QuestionHello again: This is kind of a dumb question concerning Benjamin, who has been discussed previously. (See Below) While he has become more like his old self; my wife had started feeding him cooked shrimp as an enticement to eat when he was down. Now he has her "trained" very well, begging for shrimp at night. I am just wondering if there is any danger to Ben by having shrimp 3 - 4 times per week.
Carl
Answer
Hi Carl. Sorry to hear of your loss.
Mostly, cats need to work through grief on their own. Sometimes cats will fall into a deep depression that they can't get out of after they lose a companion, and they need antidepressants to help them recover. Your kitty might be a candidate for this if he has lost appetite or if the depression continues for a couple of months. You should talk to your vet if either of these are true.
You may be able to help your kitty in a more natural way by using some flower essences. I like a line called Spirit Essences because they were formulated by a widely respected holistic veterinarian and an animal behaviorist. The Loss Remedy would be appropriate for Benjamin. See www.spiritessences.com for more information and to order.
Aside from this, keeping a steady routine and encouraging Benjamin to interact as much as you can will be the most important way to help him come through his depression.
I hope all is back to normal soon!
Jessica
AnswerHi Carl. A little shrimp a few times a week isn't a threat, as long as it doesn't seem to be causing any skin problems or stomach upset. People sometimes worry about mercury in seafood, but shrimp is lower than most other fish/shellfish, and cats are quite resistant to mercury poisoning, anyway. The bigger worry is that you may throw the carbohydrates/proteins/minerals, etc., in his diet off balance. As long as treats are limited to 10% of his total diet (you may be able to get away with a little more, since this is actually a good source of protein), shrimp will cause no harm.
Hope all continues to go well!
Jessica