🐾 What Ayurveda Can Teach You About Your Pets — and Your Nature
This summer brought a lot more than sunshine, travel, and retreat time. It brought kittens. Three tiny, orphaned souls who showed up—quite literally—in our garden, shifting our whole family’s reality in an instant.
At first, it was chaos: rescue missions, bottle feeding every few hours, makeshift vet visits, and sleepless nights. But as we cared for these fragile beings, something unexpected happened. I began to see them not only as animals in need—but as living, breathing illustrations of the Ayurvedic doshas in action.
This story isn’t just about cats. It’s about destiny, timing, interconnection, and how ancient wisdom shows up in everyday life—sometimes in the softest of ways. If you’re curious what Ayurveda can teach us through three fuzzy kittens, keep reading.
🕊️ Reading time: 7–8 minutes
On Kittens, Retreats, and Summer Heat on the Island
Hello animal lovers, cat fans, yogis, and Ayurveda-health enthusiasts,
This email is not just about summer and cute kittens—it’s about the tragedies and miracles of life. The magic of interconnected events that seem so random… but in the end, can save lives. And not just one!
By the time you’re reading this, most of you will be back in the midst of everyday life—with work, kids returning to school, grocery shopping, and social commitments. But maybe, just maybe, the summer experience is still humming in your heart, giving you that extra glow and energy as autumn approaches—those final months before Christmas and the end of yet another year full of gifts and challenges.
For me, this summer was full and diverse:
There were Formula 1 races, a special few days away with my older son Vivian, a beautiful family vacation just an hour from where we live in the South of Tenerife, and quite a varied trip to Austria—including important family visits, seeing some of my clients live and in person, and going on a deep spiritual retreat all by myself.
Already filled with many new impressions, gifts, and lessons, we returned “home” to Tenerife, where one of my longest and dearest friends, Heleen, picked us up from the airport and stayed with us for a few days before heading back to Holland.
We’d already had a good laugh before she even arrived—because part of the instructions I sent her about the house, the car, and navigating a place she’d never been before included detailed “animal care” instructions. On the phone, she laughed and said, “If someone could hear us now! You’re telling me how to care for cats, lizards, geckos, and spiders in my vacation house!”
Imagine reading that on a house rental listing?
We laughed—but as it turned out, those instructions became purposeful and crucial for the survival of three little animal souls.
One of my notes had been to feed an injured black-and-white cat and to leave out water and dry food for a shy black-brown cat who usually only comes at night.
When we got back to Tenerife, Heleen told me she had been feeding the cats—but that there were three of them.
“Which three?” I asked.
“Well… the black-and-white one, the beautiful black one, and then a grey one.”
“The grey one? Hmm… I don’t know her.”
Two days later, Heleen and I were sitting on the couch, brainstorming ideas for a joint YouTube project. Both she and I are long-time yoga teachers—thirty years of experience, many travels to India, and thousands of hours of teaching between us. We were talking about what we could share that would inspire our audience.
Just then, Vivian walked in asking for the leftover cheese I had brought from Austria. He said he saw the black cat and wanted to feed her.
A few minutes later, he came rushing back into the living room, eyes wide, speaking fast and breathless:
“Mummy! Mummy! There are kittens in our garden!”
From one second to the next, we were transported from a relaxed afternoon into a completely new reality.
Kittens? In our garden?! Oh my God—how cute!
Hard to describe, but there they were, nestled in a deep ditch, overgrown with plants—a perfect little cave for little ones. And there she was: the mysterious grey cat. She was the mother. We saw her lying on her side with two tiny white-and-grey fluffballs crawling over her.
But something was wrong.
They were meowing. A strong smell filled the air. And flies.
“Something’s not right,” I said, trying to stay calm. “The mother isn’t moving… I think she’s dead.”
From that moment on, all hell broke loose. We shifted from cute kitten admirers to a full-blown emergency rescue team: my sons Mikko and Vivian, Heleen, and me.
Long story short: we saved the kittens.
They turned out to be three in total. Just as we thought our boys were growing into teenage independence, we were suddenly parenting three tiny, 2–3-week-old baby cats. All while I was supporting two of my clients through their second birth and postpartum phases.
Every parent knows the wonder—and the chaos—of this phase. Even though kittens don’t require the same attention as newborns, they still needed bottle feeding every 2–4 hours. That meant night shifts, early mornings for me, and constant feeding, cuddling, and watching throughout the day.
