Our treasured cat of close to 20 years left us a few months ago, moving on to what is undoubtedly Cat Heaven.  We still miss her.

At the age of 19 (92 in human years) she became unwell and spent two days in hospital, was diagnosed with kidney failure. A common affliction in cats. Remarkably she recovered from that episode, and remained well up until a week before she finally said goodbye.

The exact cause of her demise wasn't clear, she became distressed and a needle was the obvious and generous solution, her amazing run came to an end. 

Silky the Cat was an important part of our lives. She would talk to us first thing in the morning, or when we came home from work or school. She joined the family at the dinner table for the evening meal, she had her own place setting (was allowed two paws on the table, but never more). And she rotated her sleeping arrangements according to who was the favourite of the day. She was always one for a conversation, even if you weren't quite sure what was being discussed.

Three weeks after her final visit to the vet a card arrived from them. Handwritten, low cost, but with oodles of care. The card has been sitting on my desk for months, waiting for a free moment to write this article. I've looked at it many times and still get moist in the eyes when reading what the team at the Vet clinic have written.

This week I've seen four patients who work at one particular organisation.  Three of them were full of angst, unhappy about the way they had been treated they expressed lots of resistance about getting back to work. 

In contrast the Vet and her team made a small gesture to us, a kind thought that sensed our experience and responded to that.   Personable, humane, kind.  The sort of positive gesture in a negative context that one remembers for a long time. 

The organisation where the four patients work is pressing, trying to achieve an outcome, working hard, sometimes getting it right, sometimes missing the mark.  They are a little pushy at times, forms, busy, they do not respond to the person.

The result in the 3 out of the 4 cases I have seen this week from this organisation is resistance. 

This resitance creates more forms, greater busy, stronger push.  But, it isn't good for anyone's health.  And the long term cost, in every sense, will be significant.

All it took for the Vet to do good for us was a simple card.