The E-Collar Epiphany: When Cat Care Became Theology

Lucy
Sep 15
4 min read

Updated: Sep 15

Here’s the Scoop:

The overwhelming cascade of feline health drama
The surprising lesson Lars taught me through an E-collar
And what I realized about God’s love through my cats’ pain

When It Rains, It Purrs

About ten months ago, the feline health roulette wheel started spinning and apparently the ball dropped for all four of our cats. I wish I were exaggerating. After we lost our beloved Daphne to chronic kidney disease, a journey so long and grueling it could’ve had its own memoir, I thought maybe we’d get a little breather.

Spoiler alert: We did not.

It was like every cat took a turn saying, “Tag, I’m it.” IBD flare-ups, claw injuries, diarrhea marathons, lethargy mysteries, steroid decisions, kidney concerns...you name it, we’ve probably treated it.

And somewhere around month three of this madness, I found myself staring at a chart of vet appointments and medication dosages with tears in my eyes and the unmistakable realization that I was completely overwhelmed.

Asking “Why?” Was Getting Me Nowhere

In the middle of this cat chaos, I kept asking God, “Why?” Why all of them? Why now? Why this endless grind of vet visits and stool samples and syringes?

Our wise pastor often says something that stuck in my soul like duct tape:

“Instead of asking God why, ask God what.” What do You want to teach me in this? What do You want me to see about myself? What do You want me to know about You?

So I started asking the “what.” A lot.

Enter Lars and the E-Collar of Doom

Right in the thick of everything, Lars injured his paw...broke a claw clean off. Cue daily meds. Cue the dreaded cone of shame.

Now, Lars is my shadow. He follows me around, cuddles up under blankets, gives me soul-gazing eyes that say, “You’re my person.”

But slap an e-collar on him? Suddenly, I was the villain.

He avoided me. Hid from me. Ran when I came near with his meds.

And it was heartbreaking.

I wasn’t hurting him, I was helping him. The collar, the meds, the wound checks...I hated every second of it because I knew he hated every second of it.

But I also knew if I didn’t do it, the wound could get infected. He could get worse. So I did it anyway...with heartbreak and love.

Wait a Second…Is That How God Sees Me?

Then it hit me like a bag of pill pockets:

This is how God sees me.

When life gets hard, really hard, I look up at God and ask, “Why are You allowing this? Why are You letting me suffer?”

Just like Lars looked at me and saw only the e-collar. The pills. The discomfort. The one who seemed to be making everything worse.

But what if God, like me with Lars, is seeing the bigger picture? What if He feels the ache when we suffer, but stays present anyway, administering what we need to heal...even if we run from Him?

I wasn’t mad at Lars for hiding. I just wanted to comfort him. I didn’t want him to suffer. I just knew the only path to healing was through this difficult season.

The Deep Compassion I Didn’t Expect

Caring for four cats with chronic or flaring health issues has made me feel a thousand things: stress, exhaustion, fear, guilt, overwhelm…but also, love...deep, wide, aching love.

And that love, that urge to be near even when they hide, to care even when they hiss, to help even when it’s not understood...is a flicker, a mere glimmer of God’s love toward us.

When the “What” Became Clear

Through the stress, the grief of losing Daphne and the emotional exhaustion of managing so much unknown, God didn’t give me a why.

He gave me a what.

What if this suffering is growing your compassion? What if your helplessness is teaching you dependence? What if you’re learning how deeply I love you, even when you don’t understand My ways?

I’m not thrilled the cats are struggling. I still pray for healing and simpler days. But I know none of this is random...God has allowed every detail with purpose and care. What I’m starting to realize is that this season is an opportunity, a deeply personal space where God is shaping me, helping me see His heart more clearly as I care for my cats in their pain.

Even when they’re wearing an e-collar and think I’m the bad guy.

Takeaway Treats

Chronic pet health struggles can be emotionally and spiritually exhausting.
Our pastor’s advice to ask “what” instead of “why” helped reframe the hard season.
Watching Lars struggle through treatment gave me a small glimpse of how God might see us when we suffer.
God lovingly tends to us, even when we run or misunderstand Him.
Even though I still long for healing, I’m embracing the growth, depth and closeness with God that can come through trial.