do I offer my cats Reiki in times of need, but they also seek it out anytime I have someone over for a session or when I am giving a self-treatment. It is a good reminder for me that cats, and all animals, need Reiki as much as we do.
