Summer’s Fabulous Cat Life

Cat Model, Therapy Cat, and Cat Lifestyle Expert

  • Home
  • Diary
  • Kitty Wisdom
  • Catinees
  • Store
    • Cat Beds
    • Cat Stuff for Humans
      • Cat Calendars
      • Cat Gifts
      • Cat Jewelry for Humans
      • Cat Stationery
      • Cat T-Shirts
    • Cat Trees, Towers and Furniture
    • Designer Cat Collars
    • Interactive Cat Toys
    • Litterbox Furniture, Cabinets and Covers
    • Scratching Posts and Cat Scratchers
    • Special Items for Special Kittys
  • Advice
  • Book Reviews
  • About
  • Contact Summer
    • -Advertise Here!
  • Privacy Policy
  • Fan Club
You are here: Home / Kitty Wisdom / Relax Like a Cat: A How-To in Three Simple Steps

Relax Like a Cat: A How-To in Three Simple Steps

January 5, 2021 By: Summer Samba22 Comments

Summer offers three simple steps for humans to learn how to relax like a cat.

Humans are always so envious of us kitties when they see us napping. And it’s true — we do have a special talent for making ourselves comfortable and falling asleep whenever we feel like it. You think we make relaxing look easy. The truth is, it is easy! It’s you humans who make it difficult. So I thought I would offer you three simple tips so you can relax like a cat.

Stretch

Your cat stretches frequently. In fact, we are almost as famous for stretching as we are napping. But humans don’t spend enough time stretching. That’s why you are all so tense. Because you’ve neglected stretching, your bodies have forgotten how to relax! So start stretching. All the time. Not just when you get up (although stretching when you wake up is important). All throughout the day, and especially if you haven’t moved for an hour. Stretching is a nice prelude to relaxing.

Breathe

Have you ever watched your cat breathing? She takes in full body breaths, and seems to relax even deeper with each inhale and exhale. It’s relaxing to watch. Learn to breathe like a cat — full body, taking in air from the tips of your toes, and full, slow exhales without forcing. In fact, one of the best and easiest ways to relieve stress or anxiety to take full deep breaths. Deep breathing, along with stretching, is something humans should do throughout the day, not just once in a while.

Feel Comfortable in Your Own Body

This one may be the most difficult for humans to grasp. Society and the media have done everything to make people not feel comfortable in their own bodies. With unrealistic standards and size judgments that get internalized, it’s easy to be unhappy with what you see in the mirror. We cats are lucky in that we’ve never had to deal with this. We accept ourselves as we are, whether we’re lean, round, or missing a limb. We don’t judge other cats for their appearances. In fact, we don’t judge people either for their looks. Feeling comfortable in your own body is one of the best things humans can do for themselves. Even though it will take something of an un-learning curve, work on it every day.

These three tips are the most important, and here’s one more bonus

Find a Comfortable Place to Relax

Cats can relax anywhere, but we usually prefer something comfortable and that offers a nice sun puddle to lie in. A cool plant bed is nice too. The bottom line is we pay attention to little details in our napping spots that help us to relax. You should too. But even if you can’t find the ideal place, if you follow the first three steps, you will be able to relax where ever you are.

Did you find these tips helpful? Let me know in the comments.

Other posts you’ll enjoy:

  • Relaxing and Getting Interrupted
  • Hotel Bed Time Story
  • Five Surprising Lessons Humans Can Learn From Cats

* * *
2021 Somali Cat Starring Summer Samba, Wall Calendar

2021 Somali Cat Wall Calendar, Starring Summer

See all of Summer’s merch at her her Zazzle Designercat Shop
Relax Like a Cat: A How-To in Three Simple Steps
Share53
Tweet2
Pin2
Buffer2
Email
59 Shares

Comments

  1. Catherine Lingg says

    January 8, 2021 at 12:13 am

    Summer, you are right on point. Humans are too tense, don’t know how to relax and often experience sleeping issues. I’ve always maintained that cats are superior to humans

    Reply
  2. Teddy says

    January 7, 2021 at 5:16 am

    Good advice Summer……..I always do a gigantic stretch when I first wake up but my Mom forgets to stretch her muscles so they are always tight. It’s part of relaxation but she hardly ever is relaxed! She plans to change that though – she’s having hip surgery in a couple of weeks and part of the physical therapy will be some stretching – AND after she’s totally healed she plans to take some yoga classes!!

    Hugs, Teddy

    Reply
  3. Timmy Tomcat says

    January 6, 2021 at 2:05 pm

    Summer what excellent advice to those humans. Many just cannot stop for a second and be. We cats have it down to a science

    Reply
  4. Meezer'sMews&TerrieristicalWoofs says

    January 5, 2021 at 10:00 pm

    You are practicing your Cat Therapy on us peeps, Summer!! And you know what?? It is great advice and *she* tries to do those things before she goes to her bed…it helps her turn off her had as she puts it.

