22/11/2025
During my mindfulness sessions with children and teens, a little guest sometimes makes an appearance: our cat, Louna.
She may be small, but the space she takes up during a session is anything but.
At first, the door of the room where we practise is closed. Then, soft paw taps can be heard…
I ask, “Would it be okay if I opened the door for Louna?”
The answer is always yes, with a big smile — unless the child has allergies, of course.
Louna gently walks in and settles down on the small mat, close to the child — to their great delight. She purrs, sometimes offers a gentle nudge. She’s not asking for anything — she’s simply there. A quiet, soft, comforting presence.
And sometimes, it feels like she just knows. As if she can sense that this child, in this moment, needs to be seen, acknowledged — maybe even supported. Or comforted. She’ll curl up right beside them, expecting nothing. Simply being.
What’s interesting is that our other cat, Sunny, is very different.
I let the children know when they arrive: “Sunny doesn’t really like being disturbed. She needs quiet and doesn’t enjoy being touched unless she wants to.”
And I often add: “We, too, sometimes need to be alone, to have our space. And that’s perfectly okay.”
Two cats, two temperaments. And a beautiful opportunity, in each session, to talk with the children about respect, listening, and what each of us needs to feel well.
👉 And you — have you ever observed the calming effect of an animal on a child? I’d love to hear your stories.