We weren’t sure they’d survive. They were tiny, starving, and in shock. But now—just ten days later—they’re three little fluffballs, eating, sleeping, and bouncing around our living room… which has magically turned into a kitten sanctuary.
And already, even at this early stage, we started noticing distinct characteristics—both physical and behavioral.
It was my son who said it first, while cleaning the kitchen one night as I spoke about Lily, the only female kitten, a tiny grey-and-white bundle with big blue eyes and a very picky appetite.
“She’s such a Vata type,” he said.
And I paused. “You’re right.”
And that’s when I realized—these three little kittens actually perfectly represent the three Ayurvedic dosha types.
So, let me introduce them to you…
🧶 I’ll share the full descriptions of Lily (Vata), Petzi (Pitta), and Shiro (Kapha) next—along with what it means for understanding not just pets, but ourselves too.
👉 If you’d like to keep reading, the full story continues here. (Estimated reading time: 5–7 minutes)
Meet the Kittens: The 3 Doshas in Action 🐾
Lily – The Vata Female Kitten
- She’s the smallest and tiniest—only weighing 350g when we brought her to the doctor (about 3 weeks old).
• Grey and white, not the prettiest of the three, but with a fragile, fairy-like charm.
• A very picky eater—only wants milk from one specific bottle, at just the right temperature and taste.
• She gets very excited at feeding time and is always the first to cry when hungry.
• Needs a specific position to drink and often refuses to eat, even when hungry.
• A lot of fun—she loves to play and holds her ground, even though her two brothers love to tease her.
• She gives back as much as she gets—ear-biting and playful scratches included.
• She’s cute, a little ruffled, with the shortest legs of all, often tumbling over when she runs too fast for her tiny legs.
• When she sleeps, she sleeps deeply. But she’s also usually the first to wake and curiously peek into the world—with a mix of wonder and worry.
Yes, definitely our classic little Vata soul.
Petzi – The Pitta Male Kitten
• Cleverest of the three—and the most independent.
• Fierce and a fighter from the start. He was the only one who hissed at Jens during the rescue.
• At first, he hid in every corner he could. But once fed, rested, and loved, he became the most adventurous.
• Beautiful shiny black and white fur, just like his father (the injured cat I’d been feeding).
• Clever with food—he was the first to adapt to eating solid meat and is great with the bottle too.
• He’s stunning: black head, white line down his forehead, pink nose, bright blue eyes—like a designer toy meant to melt hearts (and wallets).
• Fast, clever, adaptable, determined.
• Gets what he wants through sheer will and clarity of intention.
No doubt about it—Petzi is pure Pitta power.
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Shiro – The Kapha Male Kitten
• Simply adorable. Heleen fell in love with him instantly.
• The sweetest, most cuddly, “homey” of the three.
• The biggest at 450g, with a round belly that glows pink when he lies on his back, soaking up love.
• Radiates love—and receives it with open paws.
• Always comes to be held, petted, and loved. He treats all of us like we’re his mama.
• Melts our hearts daily—his purrs (which the others haven’t mastered yet) make it impossible to resist him.
• Beautiful soft white fur with a black tail, black ears, and black nose—just enough to make him stand out.
• His round white face and shining blue eyes hint at some Siamese genes.
• Because he looked a bit like a mountain lion, we named him “Shiro” (which means “white” in Japanese—and is also a common pet name there).
• We think he might have been the one crying the loudest when their mother died—and may have been the reason we discovered them in time.
• Though loud, he’s the clumsiest with feeding—biting the bottle, trying to chew solid food, a slow learner—but strong and steady in his own way.
Shiro is our big-hearted Kapha lovebug.
Do you recognize these dosha traits in your own pets too? Or perhaps… in yourself?
Whether you know your Ayurvedic constitution (through a proper analysis), have a good guess, or no idea at all—these distinct traits in the kittens might remind you of people you know… or your own tendencies.
Because that’s the beauty of Ayurveda.
What These Kittens Taught Me About Ayurveda (And Life)
Whether or not you’ve had an official Ayurvedic Constitution Analysis, or you’re just intuitively guessing your type—can you see yourself in one of these little beings?
Can you recognize these traits, which seem so unique in the kittens, also in people around you? Your partner? Your child? Yourself?
