Doctor Prescribes 'Very, Very Sad' Virginia Woman a 'New Cat'

Patient Robin Sipe found kitten Earlene after her pulmonary physician, Dr. Earl King, advised her to get a new cat

A Virginia woman is thanking her doctor for helping her find some joy after prescribing her a new cat.

Pulmonary physician Dr. Earl King at Sentara RMH Medical Center advised patient Robin Sipe to get a new cat after he noticed that she appeared “very sad” during a recent visit with him.

“Dr. King has saved my life at least three times,” Sipe, who resides in Grottoes, Virginia, told local NBC affiliate WHSV. “I was very, very sad. Dr. King asked me why I was so sad because he was concerned about my overall well-being.”

“I told him I had lost my beloved pet, a cat, and I was very sad about her loss,” Sipe explained.

Related: Chicago Marathon Runner Sacrifices Personal Record to Help Stray Kitten at Mile 21 (Exclusive)

The Virginia native was treated by Dr. King and other medical professionals for lung problems at Sentara RMH for years before her latest health issue — which required a rather different solution.

“I’d recommended that she proceed to get a new cat and I actually wrote her a prescription to get a cat,” Dr. King told WHSV. He explained that cats and dogs are “important for patients for comfort, for touch, for wellbeing of their cardiovascular health, lung health.”

Following her doctor’s visit, Sipe found a three-legged kitten while out picking up some produce at a farm and brought her home.

Related: Meet Wisp, the ‘Scrungly’ Persian Kitten Who's Made TikTok Fall in Love (Exclusive)

Sipe named the kitten ‘Earline’ in honor of Dr. King. “He was compassionate, he was caring, he went the extra mile for me,” she continued. “And I hope that everyone can have a doctor in their life just like Dr. King.”

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

According to WHSV, Earlene lost “most of one of her front paws” in an injury shortly after she was born.

“I live here alone and she’s a lot of company to me, she likes to play I like to play,” Sipe spoke about her close bond with the kitten to the station. “We do great, we love each other, we respect each other.”

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.