I.
For the past ten weeks I've had a pain in the lower-left abdominal region. Well, I say a pain, but it's more like a cramp; dull, rather than sharp and more discomforting than painful. Let's call it a stomach ache.
Obviously, being male, I ignored it for the first three weeks. Then, reluctantly, I made an appointment to see my GP - so that was another two weeks of discomfort (mostly when sitting or bending, rather than standing or walking around).
The GP didn't seem overly concerned; no bleeding, nausea, or signs of IBS, such as alternating or co-occurring diarrhea and constipation, so probably nothing too serious. But, just to be on the safe side, he asked me to provide a stool sample so they could test for inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
Ten days later, the results came back negative and I was told that things should just settle down; that it was probably just a muscular issue - or possibly something called diverticula (caused by a low fibre diet). When it didn't settle down, however, I was sent to a physiotherapist who suggested an X-ray on my hip and advised I do some stretching exercises.
So now, still in discomfort - let's call it pain at this stage - I am left waiting to have an X-ray with the only relief being provided by my cat, Phoevos, whose warmth and gentle purring are strangely relaxing and, one is tempted to say, even of therapeutic benefit.
II.
For whilst I don't quite buy into the spiritual belief that cats have magical healing powers and can counteract negative energy or protect from malevolent forces, there is, apparently, reliable research suggesting that interacting closely with a feline on a regular basis can lead to measurable health benefits.
Because their purring, for example, vibrates within a certain range (25–150 Hz), it can help repair damaged bone and tissue, not only in their bodies, but in ours (these same frequencies are used in medical vibration therapy - which is a thing, even if it isn't a fully scientific thing).
And thanks to the calming effect they have on us - not when miaowing at 4am to go out, or scratching at the furniture, but when being stroked on your lap - they can also counter stress and anxiety. Petting a cat, it seems, triggers the release of oxytocin and reduces cortisol and this in turn can lower blood pressure, significantly reducing the risk of a stroke or heart attack.
One tries not to be critical of members of the medical profession. But it's surely telling when one has to rely more on a moggie than the services of a GP and I can't help thinking that some of the huge amount of money that goes into the NHS would be better spent on hiring fewer bureaucrats and more felines to work in patient supporting roles.
In fact, I would quite like to see the day when the buzzer sounds at my local surgery and the receptionist announces: The cat will see you now ...
