The love of a beloved pet is a medicine in it’s own right.
Growing up, whenever I was sad, anxious, stressed, or ill, my dog Max was there to see me through it. He would follow me around the house, lay down with me whenever I was still, and of course want to taste test any food I had to make sure it was good for me to eat, haha. Even though his presence wasn’t a cure, it was one of the most beneficial things to get me through any hard time in life.
The same, I’ve found out, can be said about cats.
According to the Virginia Beach Veterinary Hospital’s article The Therapeutic Benefits of a Cat’s Purr, “research has shown that the vibrations emitted by a cat’s purr can lower blood pressure, lessen stress, and even promote healing.” Having lived with cats for a year and a half now, I can say with certainty that I believe this to be true. Just like with Max growing up, all three cats that I have been lucky enough to know and love have used their purring ability to help John and I in one way or another.
Last week, through a myriad of everything going wrong, I was on day three of a massive headache that was causing me serious nausea. Thankfully on the worst of the days (my headache lasted four and a half days in total) I had a half day at work because of an afternoon Holiday Party. Skipping the party, I drove straight home and laid down, feeling absolutely miserable. I’d barely eaten and, to be honest, barely made it home, and there was seemingly no end in sight to the crippling pain throbbing away at multiple spots on my head.
Franklin is only six months old, but it was like his animal instinct kicked in and he knew exactly what to do. Regular old Franklin the Ragdoll Kitten suddenly became DOCTOR FRANKLIN TIGER MD. He ran into the bedroom, leapt onto the bed, stopped at my face, and proceeded to sniff me from my chin to my forehead and back again, analyzing and taking note. Then- he laid down beside me and started to purr.
Doctor Franklin Tiger MD prescribed bed rest and lots of snuggles, and after four-five hours of just that, I felt a lot better. Not perfect, but I was able to eat a tiny bit more. I could stand without feeling like I would collapse at any moment. And most importantly, I was able to get up and make dinner for Franklin and Kap.
I’m incredibly grateful to Doctor Franklin Tiger MD for staying with me all day and through the night. He purred up a storm and his little body’s vibrations helped lower my stress, lull me to sleep, and relax me enough that my body was able to heal itself.
And then of course I figured out the next day that the reason my headache lasted as long as it did was due to caffeine withdrawal, as I’d stopped drinking coffee and Celsius cold turkey, so after a few sips of Celsius my headache went away. And so, in conclsusion, through the healing power of a cat's purr and a little caffiene, I was curred of my throbbing headache and neausea.
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