Your Cat — November 2017

44 Your Cat November 2017

You can get emotional

support on the phone

from the PBSS.

NUTRITION

Q

Our cat is really fussy with his food.

We have tried so much and he’s

fine for a while, then changes his

mind and won’t touch it again, and he

is really vocal until he gets the food he

wants. He wants feeding about five to six

times a day. I’m running out of options

and have a cupboard full of different types

of food. Is this normal?

Jo Harris, via email.

LIBBY ANSWERS:

A

Cats have evolved to naturally

restrict their feeding and, unlike

dogs, enjoy grazing from their food,

preferring to have 10 to 20 small meals

throughout the day and night. This reflects

their natural feeding behaviour in the wild,

where they live off hunting small rodents,

which provide only a small meal. We can

often misinterpret this grazing behaviour as

a sign that our cat isn’t enjoying their food,

when in fact they have just had their fill.

Unfortunately, as a cat owner, this

can be distressing and frustrating, and

we often respond by offering more and

more tasty choices. Our cats learn that

this is happening and can even start to

manipulate this situation by waiting or

vocalising until we give them the food

they want.

The fact that your cat wants five to

six meals a day is totally normal, and in

keeping with his natural feeding behaviour.

Feeding two meals a day does not always

meet our individual cat’s needs. Ideally,

cats should be allowed to self-regulate and

graze at their food throughout the course

of the day.

However, this is not to say that cats aren’t

fussy, because they are. They are very

sensitive to flavours and textures, and will

often show a preference for flavours and

textures that they experience as kittens.

This can make trying to feed your cat

a different type of food very challenging.

It’s worth considering this when trying new

foods and flavours. —

Fussy eater

Eating little and

often is normal for

most cats.

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BEREAVEMENT

Should I feel this upset?

Q

I lost my cat Jerry recently. He

became passive last week, and

then he began bleeding, so

we went to the vet. I went to see him

every day. He was so weak; he died

without me by his side. I was on my

way when I received the call.

I feel so lonely, devastated, and

guilty — the vet told me Jerry might

have eaten a poisoned rat.

I realise that I need someone to talk

to, but everyone saw Jerry as just a

pet. I’m a counsellor at a secondary

school, and my parents think that

I should be coping with this better.

Farisha Assila, via email.

SUE ANSWERS:

A

I am so very sad to learn of the

death of your much-loved cat,

Jerry. From how you describe

events leading up to his death, it

sounds as though you are in shock

because of the suddenness of his loss.

You say that the vet thought Jerry

may have been poisoned, but there

seems to be some uncertainty. It’s

important for you to remember that,

however much we try to keep our

cats safe and protected, they are

cats and go outside hunting. Sadly,

this sometimes results in injuries,

poisonings, or accidents. Without

taking away their freedom we cannot

keep them protected from everything.

It feels that your parents may not

understand the importance of your

relationship with Jerry. As a counselling

psychologist specialising in working

with grief and loss, I am not ashamed

to share that when my cats, dogs, and

human relatives and friends die, I grieve

deeply and need to seek support from

others to help me process what has

happened. This is normal.

Talking about Jerry’s death and

your feelings of grief to someone who

understands is important. The Pet

Bereavement Support Service (PBSS),

run by Blue Cross, offers confidential

emotional support seven days a week

on 0800 096 6606 or email pbssmail@

bluecross.org.uk All of the support

volunteers have specialist training in

providing emotional support to grieving

owners, and have personal experiences

of pet bereavement themselves. You

are in my thoughts at this difficult and

sad time. —

40-45 YC Cat Care CS(am)SW.indd 44 29/09/2017 12:21