PHYSIO-TECH presents: Hydrotherapy for Cats

Underwater treadmill as a Treatment for Rolling-Skin-Syndrome

We're meeting at a client's location in our vicinity to shoot a video.

There we meet Max and his owner. Physical therapist Melina had the idea that Max appears in our film about hydrotherapy on an underwater treadmill. Once a week, he comes to her for a work out on the underwater treadmill.

That came as a big surprise to us. After all, Max is a cat. And cats are supposed to be afraid of water—aren't they?

We quickly realize while filming: Max is enjoying the attention and affection from Melina. He doesn't mind the water in the underwater treadmill at all. In fact, quite the opposite: the movements in the warm water do him good—and he even seems to enjoy them !

But why does Max the cat go to the underwater treadmill for hydrotherapy on a regular basis? His owner explains to us: Max, who is already a bit older, suddenly started spinning around in circles and biting himself repeatedly. Eventually, she took him to the vet. The vet diagnosed him with rolling skin syndrome. As treatment, he recommended exercise therapy on the underwater treadmill. Max has been doing this regularly ever since.

“Has Max's behavior improved yet?” we ask. “Absolutely,” comes the reply. Max no longer twists around or bites himself at all. That's really great news for us as manufacturers, and we're truly delighted. But it's also great news for everyone who cares about cats.

Indoor cats, in particular, suffer from a lack of exercise and under-stimulation. A weekly visit to a physical therapy clinic for exercise training on an underwater treadmill provides relief and quickly becomes a highlight with long-term benefits.

The PREMIUM model, in particular, is recommended for cats. That’s because with this model, the treadmill can be raised very high. This makes it easy for the cat to get on. The cat is lifted over the closed door in a cat-friendly manner and placed on the dry treadmill. Then it happens very quickly: The treadmill is lowered slightly at the push of a button, and the cat comes into contact with the warm water. The treadmill starts—and the workout begins…