Thanks to Dr. Rey Felix for Taking Good Care of My Cat

By Oggie Medina

Named after actor Coco Martin, my cat COCO is a puspin (short for “pusang Pinoy”), the domestic, mixed-breed native cat of the Philippines. He is incredibly resilient, adaptable, and affectionate.

Animal welfare organizations popularized the term puspin to remove the historical stigma surrounding stray street cats, who were traditionally called “pusakal” (short for “pusang kalye”). This change has successfully encouraged more people to embrace and adopt these resilient local felines.

Having survived in diverse environments, they are naturally street-smart, highly adaptable, and incredibly quick learners. They are also exceptionally companionable animals. They form deep bonds with human families and blend easily into multi-pet households.

Puspins are remarkably hardy and often live well over 12 to 15 years when kept indoors and given proper care.

At Pet Kingdom located on Level 3 of Gateway Mall 2 in Araneta City Center, Cubao, Quezon City, I recently met Dr. Reynaldo Luis Felix, DVM, DPCVS-CA, who took good care of my puspin Coco.

Dr. Felix is a dedicated Filipino veterinarian. He is recognized for advancing the field of veterinary sports medicine, pain management, and alternative modalities in the Philippines.

Moreover, he hosted and coordinated the first-ever North Carolina State Companion Animal Rehabilitation Certification Program (CCAT III) hands-on laboratory session held in Batangas, Philippines, bringing global training standards to local practitioners.