Your Cat is a Genius: the Power of Self Selection
Cats are very special creatures that embody a bit of mystery, affection, aloofness, skilled athleticism, and love that transcends words. They steal our hearts, our bed, our food, our time, and we are simply their smitten servants. And I truly wouldn't change any of it!
Self-Healing Abilities
Did you know that cats are also self healers? In fact, like all wild animals, cats have an innate ability to know what their bodies need for healing on a physical, emotional and spiritual level. Cats in the wild will lick certain types of clay for minerals their bodies need, eat specific plants for healing or nourishment properties, and they know which organs and parts of the body of prey to eat to support their bodies' nutritional needs best.
Understanding Self-Selection
The concept of self-selection is rooted in zoopharmacognosy where animals self-medicate by choosing from a variety of herbs and plant extracts to support their bodies. I first learned about this watching a video by Caroline Ingraham who developed this technique for domesticated cats, dogs and horses. A couple of years ago I became good friends with Julie-Anne Heart of Naturally Cats in the UK who taught me more about this. Her book, The Aromatic Cat: how to use herbs, hydrosols and essential oils for your cats' wellbeing is a wonderful resource that I highly recommend!
A Personal Experience
It's one thing to hear or read about this concept but quite another when you see it with your own eyes. In fact, I've had several opportunities to explore this technique with my own cats over recent years, and it's fascinating to watch!
Here is one example. Unlike most people, I went through a very amicable divorce. After my ex moved out, my cats Aylen and Gunner seemed especially sad and withdrawn. It was apparent that my ex was also grieving and the cats were certainly picking up on it. Julie-Anne recommended trying some herbs to help shift her energy and heal emotionally.
At the moment Aylen and Gunner were sleeping together in the cat bed in my closet, so I simply opened bags of rose buds and lemongrass to let Aylen smell them. At once her nostrils began to flare, and her eyes softened and blinked. These were signs that she was enjoying them, so I put about a teaspoon of each in little piles on a small towel next to the cat bed on the floor.
Moments later she came over and sat down, positioning her heart chakra right on top of the rose buds facing the lemongrass. (Rose heals the emotional heart.) I watched in awe as she sat there allowing herself to take in exactly what she needed for support. After a few minutes she got up and joined Gunner again in bed. My mind was blown!
Excited to see what Gunner's response would be, I offered the opened bags of lemon balm and yarrow. In response to the lemon balm he gave a big stretch and a yawn as his energy released! (There was no response to the yarrow.) I sat there watching in disbelief with my mouth open. I added the yarrow to the towel and left all three herbs out for a few days so that they could continue to use them if needed.
Since that first experience I have used herbs on many occasions. Sometimes the cats use them, sometimes they don't. Regardless, it's just a powerful way to allow our cats to select what they need for healing.
I encourage you to try making your own herb garden and see how your cats respond. You can use tea bags or order dried organic herbs from online shops like Mountain Rose Herbs. In her book, Julie-Anne has charts for many kinds of conditions and which herbs, hydrosols and essential oils to use for them. Here are just a few suggestions for using dried herbs:
Herb Suggestions for Different Conditions
- For pain: comfrey, St. John's Wort, nettle, valerian, chamomile
- For digestive disturbances: catnip, nettle, chamomile, peppermint
- For sinus problems: calendula, lavender, peppermint
- For over-grooming: Angelica root, chamomile, calendula, comfrey, rose, St. John's Wort, yarrow
- For anxiety: chamomile, hops flowers, rose, valerian
- For fear: Angelica root, chamomile, linden, valerian, yarrow
- For grief/sadness: Angelica root, rose, jasmine, linden, yarrow
Watch the video here:
https://youtube.com/shorts/nyob3AoS8pY?feature=share
About the Author
Pam Roussell is a lifelong cat lover, holistic health practitioner, and passionate advocate for natural healing. With a degree in Kinesiology and over 35 years in the fitness industry, Pam combines her expertise in health and relationship-building with her deep connection to animals. She is certified in holistic health, animal communication, and Reiki, and she works as an intuitive energy healer, educator, and advocate for feline well-being. You can learn more about her and her feline holistic health site: Disclaimer: It's always a good idea to consult with a veterinarian or pet care professional before introducing new herbs to your cat's environment, to ensure they're safe and suitable for your pet.
