Totem Tuesday: Cat Medicine

Cat Medicine

by Felina Lune Kavi

"A house without a cat is like a hug without a kiss."  - a quote remembered from my childhood...inscribed on one of my mother's knick-knacks

Keywords:  Independence, Healing, Curiosity, Mystery, Magic, Perception, Agility, Intuition, Telepathy, Duality

Of all the animal totems I am asked about, Cat Medicine is most frequently mentioned.  It seems a good place to start, considering this totem has been with me from the very beginning…inherited from my mother and her mother (and many generations before her), and passed down to my daughter.  Cat is my ‘below’ totem, which is to say that it guides my feet along my path and connects me with nature.  Also, being an inherited totem, its medicine keeps me grounded and connected with my roots.  I have always had cats…or, rather, they have always had me.  My current familiar, Ani, is pictured above.  Our relationship is beyond companionship, even beyond family, and I have learned a lot from her as well as many other cats throughout my life.  I am grateful for these gifts.

The origin of the old saying that cats have nine lives has to do with their unique healing abilities.  A cat’s purr is not just their way of communicating contentment; it holds a greater magic.  The frequency of the purr (between 20 and 140 Hz) can heal bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments and soft tissue.  We humans, too, can benefit just from being near them.  Petting a purring cat lowers stress and blood pressure, heals infection and swelling, and decreases the risk of a heart attack.  This is why, as they are self-healers, they can often bounce back quickly from near-death experiences…and why, as healers of others, they are often a welcomed pet in places that care for the sick or elderly.

Cats are also well-known for their curiosity, which allows for them to experience adventure even in the most domesticated circumstances.  They are courageous thrill-seekers and will investigate, with all senses, anything that piques their interest.  This teaches us to explore our world and our options, especially in new surroundings and circumstances.  

It is also true that there is a duality inherent in the cat nature…which is why we also have the phrase ‘scaredy cat’.  For as much as they are brave in their curiosity, they can also be easily spooked…usually by things that may seem irrational (such as the sound of plastic sacks…like my familiar, Ani.  Though, having been thrown away into a dumpster before she came into my life may have something to do with that fear).

Another duality of the cat is that one of their strongest totem medicine teachings is about independence…however, the domestic cat often appears dependent on their humans.  Still, that is mostly because we make the domesticated life rather easy for them…and they are smart enough not to refuse such luxuries as having a loving servant to care for their needs.  If left to their own devices, though, even a housecat would find ways to sustain themselves…especially if left outdoors.  Like many animals who share space with humans, cats are resourceful and opportunistic creatures and are highly skilled at self-care.

Cat medicine teaches agility in body and mind.  Cat people may appear to be quite lucky, seeming to symbolically land on their feet even after a difficult fall.  They have the ability to adapt to their surroundings quickly and the strength to bounce back after finding themselves in challenging circumstances.  Their clear perception allows them to sniff out a friend or foe easily. 

Timing is an integral part of what the cat has to teach us.  The way they attack their prey is very controlled.  They employ a great deal of patience while waiting for the right moment, the ability to preserve energy and observe every detail, and a clear sense of timing in action…even when situations are tense and heavy.

Deep perception, intuition, and telepathy are skills taught by Cat Medicine.  Their connection to others goes far beyond the physical, and this translates to those with this totem as well.  They are also very adept at mind-reading.  The ability to go beyond the barriers of language to send and receive messages is quite useful in getting a point across, as well as forming strong bonds with others.  And with their heightened intuition and perception, Cat people can sense all manner of things before they happen.

Cats are associated with magic and mystery as well.  They are symbols of many Goddesses (most of them deities associated with fertility or wisdom) such as Freyja (Norse), Ceridwen (Welsh), Atana Potnia (Minoan), Shasthi (Hindu), and Bastet and Sekhmet (Egyptian).  Those who practice magic and who have a cat know that these animals are drawn to such things…they feel very at home in a sacred circle and will often join you.  

With powers of stealth and shape-shifting, cats are adept at traveling between worlds.  Their ability to see in the dark, with eyes that quickly adapt, shows us how to illuminate what is often ‘unseen’.  Because of this, Cat people often find themselves particularly drawn to shadow work…knowing that the light within will always be overshadowed if we do not first do the difficult work of acknowledging and embracing the dark and repressed parts of ourselves.

If Cat is one of your totems, these and many other lessons will be prevalent in your life.  Cat will urge you to refine your mastery of this medicine.  If you see a cat, but it is not one of your totems, respect it as a messenger for that time.  You may need its medicine for what is happening then or what is coming up in the near future.  Accept and appreciate the gifts the cat gives you, whether it is affection in the form of a purring companion in your lap or a meal in the form of a dead animal at your doorstep (you can always thank them for providing for you and dispose of it later when the cat isn’t looking!).  Despite their reputation for being aloof and finicky, cats actually care very deeply for their loved ones.