You’ve probably seen influencers on Instagram or videos on TikTok of yogis doing yoga poses with goats and dogs climbing on top of them, but did you know there’s also animal yoga for cats?
Cat yoga is less common than dog or goat yoga, but it still exists. The concept is undoubtedly appealing. Who wouldn’t want to participate in a yoga practice with cats roaming around you and maybe even snuggling up to you during Shavasana? But does it really live up to its reputation? And, more importantly, is it ethical? Read on to learn more about the pros, cons, and ethics of attending a cat yoga class.
Where did cat yoga come from?
As far as we know, the concept of combining animals with yoga practice didn’t actually start with cats.
Doga (a portmanteau of “dog yoga”) originated in the United States in the early 2000s and spread across the Western world by the early 2010s. This hybrid exercise program combines yoga practice with pet dogs. But dogs aren’t the only animals yogis are working out with: classes with goats, llamas, mini pigs, rabbits, and even butterflies have been popping up across the U.S. and Canada in recent years.
What are the benefits of cat yoga?
Taking part in a cat yoga class may have some benefits.
Animals are key in yoga
Although most cat yogis aren’t looking to start a strenuous exercise or yoga practice, it’s interesting to know the role animals play in yoga philosophy.
Proponents of animal yoga claim that practicing with pets emphasizes some of yoga’s core focuses, such as the bond between living beings. Yoga philosophy is heavily influenced by Hinduism, Jainism, and Buddhism, religions that highly respect animals. Yoga acknowledges the interdependence of all living beings, and animals are deeply rooted in yoga’s history. Look at the poses named after animals, from cobras, camels, eagles, frogs, cows, and of course cats.
Spending time with cats is good for us
Numerous studies have shown that just being around pets can have therapeutic effects on humans, so for those who can’t interact with their pets for whatever reason, cat yoga offers a chance to reap the benefits of spending time with a cat.
Cat yoga can increase cat adoption rates
One really great benefit of cat yoga is that it is usually held in adoption centers or cat cafes. Holding classes in these locations encourages adoptions – introducing cat lovers to kittens looking for their forever homes inevitably increases adoption rates.
4 problems that can occur with cat yoga
Animal yoga has long been criticized as a fad, with critics saying it belittles the practice and
1. Potential for disease transmission
Cats can easily become overwhelmed by a group of strangers. This can lead to aggression and other abnormal behavior. Fearful cats may attack or scratch the yoga practitioner, exposing them to a variety of diseases and infections.
2. Potential for Harm
Anytime humans interact with strange animals, they put the animals at risk, and while yoga is generally harmless under normal circumstances, anything can happen in a room full of clumsy humans and curious cats. For example, attempting to do Child’s Pose or Shavasana on a cat lounging on a yoga mat could seriously injure the cat.
Additionally, cat yoga participants may not receive instruction on how to safely handle the animals they come into contact with during class. People who have never held a cat may not understand how quick and agile they are and may drop them while handling them.
3. Potential for disaster
If you have a cat, you already know that you can’t force your cat to do anything it doesn’t want to do, but in a cat yoga class, your cat will be forced into situations that will probably cause them pain.
While most class participants seem to have pure intentions and want to spend an hour with cute cats, some may only be there to create content for social media. Snuggling against your cat’s will for an Instagram photo is not cute and can be quite damaging, especially to a kitten who is still learning about humans and figuring out whether they can be trusted.
4. Possible animal cruelty
A shocking investigation in 2023 found that puppies as young as six weeks old were denied water or even allowed to sleep in order to be used in dog yoga classes. Hopefully this studio is an exception, but it’s hard to know what goes on inside a studio that holds animal yoga classes. For cat yoga, this may be less of an issue, as most of these classes are held in adoption centers or cat cafes, but animal cruelty can happen anywhere.
Should I take a cat yoga class?
Whether or not you decide to take part in cat yoga is entirely up to you, but it might be a good idea to think about why you’re interested in such a class in the first place.
Are you looking to get into yoga? Animal yoga classes are more focused on the animals than the yoga itself, and there are plenty of classes more suitable for beginners than signing up for a cat yoga class.
Want to support your local cat adoption center or cat cafe? You can help by simply supporting these centers financially without having to attend potentially unethical yoga classes. Support your local cat cafe or donate to an adoption center.
Can’t keep a cat yourself, but want to spend time with one? You can connect with cats (and other animals) by volunteering at your local shelter or humane society. These organizations are always looking for adults to help care for the animals in their care.
Do you like doing yoga surrounded by cats? If you already have a cat at home, why not join a YouTube yoga class from the comfort of your own home? You’ll be surrounded by cats you’re already familiar with, so there’s no risk of disease transmission or animal cruelty.
Final thoughts
Cat yoga may sound fun and cute at first glance, but there’s a lot to think about before signing up for this class. Unfortunately, there’s always some risk of ethical violation when forcing animals to do things for human enjoyment.
While I am passionate about all efforts to increase adoption rates for cats waiting for their forever homes, I won’t be joining a cat yoga class anytime soon. However, if you do plan to attend a local class, do your research to find the most responsible instructors and organizers. You definitely don’t want to contribute to the cruelty of the animals you are trying to help.
Featured image credit: Yuri A, Shutterstock
