I’ve known Henri since he was a kitten. Since the arrival of his human brother last year, Henri has been having trouble knowing where he fits. Sometimes, he has trouble picking the right words, so he asked me to write this letter to his humans from his feline point of view:
Hi My Humans,
I asked Karen to write this letter, since she’s known me for quite a while and she knows how to speak human better than I do.
You and I have been together for quite a while, since I was a kitten, you’re the only family I’ve ever known. We’ve been through quite a lot together. Moved to new houses a couple of times (that’s quite a big deal for cats, you know!), and I handled both moves quite well, if I may say so myself!
Then, last year, weird things started happening. New stuff was coming into the house and put into one room you called a bedroom. All of the stuff was pretty small, some of it smelled kind of funny, but I was able to explore it all and get comfortable.
One day, an odd little creature showed up. He was small, made strange sounds and smelled different. Kind of like a human, but he didn’t walk around or talk like any humans I know.
I thought he was visiting, but you told me he was my brother. Not sure what a brother is exactly. We got to know each other a little bit, but he still seemed strange to me, I wasn’t sure what to do with him. Was he a toy for me to play with?
This creature that I will call Brother has continued to grow. You are doing things with him now. It looks like you’re playing, but that can’t be, because play time was always with me, not Brother.
What’s really strange is through all of this, I’ve stayed the same. I’ve still wanted my meals, my people time and, of course, play time. For some reason, though, you haven’t been playing with me like we used to do. I’ve been bored, still have the same toys I’ve had forever, and I’m not getting a chance to play to get my exercise.
Without my exercise, I’ve been stressed and frustrated. I’ve tried to tell you the best I know how, but you get mad at me. Sometimes I get so much energy built up, it has to come out somehow, and it’s been me biting you. I figured out biting isn’t working, but I don’t know how else to tell you what I need from you.
I like to play hunt, and I thought when Mom runs from me, she wants to play, but I guess that isn’t what she’s saying, because she seems to be afraid of me lately.
Do you want me to play with the Brother creature? I would like to, but you won’t give me a chance.
I’m scared and confused, because as I said before, I’m the same Henri I always was, but you aren’t treating me the same. It seems you don’t like me anymore and I don’t know why, or how to fix it.
You are my family, you always have been. I just want things to be like they were. We’ve been through a lot together, and I want to enjoy life with you. The Brother creature is here to stay, I guess, and I can be ok with that, please just hang out with me, play and let’s do what we used to do. I miss our time together!
Love, your cat son,
Henri
I was happy to help Henri write this letter. He’s been a friend for the last few years, and I will always think of him that way, whatever happens.
All the best to Henri and his family!
Written by Karen
