How awesome is this? Nazzaning, a beautiful 6-year-old Turkish Van, was recommended for hydrotherapy after she was injured in June and was suffering from partial paralysis in her paw.
At first she reacted in a usual cat-to-water way, but seems to have relaxed after a few sessions.
Nazzaning’s treatments consist of 30 minutes of walking on a treadmill immersed in 4 to 5 inches of water, with a therapist helping to keep her upright and ensure proper foot placement.
“Her muscles needed to learn how to move the correct way again, and because she’s partially buoyant in water, if she makes a mistake it’s much less severe than if she’s walking on dry land,” Cooper explained.
After the treadmill, Nazzaning swims in a 4 1/2-foot pool while being supported by a therapist, to help strengthen her limbs and provide all-over exercise.
Nazzaning goes to therapy three times a week, in addition to at-home massages, and stretches several times a day.
via MSNBC.
What a lucky kitty to be so well looked after. I’m sure our Train would have objected with her teeth and claws pretty quickly after being placed in the water!
savvycat x
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Oh dear, I’m not sure how I feel about this. Sparky is a Turkish Van and we have heard the myth of the breed being being the ‘swimming cat’ for years. Sparky will splash about in a little bit of water but a pool would freak him out. To me the cat in the video seems very stressed. I know that call the cat is making, Sparky makes the same vocalizations when he’s in the C-A-R going to the V-E-T. But having said that, is a bit of short term stress worth it for the long term benefits? Well, maybe. I know I would do just about anything for our little fur boy. :)