    Reply
  5. Cathy Keisha says

    January 5, 2021 at 7:50 pm

    Great tips and as a cat I can vouch for them. TW says every time she stretches she gets a charley horse somewhere. She’s old.

    Reply
  6. Emma and Buster says

    January 5, 2021 at 7:25 pm

    Mama wishes she has some kitty qualities, especially when it comes to sleeping. Occasionally she suffers from insomnia, poor thing.

    Happy New Year!!!!

    Reply
  7. meowmeowmans says

    January 5, 2021 at 5:20 pm

    Oh yes. Summer, those were great napping tips! My dad is a master napper. Mom not so much. XO – Ava

    Reply
  8. Melissa & Mudpie says

    January 5, 2021 at 3:27 pm

    I definitely envy how you kitties can sleep! Thanks for the tips!

    Reply
  9. Truman says

    January 5, 2021 at 1:40 pm

    Summer, I told my meowmy to read those so maybe she can relax like us kitties do.

    Do you think she will try them? Hm….

    Reply
  10. Tonya woodruff says

    January 5, 2021 at 12:53 pm

    This is great advice, Summer!

    Reply
  11. CRAIG S. C. OKAJIMA says

    January 5, 2021 at 11:54 am

    Summer…You are a…Pretty Cat!!

    Reply
  12. Caren says

    January 5, 2021 at 11:44 am

    Kinda like YOGA!!

    Reply
  13. Ellen Pilch says

    January 5, 2021 at 10:01 am

    Great tips. I think I am a cat, I nap every day. 🙂

    Reply
  14. Marv, Jo Jo, Kozmo, Cinnamon & and Barb says

    January 5, 2021 at 9:46 am

    Excellent advice…I am going go go and practice right now!
    Marv

    Reply
  15. Raven says

    January 5, 2021 at 9:10 am

    I don’t know Summer, sometimes the kittens seem to relax in 1 step. They just flop down and relax like noodles.

    Reply
  16. Eastside Cats says

    January 5, 2021 at 8:31 am

    Summer, I may find a comfy place to relax, but then Sweetie steps on top of me and I become HER comfy place to relax!

    Reply
  17. Brian Frum says

    January 5, 2021 at 7:52 am

    I will practice immediately sweet Summer!

    Reply
  18. Lola The Rescued Cat says

    January 5, 2021 at 7:31 am

    These are SO purrfect for humans to follow! What a great idea for a post! We know our mom needs to follow these steps, that’s for sure!

    Reply
  19. Cecilia Upchurch says

    January 5, 2021 at 5:49 am

    Summer this was wonderful advice. I have always been very jealous of how our kitties could fall asleep in a nano second.
    Hugs Cecilia

    Reply
  20. Katie Isabella says

    January 5, 2021 at 4:51 am

    Funny about me..I’ll wake up several times in the night and I must make a mighty stretch each time. I do go back to sleep after a moment or two but those stretches feel so good when I do them. You would think I’d do them in the day time too but I don’t. Summer, you just reminded me to include that each day, throughout the day.

    Reply
  21. Memories of Eric and Flynn says

    January 5, 2021 at 3:07 am

    You look very relaxed. I stretch a lot and the other day when I woke up, hubby said I was stretching the way Flynn used to. I told him he must have taught me the right way to do it!

    Reply
  22. Pat K says

    January 5, 2021 at 12:45 am

    You make it sound….and look easy. Easy for you but
    you are practiced. Good advice though . I really like
    the picture and you do look very relaxed!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Follow Me Here!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Our Sponsor

Get Summer’s Newsletter!

Stay up to date and get subscriber-only exclusives!

Get Summer’s Weekly Blog Post Updates!

Know what Summer is blogging about every week.

My Zazzle Store!

Buy from Sparkle's Zazzle Store
T-Shirts, cards, mugs and more!

Summer on Video

Tweets by @sparklecat
Powered by Dealspotr
Read my blog on Kindle
Winner Best Cat Blog Dogtime Petties 2014 Winner Best Cat Blog Dogtime Petties 2010 I won Best Blog Post!
BlogPaws 2016 Nose-to-Nose Awards Finalist badge

Cat Sponsorship

  • Adopt-A-Cat’s Sponsor-A-Cat Program
  • Best Friends Animal Society Cats
  • Kitten Rescue Sponsorship Program
  • North Shore Animal League Cat Sponsorship

Kitty Fun

  • Cat Years Calculator
  • Cyber Kitty
  • Dharma the Cat
  • Is Your Cat Plotting to Kill You?
  • What Kind of Cat Are You?

Somali Cat Info

  • Somali Breed Council
  • Somali Breed Profile
  • FBRL: Somali Breeders
  • Somali Cat Breeders
  • Somali Cats on Wikipedia
  • Tajhara Somalis
  • Front Range Abyssinians and Somalis

Copyright © 2021 ·