Pépito the cat, talks about his treatment

Dear Mr. Tom,

My name is Pépito and I am 17 years old. This is already a good age for a cat, but it is not without some inconveniences: a kind of stiffness in the joints, a bit less patience with younger cats and, of course, a certain inertia.

For a while now, I have noticed, I have begun to be grouchy, grumpy, afraid, even almost aggressive sometimes - even towards my human companion, who adopted me in 2001 and to whom I vowed to worship without limitations. On top of this, I have a tendency to forget myself inside the house. Sometimes, I have to admit, it is a bit on purpose. . . Territories need to be marked because three years ago, two mean cats invaded. They're alley cats who jump, run, argue and even eat from my bowl if I don’t pay attention. Jealous, me? Maybe. . . I have to say that those two other cats and a man in the house made my human companion divide her petting and attention. While she didn’t give up on me, I feel that the games of the younger companions make her laugh more than I can. My beautiful age has gone. . . I have to resign.

But no! I won’t resign! So I meow all night long and during meals, I relieve myself on bags, shoes or simply on the floor. I prevent everybody sleeping and during the daytime when everyone else is awake, ME? I SLEEP!!!! Ha Ha!

To be honest, I don’t feel so well. I’m anxious and very disturbed, to the point that I spend entire hours turning around a furniture or in a room, or even in the garden when the weather is nice. All of this bothers me. In fact, I’m very sad.

Exhausted and irritated by the sleepless nights and from my roary voice during meals, my humans tried to calm me down first by chiding and scolding me, but you don’t raise a voice on a sacred Burmese cat like me. Then they gave me this strange 'Rescue night', by infusing it in my water, mingling it in my meals, but without results. They changed my food, sought more tasty and softer food, so it was easier on the teeth. Nada!

Then, on the 2nd of June, they went on a holiday, letting me alone with those 2 alley cat meanies. A neighbour was passing by from time to time to fill our bowls and pet us a bit. The cat flap allowed us to come and go unencumbered. But I was feeling lonely.

They finally came back on the 12th, tanned, rested and very eager to find us. It’s always appreciated. My human companion opened the mail that was accumulated during the holidays and she found a little vial that you sent her. She looked satisfied. I understood that it was intended to me when she took me in her arms and slowly introduce those drops in my mouth. A bit of a special taste. . . She tried again several times in the daytime, 6 times in total.

A new mania perhaps?

Not really: She explained that this product was coming from nature and that it will soothe me, at least, that's what she hoped for. So I complied with this new treatment.

13th of June: No changes, still anxious. I meow through a big part of the night and I pee in the kitchen.

14th of June: I did meow once this night. I huffed a bit in principle or to answer when someone talks to me. No pee to be found.

15th of June: Quiet night. I woke up at 7 o’clock, I meowed a bit, then I ate a bit, quietly, while my human companion was taking her breakfast. I noticed that I almost didn’t startle this time when I was approached. On the peeing side, it’s perfect. As for the Meanies, I run after them when they are in my way. Normal. A rise of anxiety tonight, so I meow, I howl and I vocalize. Just the need to feel my human companion close to me. She's often really busy, but I need her to settle down with me and pet me. All it took was that she sat with me on the couch to watch the second half of the France/Albania game, for me to curl up on her, in warmth on her Angora plaid. Awesome and 45 minutes of pleasure. Thanks to Didier Deschamps and to Euro 2016!

16th of June: Woke up at 5h30. I meowed a bit. Not long. Moreover, the humans went back to sleep and slept until 8h I think; I think they understood that I meow most of all when I am hungry. And as I am hungry as soon as I wake up. . . You see the trouble.
No incontinence, even intentionally. . . But I didn’t appreciate the vacuum unchaining itself and running through the house, so I waited in the garden until this monster ended its labours. By the way, I had a sprint with the thugs who were playing in the grass. Routine.

17th of June: Quiet night until 7h30 when I heard my human companion, she was waking up. So I howled to claim my breakfast and won it easily after the installation of my morning drops. Then during the day all was serenity. Astonishing. I began to be a Zen cat again. I sleep, I eat, I drink, I think, I earn hugs and time passed slowly.

Thanks Mister Tom. In less than a week, I’m already doing better. My human family seems to feel better because of this too. I have to say that I was making them have nearly sleepless nights before you sent your magical flowers. Magic. . . Only humans think it's magic, but me, because I'm an experienced cat, I know how “simple things” can bring benefits without intoxicating us and they help us to bring back lost harmony. Their efficiency is beyond doubt for me. The hardest part is to make humans understand that, even though they are the ones who have all the means to get hold of them. The vets should calm down with their needles which only heal through appearance. When my human companion sought advice about my issues with some of them, they refused to advise her, insisting she brought me to their surgery for examination. Thanks to her I didn't have to do that. You imagine me, at my age, doing X-rays, ultrasound tests . . .? If there was an emergency to justify it, I wouldn’t say no, but that wasn’t the case here and what if they found a series of small health problems which didn't matter, while I was having my quiet and ordinary life.

One last thing: could you do something for these two meanies that came to live in my mansion three years ago, so they stay out of my bowl? I would be pleased! But I fear that you cannot do anything for these uneducated greedies.
Respect disappears, my dear Sir!

With my deep thanks, I wish the best of everything for you and your closest (including cats).

Pépito