p.1

Cat Exercises

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With cats you must be more creative!
• Must understand feline behavior
• Excellent handling skills
• Most effective through play
• Must keep sessions short

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Shearburn LD, Sundahl E and Westropp JL. 2013. AAFP and ISFM Feline Environmental Needs Guidelines Using play to provide exercise and mimic predatory behavior: Ellis SLH, Rodan I, Carney HC, Heath S, Rochlitz I, Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery 15: 219-230. Feline Obesity. 2011. www.vetlearn.com. VetStreet, Inc. pg 1-2.

Move a rod or wand with a fur or feather toy on the end in a way that mimics flying prey (swooping through the air) or ground prey (moving in straight lines swiftly away from the cat).

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Hands Free Play
•Avoid using hands and feet in any type of play to prevent injury to the cat or handler.

p.5

Scratching on a post or pad

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Laser Play
•Laser beam light being used in rehabilitation to increase hip extension ROM

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Cat Specific Exercises
• Walking
• Proprioception Training
• Flexibility
• Endurance
• Balance and Weight Shifting
• Land Treadmill
• Aquatic Therapy

p.8

Range of Motion Passive ROM being performed to
the elbow joint to improve elbow flexion motion

p.9

Functional Stretch
• A cat with limited hip extension performing a functional stretch using their body weight and a
tracking game. A toy is held in front of the cat and the harness is used to control their position.

p.10

Physio Roll
• Supported (assisted) standing over a Physio Roll to build endurance and muscle strength and to enhance balance and proprioception.
• Weak or neurological patients

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Learning Proprioception

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Balance Board
•Balance board/platform being used to challenge balance, promote limb use, and also provide
Strengthening.

p.13

Cat Cavaletti’s

p.14

Cat Dancing
• Dancing exercises used to promote rear limb use. This exercise can be performed forward or backward depending on the muscles or joints affected

p.15

Cat Wheelbarrowing
• Designed to improve use of forelimbs
• Rear limbs are lifted off the ground and cat is moved forward
• Cats that have weak forelimbs may require support to keep them from collapsing.
• From textbook Essential Facts of Physical
Medicine, Rehabilitation and Sports
Medicine in Companion Animals, 2019.

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BOSU and Uneven Surface

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Thank you VetScope