What Cats Can Teach Us About Supporting Children with Anxiety
It was during a session when a young child commented that they would love to be like a cat.
I have 2 very gentle, loving cats that are in the room while I deliver sessions (for those who are not afraid of cats of course). I have begun to notice a pattern that children and young peoples fascination with them is more than just the cats being a calming distraction and more about the admiration and desire of their personality and what can be learned from them.
It’s the calm, confident, and self-assured qualities of cats and how they live a more peaceful and authentic life. These qualities strongly align with how children with anxiety often wish to feel in their daily lives.
Children with anxiety often desire peace, self-confidence, autonomy, emotional safety and acceptance, all of which are embodied in the cat-like philosophy Stéphane Garnier outlines. The cat becomes a metaphor for emotional regulation, self-trust, and freedom, which can be challenging to achieve when the world can feel overwhelming, fast-paced, and filled with pressure to conform.
Later that day I was in my local library with my daughter when I completely randomly came across this charming and insightful book called “How to Live Like Your Cat”, by Stéphane Garnier. What are the chances!
This beautiful book led me to explore this simple but profound idea further: what if we lived more like cats? Not just in lazing about or chasing sunbeams but in the way cats carry themselves through the world.
But a cat shows us another way.
Calm Is a Superpower
Cats have no problem taking a break. They rest often, without guilt. For a child with anxiety, this kind of unapologetic stillness is powerful. These kids often feel like they have to keep up or stay alert all the time. Teaching them that it’s okay to pause, just like a cat, can be transformative.
Be Proud of Your Unique Self
Cats never try to be someone they’re not. They walk, stretch, and play in their own rhythm. Children often struggle with self-esteem after years of being told to “focus,” “sit still,” or “act normal.” A cat says: just be you. And that’s a message our kids desperately need to hear.
Focus on One Thing at a Time
When a cat plays, it doesn’t multitask. It’s fully immersed in the moment. Children are often juggling too many distractions. Teaching them to slow down and enjoy just one thing at a time can reduce stress and increase joy.
It's Okay to Say “No”
A cat knows when to walk away. It doesn't stick around if it’s overstimulated or tired. Children with anxiety often feel trapped in situations they can’t control. Giving them permission to say “no” or ask for space is a step toward emotional safety.
Trust What You Feel
Cats live by instinct. They don’t question their feelings they respond to them. Children with anxiety are often told not to worry or to calm down. But their feelings are real. Helping them trust their inner voice builds resilience and self-awareness.
Play Your Way
Whether a cat is leaping through the air or quietly swatting a string, it plays how it wants. Children thrive when they can explore their world on their own terms. That means embracing different learning styles, movement, and curiosity.
Self-Love Is Not Selfish
Cats love themselves without needing approval. Children who struggle emotionally often feel they need to earn love through behaviour or achievement. But like a cat, they deserve love simply for being.
Children and young people are so creative and insightful and I thank each and every one of them for helping me to delve deeper into his connection.