Tonight was a typical night of a quick run to Whole Foods to pick up a few things and then home to feed that cats. It’s National Cat Day and they were in no mood to wait for their dinner.

Sometimes I think we get lost in the beauty of our pets meals. They wait all day in anticipation of that ceremonial pet on the head which leads to the crinkle of the treat bag always first and then dinner. It’s a routine they both know too well. I have two black and white cats. Chaos is 18 and Bear is 6, but a kitten 6. Chaos has been with us since the very beginning. He’s a beautiful American Short Hair with a full white belly and half of a mustache. When he was born he stopped breathing and his mom tossed him out of her little nest. My daughter picked him up and rubbed his tiny little chest until he belted out this kitten squeal that quickly got the attention of his mother. He was the obvious choice to keep from that litter. This cat has had a very strong will to live and I’m grateful every day for it. He’s been my best friend. He’s 18 this month but you’d never know it. He jumps, plays, eats, drinks and occasionally gets a good jab and clocks Bear up the side of his head. His energy level is up there. Bear is 6. I brought him home from the pet shelter when he was 1. He was super chill and when I went to pet him, he closed his eyes and put his paw on my hand. We connected! The very next day when I went to bring him home, he was the only cat sitting in the window just waiting. It was the most beautiful moment. He knew he was coming home. He’s an American Long Hair all black with a little white star on his chest and a big bushy tail. He’s majestic and gorgeous.  He enjoys cardboard boxes, laser pens and his cat treats. He’s slowly buying into the lap thing.  They both get whatever they love and sometimes an abundance of it.  My daughter says that I spoil them but if you’re a pet owner, who doesn’t?

When it comes to meal time, I’m reminded at 4am and then again when I walk in the door in the evening. For the longest time I only fed the boys organic dry and wet food. That is until Bear got crystals and I found out it was from the white fish in his food. He was put on a prescription dry food that is very expensive. Although very pricey, it did the trick and he’s had no problems since. If you break it down price per bowl per meal, he’s eating pretty high on the hog. If this was a pet restaurant, he’d have to make reservations 6 months in advance for a bowl.  Maybe Michelin should give out stars for cat food. He loves the taste of it and hasn’t shown any signs of boredom so it’s worth every penny. Canned food is a whole different story. The vet said he could have any wet food as long as there was no white fish. For months the boys ate Whole Paws but like every canned food I buy, they got bored with it. It’s an hour round trip drive to buy this food so I was open to other options. I brought home everything under the sun that had a high rating. No luck. It has to be pate. That’s the only condition. Every one I brought home was good one day and I was throwing it out the next. So back to the vet. He told me to just buy anything as long as they had the prescription dry food. So I went with the old stand by and bought what I think is the equivalent to crack for cats. It’s a cheap brand and they actually eat it. Chaos loves it and at 18, that’s important for him. I have to alternate the flavors every 4 days but they eat it. It’s really kills me to open that can twice a day but it’s their meal time and if they’re content, it’s a win. Some people make their own cat food and that’s impressive providing they know what they’re putting in there. I know quite a few people, especially dog owners, that make their own food. Now that’s love!

I think the one thing I needed to do was to apply the same philosophy I do to our food. Sometimes it’s not what you serve but how. I put a lot of love into what I give them. Their cat dish is a Rae Dunn bowl.  It’s a ceremonial occasion every day. They’re pumped it’s meal time and I’m thrilled they’re still eating this food. They’re healthy and happy. Some days we have to start with a treat to stimulate them which I’m sure my daughter would call shenanigans on that. She says I just keep spoiling them. Either way, it’s their meal and served with bottled spring water, they’re happy. Happy cats make me happy.

Pets show unconditional love. They teach us that too. The least we can do is treat their mealtime as exciting as our own. They look forward to it like we do. It’s healing for them just like it is us. If you’re happy when you eat it, good things happen. And just like us, usually with cats, it’s nap time almost immediately after. To them, that’s a good thing.

The next time you’re preparing the food for your best friend(s), remember how it feels. Be happy and excited for them. They love you for it so put as much love as you can into what’s going in that dish just like you would your own family. Believe me, what you’ll get in return from these beautiful creatures we will never be able to completely return in their lifetime.

That’s the power in pet food.