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I had an interesting epiphany while buying cat food at the grocery store the other day. You see, having been in the animal care profession for 12 + years, I know first-hand the importance of quality dog and cat food. I have personally lectured those with dogs and cats on how vital proper nutrition is in animals, and the difference between higher quality, and lower quality, pet food. On the other side of that, I have also personally seen people neglect their animals to the point of starvation, and thought to myself with disgust, “Would it have killed you to spend 50 cents on a can of Friskies?”. So there I was, at the grocery store, with a very cheap bag of cat food. Why? Because the tides have changed in my life, as can happen to all of us, and I have had to pick myself up, and dust myself off, from a recent major life change. As such, I have had to go back to the very basic commitments that I have made to the animals that I have taken-on in my life; food, water, and shelter. Unfortunately, this does not mean the very best, and very expensive, food that they have eaten in the past. I simply cannot afford that. As I saw a woman glance down at my bargain cat food selection, I felt myself automatically getting defensive at my assumption that she was judging my choice, and I came up with a laundry list of explanations for my “failure” as a pet-parent; “I am doing the best that I can”, “I am going to put them back on the expensive food as soon as I am on my feet”, “they seem to be doing ok on this stuff”. After she glanced down at the bag of food, she looked back up and said, with a slight smile, “I lost my cat about a year ago to cancer; I sure do miss her”. I quickly let go of my own insecurities, and as I began offering my apologies to her for her loss, it hit me; I will not be ashamed that I cannot afford the best food out there right now. I will take pride in the fact that, despite my current struggles, I am making my pets care my top priority. I will take pride in the fact that I am keeping my basic commitments to always provide food, water, and shelter. And I will never again make assumptions about someone else for buying the “cheap stuff”. Hey, at least they’re trying.
If I didn't know better I would swear you were hired
Amen to loving and taking care of your cat the best way you know how.
I’m given grief because I happened to fall in love with a dog at a pet shop. I get the whole “don’t you know they’re from puppy mills?”. I don’t love this beautiful, relaxed, loving and gentle darling any less because she came from a mill. She deserves my love just as if I’d gotten her from a breeder. I also love the one I got from a flea market. I love them the same, with all my heart!…and I know they love me.