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.

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The benefits of Reiki for our beloved paw babies

I have two cats; one is a 6 year old named Abby, and this summer my partner and I rescued a long haired kitten who we named Wimbly. Both of my cats are rescues and came to me with a variety of emotional needs. My most recent kitten Wimbly was rejected by his mother when he was born and had to be bottle fed, and because of this he has many issues. I have been working on both cats with Reiki and have achieved some beautiful results that I would like to share with you.

        Reiki is very calming for animals and reduces stress. When I first rescued Wimbly he was covered head to toe in fleas (this was the reality for Abby as well). I do not condone harsh chemical treatments so by using apple cider vinegar and tedious combing I was able to be rid of the fleas within a week. Unfortunately, this meant, for both cats, much of their first weeks with me was forced holding and rigorous combing. Sadly this created anxiety in Abby and to this day does not like being picked up, (we are still working through this together). With Wimbly, I started by holding my hands open to him and offering him Reiki, when he accepts Reiki he will investigate my hands and usually collapses into my lap for Reiki cuddles. I noticed how much this reduced his stress and he soon would come over to me if I showed him the comb and would purr during his flea combing sessions! Relaxation achieved!

        Reiki relieves pain and speeds the healing process. Wimbly recently went in for surgery and therefore had to wear a cone on his head, which was recommenced for a week. If you’ve ever had your pet in this state you know how heartbreaking it is to see them so sad looking and uncomfortable after surgery and in a cone sized prison. With Abby, she became so depressed, she did not move from one spot on the couch for 8 days. Wimbly was more energetic but after giving him some Reiki I noticed he was very uncomfortable and in pain. He became desperate to remove his cone, and during a Reiki session with a client he slipped his cone off and came onto the table and slept for the entire session. For the next week I did Reiki on him every day and monitored his recovery, and noticed a huge shift in his mood and overall recovery. 

        Animals need Reiki as much as we do – and they love it! It is very rare that I can practice Reiki on myself without one or both of my cats coming and laying quite literally directly on my hands. They ask for it all the time in different ways, and usually sneak into my Reiki sessions with clients by sleeping on the table for the duration of the session, (this is Wimbly’s favourite hobby). Overall there are so many benefits of Reiki for Animals that can help with many different things, even behavioural problems.  I will be posting more about this in Part 2 of this article! Stay tuned..

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