Bond With Your Cat Using Tui Na – A 10-minute Session 

Tui Na, also known as acupressure-massage, is an effective way to connect to your feline friend. Learn how to bond with your cat using Tui na. 

Cats delight and mystify us. Their furry bodies and wily ways are so appealing, and their expressive meows beckon us to satisfy their needs. As cat guardians, we want to connect with our feline friends. An acupressure-massage technique called Tui na is an effective way to do it. Find out how to bond with your cat using Tui na in a simple ten-minute session. 

Understanding feline nature 

To develop a relationship with a cat, it is wise to understand something about feline nature. While cats were domesticated over thousands of years, they retained many of their ancestral traits. They have adapted to living with humans, but are still predatory loners, highly territorial and nocturnal. 

If we view feline behavior through the prism of territorial predation and the drive to perpetuate the species, our cats’ behavior makes sense. They groom constantly so prey animals won’t smell them coming. Long daytime naps prepare them for nighttime hunting. 

From the tips of their whiskers to the ends of their tails, cats are also able to detect a huge number of sensory cues. For instance, the length of a cat’s whiskers matches the width of her body. The sensory information she picks up through her whiskers keeps her from getting stuck in narrow spaces. A cat’s night vision and auditory senses are also very keen. 

Cats instantly detect the location of a sound and assess the size of the object it’s coming from. This is how our feline friends have survived through millennia. 

With all this in mind, our cats will never be completely domesticated. They will always have their own wild side, even if those behaviors may be inconvenient for us.

Did you know? Kittens learn most of what they need to know when they’re between three and eight months old. They learn from their mothers what is safe to eat and how to hunt. 

Love and bonding with your cat 

Given the nature of cats and our desire to keep them as companion animals, how do we learn to bond with each other? Every cat is different and presents different challenges. Ideally, the best way to create a trusting, loving bond is to begin when the cat is a kitten. Once the kitten is weaned and can be taken from his mother, you can start the socialization process by petting and holding him.

Adopting an older cat can be more challenging. If the cat was already living in a loving home and enjoys human contact, creating a bond is much easier than for a cat that’s had a rough time. Patience is a very important attribute when adopting a cat that’s been ill-treated, abandoned, or has had minimal human contact. It will take time for him to learn to trust you. 

Feline behaviorists recommend sticking to a routine for feeding, assisting with grooming, using toys that simulate predation, and spending quiet lap-time together. When grooming your cat, include gentle affection and “sweet talk.” Cats respond strongly to auditory cues. Successful predation play mimics the hunting experience, so allow your cat to catch the toy at the end of a play session. 

Did you know? How can you tell when your cat is bonding with you? Signs include coming to you for affection, sleeping on your lap, giving you head  butts, kneading her paws on your, or wrapping her body around your legs.

Tui Na session for bonding with your cat

Tui Na is the original Chinese meridian acupressure-massage on which all other massage and bodywork techniques are based. Like acupuncture, Tui Na is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine. Over thousands of years, these ancient techniques have proved to build stronger bonds between people and their cats.

Did you know? The Tui Na techniques presented use “classical” points. These points are used only for animals.

Adding a ten-minute Tui Na session to your cat’s routine brings your personal, energetic intention to the connection you share. Specific acupoints are known to enhance a cat’s feelings of well-being. When using these hands-on techniques gently and with loving intention, your cat will become more trusting and feel more secure, which is essential for bonding. 

1. Tui Fa — Yin Tang Motion 

Usually, cats enjoy a good head rub. Also called “bunting,” head rubbing is a sign of affection. Using the soft tip of your thumb, or whichever finger is comfortable for you, begin at the level of the cat’s “third eye.” Then gently, but with intention, rub up to the top of her head, then rub back down to the spot just above and between her eyes. Repeat this rubbing technique as many times as your cat is enjoying it.

2. Tui Na – An Shen feline motion 

An Shen means “Spirit Gate” in Chinese. Most cats love it when you rub up and down around the base and back of their ears. It feels soothing and loving for them. Softly rub one ear, then the next.

3. Bai Hui 8 soft scratch

The Bai Hui acupressure point is located on the midline between the top of the cat’s hip bones. Once you scratch your cat’s Bai Hui point, she often demands you scratch it again and again. It is often called the “feel-good point” for four-legged animals. 

4. Tui Na – MA FA feline motion 

You know your cat is bonding with you when she rubs the side of her body along your legs. Give her the idea by sweeping your hand or fingers down her side. Repeat as many times as you both appreciate it. Try the other side of your cat too.

These four acupressure-massage techniques help you bond with your cat using Tui Na. Start with “Tui Fa – head bunting” and see how your cat likes it. Then progress to the next technique. There’s no rush. This is your opportunity to communicate your affection in a manner your cat understands and can respond to. For good measure, a scratch under the chin is also always appreciated!

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