12/11/2024
🦏 The ELEPHANT in the ROOM.. 🦏
I recently have received a few questions under the content I have shared that all have a similar format.
The comments go like this:
"Are you a VET..??"
"Is this coming from a qualified veterinarian..?"
I also have received some angry faces as I share ways for cat parents to cope with chronic illness at home by learning hands-on cat care, which can help them reduce stress, save money and empower themselves to take care of things that are manageable and recognize things that need immediate emergency care and veterinary attention.
I have answered the questions several times, by stating that "no, I am not a veterinarian" and that "I am a Doctor in Psychology, and I have trained in Advanced Feline Behaviour Management, holistic cat care, nutrition, herbalism for animals, zoopharmacognosi, and have had the privilege and opportunity to work alongside veterinarians who could oversee my practices and training when I put together my courses and natural protocols".
However I want to expand a little more on this topic today, because although the above answer is pretty comprehensive, I feel that it still does not say one thing.
.Which is that the fact that I am not a veterinarian, does not mean that I cannot effectively and safely help cat parents or that I don't know what I am talking about.
See.. the undertone of the questions about my qualifications is that if I am not a DVM, then I should just crawl into a corner and shut up.
💟 I love and respect veterinarians a great deal, and I enjoy and value working alongside them.
💟 However, I do something DIFFERENT from what they do and my qualifications serve me well.
👉🏻 For example, my Psychology Degree serves me well because 50% of the work I do is offering support to cat parents who are dealing with a very expensive, very stressful, overwhelming situation with their cats at one point or another, and need to quickly put together a plan to be able to take care of their kitty facing a health challenge, or a difficult diagnosis.
I do not tell them vet care is not necessary, nor I say that traditional medicine is useless. In fact, I ENCOURAGE them to get the tests they need, and the care their cats deserve first and foremost to get the foundations right.
However, the support they need, usually AFTER the vet visits have been booked and attended and the treatments put in place, is not something their vet can offer them.
It is just NOT their vet's job.
The same way my job is NOT to prescribe drugs or perform surgery or schedule imaging and other diagnostics, their job is not to be in communications with them when they break down in tears because their cats are not eating or they look miserable or they are not easy to medicate.
That's MY job.
👉🏻 I can teach them to get pills or meds or supplements into their cats when it seems like a challenge. I can listen to them, hold space for them, and help them keep things together during a difficult time, instead of falling apart. I can give them shortcuts to quicker, easier, more affordable ways to care for their cats at home.. Because chronically ill cats cannot be chronically hospitalized. At some point they have to come home, and it's up to their guardians to know how to run the day-to-day care for them.
Usually proactive, invested cat guardians who stay up at night nursing their cats because they are sick are expected to function normally the following day whether at work or at home doing house chores or catering to their human family.. They do not have many outlets where they can share how tiring it was, or emotionally difficult it felt, and figuring out how they could do it better next time so that they can still care for their sick cats while caring for themselves a bit, too.
Taking care of kitties with a chronic condition can bring an unbearable sadness together with the resolve of trying all possible to get them to feel better.
I'm here for that. I'm here to increase the hope and tip the odds in their favour instead of simmering in loneliness and desperation.
👉🏻 Also, when cat parents want to explore ways to support their cats using herbs and nutraceuticals, or food therapy.. Again, it is NOT something traditional vets can help them with.
It would be like going to a mechanic to get directions on your next destination.. The mechanic can fix your engine, but as per getting a visual of your destination.. You better download Google Maps! You are still dealing with your car, just from a totally different angle.
🙂 This is why I encourage cat parents to have a care TEAM for their cats.
This is not a buji concept. It does not have to be costly or "exclusive".
The very minimum would be to have a vet you trust when you need to see one, and to have a holistic practitioner who can give you solutions that come with no side effects or behavioural advice for things that do not require vet care.
"Holistic" not intended as whohoo, but intended as in "looking at the big picture as a whole".
After that, depending on yout time, resources, and inclinations.. You might want to add a cat-related community, maybe an acupuncturist, or a Reiki practitioner, or an animal communicator, or a good Pet Insurance.. Whatever fits with your values and needs.
So..
❌ No I am not a veterinarian.
✅ Yes I love working with veterinarians.
❌ No I am not discrediting traditional medicine when it is the best solution in a particular situation.
✅ Yes, I have been trained, I have many other qualifications, and I can help cat parents with simple home practices to support their cats, and with natural remedies and positive training.
❌ No it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to get holistic guidance to add to regular vet care.
✅ Yes cat parents need BOTH vet care for their cats AND the services I provide. They are non-exclusive and they get different things from them.
.Have an amazing day everyone! 🌸
