A Simpler, Gentler Approach

I had no idea what I would write to you about this week. I’ve been preoccupied with my cat’s health. It’s been very hot here in southeastern, PA and that usually dampens my kitty’s appetite. Plus, I had made a conscious choice to keep him on the same food over the last few weeks in an effort to solve his diarrhea issues. But, Benji has always been finicky in the best of times. So the combination of the heat and his growing aversion to the same food meant he wasn’t eating much at all. A few bites here and there. Plus, he’s lost weight over the last few weeks, too.

Then, I made a mistake. In an effort to get him to eat something, I bought him one of his favorite foods - Tiki Cat sardine cutlets. This used to be one of the foods that I fed him years ago before I found out that the phosphorus levels in this food probably contributed to his urinary tract infection.

I brought the food home and like a moth to a flame he ran to his bowl and gobbled up every last morsel. I was happy that he finally ate something! But last night I could tell he was suffering from gas. He moves around a lot and gives the occasional yelp. This morning I was greeted to a river of diarrhea in the litter box. Clearly, the addition of a different food was too abrupt and not very helpful.

In an effort to solve this issue, I have been steeped in information over the last month or so about pet nutrition. And there are so many more products on the market now from grain free and hypoallergenic, to raw, natural, freeze-dried, dehydrated and on it goes. I even had an impromptu conversation with another pet owner at PetSmart, who was taking pictures of different foods with his phone. I’ve totally been there, taking pictures of labels to make comparisons between different brands. It’s maddening to be sure.

But then I came across an article that explained what may be going on in a much simpler way. It made me think back to times when I was sick as a kid and my mom would make me Cream of Wheat and plain chicken broth to settle my stomach. After a bout of illness, it was usually several days until I was eating regular meals again, even after I started feeling better.

I realized that the approach I’ve taken was simply to change foods, without realizing that those changes may be contributing to the problem. I’m not giving my kitty enough time to heal. I may need to take a gentler approach.

So today I bought turkey baby food. Just turkey, water, and cornstarch and nothing else. The baby food was recommended by a vet in the article I read. He recommends a bland diet of either boiled skinless chicken breasts or turkey baby food for one to two weeks to calm the digestive tract and promote healing. Then a gradual switch back to regular food.

I also bought some chicken breast, but didn’t have time to cook it today, thus the baby food. Benji lapped up the baby food without complaint and even had a little white rice with it. Only time will tell what will be in the litter box tomorrow, but this simple, gentler choice feels just right for now.

I think this experience is helping me in other areas of my life too. I am feeling the pull to slow down, to be gentler with myself, and to seek simpler solutions for everything.

I truly believe animals have so much to teach us about life and love. About patience and kindness. About weathering each storm as it comes. And, about living in the here and now. Maybe that’s why I spend so much of my time drawing the innocent creatures of the forest.

For now, I’m off to check on my little Zen Master and hope we’re on the road to recovery.