Expert: Jessica - 4/28/2010

Question
Hello 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

Answer
Hi 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