Rheum After 5: Dr. George Tsokos Shares His Love & Friendship with a Cat

Inexplicable Connection

Dr. Tsokos has been cat sitting Little for roughly a decade.

“The first time I cat sat, we were left alone and had to start a relationship,” he says. “I love the adoring looks she gives me, how she follows me around and likes to catch water out of a running faucet.”

One of his sketches hangs in his son’s living room. When Dr. Tsokos visits Christos and Emma at their home, Little immediately recognizes him, demands his full attention and insists they play together, which Dr. Tsokos never seems to mind. (Makes you wonder who he’s really visiting.)

Click here to listen to Dr. Tsokos’ interview.

He also enjoys sketching buildings and bridges, especially the Longfellow Bridge in Boston, but has vowed never to sketch any other cat besides Little. Over the years, he has produced more than 100 sketches of her. Two of them are also displayed on his office walls.

“She’s a very interactive and intelligent cat,” he says. “She’s very picky and opinionated, and I like the way she plays with me.”

Dr. Tsokos lovingly refers to Little as his grandcat. Just like a proud grandfather, he overlooks and forgives her naughty habits, even when she destroys his personal items, which he never scolds her for and refuses to address. He says he gets just as much joy and comfort from her as his two human grandchildren, ages 7 and 4, who are “simply amazing.”

He doesn’t really know why his bond with Little is so strong.

“Not everything has an apparent reason in life,” he says.

Even Cats Have Boundaries

Surprisingly, Dr. Tsokos has no plans to adopt a cat of his own. He compares animals to young children who constantly need time and attention—something that’s in short supply due to his busy work schedule—and dislikes the idea of kenneling cats for any reason.

Still, he’s not ruling out adoption. “There’s no way of knowing,” he says.

Meanwhile, he wishes Christos and Emma would travel more often so he could spend more quality time with Little.

“I love the way she snuggles up against me,” Dr. Tsokos says. “But if I’m not careful and touch her in a way that accidentally hurts her, she’ll bite me. I need to be respectful of her; otherwise, our friendship will be over.” 

Carol Patton, a freelance writer based in Las Vegas, writes the Rheum After 5 column for The Rheumatologist.