Yes, I guess you can. And that’s exactly what makes Ayurvedic wisdom so unique. Because even though it’s ancient (over 5,000 years old) and originated in India, it’s completely timeless and universal. It applies equally to East and West, to humans and animals alike.
Ayurveda is an ancient science, yes—but also a gentle guide, showing us how to understand that we’re all different.
And yet—just perfect the way we are.
We simply need to accept, understand, and learn:
“How I look, what I need to feel healthy and happy, and what makes me thrive—is different from my next-door neighbor, my best friend, my partner, my coworker, or even my child.”
Knowing the Ayurvedic constitutions—their unique characteristics, strengths, and vulnerabilities—makes us more compassionate and understanding.
More patient and loving—towards others and ourselves.
And not just with humans. With animals too.
It helps us see more clearly:
What do they need? What makes them feel cared for, nourished, and loved?
The Quiet Miracles That Saved Three Lives (And Changed Ours)
But the biggest teaching of these past ten days?
It’s the miracle I keep seeing everywhere.The magic unfolding right in front of my eyes — in the most ordinary moments of daily life.
I often catch myself wondering…
- “What if we hadn’t gone away this summer?
Then the mother cat might never have chosen that safe and quiet spot in our garden to give birth.” - “What if Heleen hadn’t stayed alone here for a week — feeding the mother cat at just the time she must have delivered her kittens?”
- “What if I hadn’t brought that silly cheese from Austria, even though everyone teased me about it?”
- “What if Vivian hadn’t run after the black cat with the cheese… and then discovered the kittens?”
- “What if Shiro hadn’t been such a true Kapha — the hungriest, the loudest — and cried so powerfully he saved them all?”
- “What if we had found them just a few days later — after the scorching heat… or the heavy rain?”
I know — “What if” is usually not the most useful question.
But still… what if?
What would have happened to them?
You can call it coincidence. Or logic. Or nature taking its course.
But I choose to see the magic in it all.
The interconnectedness of life.
The chain of tiny events that saved three lives — and changed ours in the process.
From inviting Heleen to stay,
to her choosing to feed the mother cat,
to me packing that cheese,
to Vivian chasing a cat with love in his hands,
to us becoming the heros who rescued them all…
… and to me, once again, becoming a mother —
but this time to three tiny orphan kittens.
To be honest?
I wasn’t thrilled at first. Saving them was clear. But… what now?
Three cats? In our home?
The care, the fur, the feeding, the litter box, the travel logistics?
I love animals — but I’m also realistic. The responsibility of having three cats for the next 15 years?
Not exactly what I had in mind.
But as Jens always says:
“Let’s cross the river when we get there.”
So we focused on giving. On feeding. On loving.
And something unexpected happened…
In the process of caring for them, we began to transform too.
We softened.
We became more aware.
We grew closer as a family.
And here I am — a woman who had always said “no” to another pet…
…now living with not just one—but three.
Three wild, soft, sacred reminders of how life sometimes knows better than we do.
🐾
One Last Pawprint Before You Go 🐾
These past ten days have reminded me—once again—that life is always speaking to us. Through kittens. Through chaos. Through timing that makes no sense and yet unfolds so perfectly, you can only call it grace.
Ayurveda teaches us to see the world in patterns, elements, and energies. But more than that, it teaches us to meet each being—human or animal—as sacred and unique.
These three kittens, each so different in body and temperament, reflected back to me the beauty of our differences… and the deep wisdom that comes when we learn to care for each other accordingly.
May we all take time to notice the miracles tucked inside the mundane. To love what shows up, even when it’s unexpected. To trust that sometimes, we are being guided in ways we can only understand in hindsight.
🙏 If you’ve had moments like these—or are longing for more connection to your own rhythms and inner wisdom—I’d love to hear from you. You can always reach me here on my website and send me a note.
With love from our little sanctuary,
Verena Gayatri Primus
P.S. Do you see your own pet in one of these dosha types? Or maybe even yourself? 😊
I’d love to hear your reflections—or help you discover your own unique Ayurvedic constitution.
Just send me a note in my contact from and reach out if you’re curious. These insights can open a whole new level of self-understanding (and love). 💛
Free Holistic Health Starter Kit!
5 Holistic Health Practices: The Secret to Staying Mentally Strong
& Emotionally Grounded
Kickstart your Ayurveda-Yogi Journey with this FREE Holistic Health Toolkit. It’ll will help you prioritize self-car and finally stick to it!
