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Article: SCP-008-IT — AILUROPHOBIA

Author: yessss

Original: SCP-088-IT

Translator: Drss Selene

Physical Game Cover.

Item #: SCP-088-IT

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: Following the understanding of the anomalous effects of the element and the subsequent destruction of all its physical copies except for one, now preserved inside a locker at Site Minerva, the object isn't considered to represent a risk for the Foundation. The access to the physical copy of SCP-088-IT is allowed only with prior authorization from authorized level 3 or above personnel; the only copy that can be used is the digital version (being freed from every cognitive effect).

Description: The SCP-088-IT designation denominates the physical copies of a PC game called "THE CAT GAME"; the game doesn't present any kind of plot but is exclusively composed of a progression system based on choices made by the player. Independently of the choices made, the result will be always the same. The game appears made up of three parts, named respectively:

Read the hero ledger: in this first game phase the player will have to choose between four different heroes (portraying three cats and one dog) whose images have proven to be free of any anomalous effect;

Decide what to bring with your hero: in this second phase the player will have to choose the objects to use during the adventure. The objecs are divided in three classes, based on their nature (Food, Potion, Weapon);

Test your deck: in this last phase, the memetic nature of the object will be revealed when a Felis catus silvestris (similar to the cat on the cover of the game) image appears on the screen.

The SCP-088-IT effects manifest themselves following viewing of the aforementioned image for a time of no less than 30 seconds, producing the following symptoms:

Time elapsed since infection
Symptoms

15-20 hours
Appearance of an acute form of Ailurophobia1.

1 week
Appearance of two red-coated cats (defined SCP-088-IT-1), similar to those present on the cover of the game, within the subject's dreams.

1 month
Appearance in reality of two cats (defined as SCP-088-IT-2), visible only by the subject, with gray and white fur similar to those present on the cover of the video game.

3 months
Appearance in reality of a cat (defined SCP-088-IT-3), of aesthetic aspect and species similar to those of the specimen depicted on the cover of the video game.

After a period of more than 3 months the subject will kill the instance and then commit suicide through the same methodology adopted to kill SCP-088-3.

One of the drawings recovered.

The first suicide case linked with certainty to SCP-088-IT was ██████ ██████, researcher at Site Deus. As highlighted from some found drawings in the researcher's office and from some contents of his messages, the researcher appeared to be obsessed by feline species. Every hypothesis formulated came to fruition thanks to the discovery of a physical copy of SCP-088-IT, hidden inside the researcher's office (at the moment it is thought that apart from ██████ there were no other victims within the Foundation, however additional investigations are underway (both at the Italian Branch and at the foreign Branches).

During the inspection of the researcher's PC and personal effects, the following chats where found coming from private messages on a forum linked to Gamer Against Weed (GAW).

▶ Wolf ( ██████ ██████ 's alter ego) and Hila chat.

▼ Wolf ( ██████ ██████ 's alter ego) and Hila chat.

10/02/2020

Hila

What have you done? He wants your head, I told you to not say that thing to anyone.

10:56 10/02/2020

Wolf

What the heck do you think I was supposed to do?? Keep quiet after what he did? Did you think that when it was found out we would have been safe? That nobody would ask themself some questions about why we remained silent?

10:56 10/02/2020

Hila

I don't think so but in the meantime I wouldn't have gone and told everyone what he did in the main forum, since his friends are there too.

10:57 10/02/2020

Hila

I'll try to make him reason but he will kills us as minimum

10:57 10/02/2020

Wolf

That guy killed a person by mistake; what do you think he could do to us?

10:57 10/02/2020

Hila

In the meantime that little runt is reaching the heights of power while we are still here sending memes each other (not that I mind).

10:58 10/02/2020

Wolf

You're the usual funny girl, see you in a few days, write to me when you will talk to him.

11:00 10/02/2020

20/02/2020

Hila

Hey Wolf, I spoke with him.

14:00 20/02/2020

Wolf

What did he say, anyway?

I wanted to write you earlier but I had some problems at work, I'm sorry..

14:20 20/02/2020

Hila

Whatever, the problem at work it might be your presence, I'm sending to you the screenshot of what he said.

14:22 20/02/2020

Hila

Here's what he said to me

14:23 20/02/2020

Wolf

An exemplary punishment, who does he thinks to be? In addittion to the nightmares now I have also to think about this person, I wonder why every jinx has to happen to me.

14:23 20/02/2020

Hila

Maybe because you're the cause of your own jinxes?

What happened with your cat? it feels as if i'm seeing again what happened to BR-7274.

14:24 20/02/2020

Wolf

I couldn't be calm anymore because of his presence, I think it's a form of ailurophobia you know?

Now I have to go back to work, I'll write to you in a few day so we can finish talking.

14:24 20/02/2020

Hila

See you Wolf:).

14:25 20/02/2020

Hila

UHH HOW SCARY, CATS

14:00 20/02/2020

1/03/2020

Hila

If I had to wait for you I'd die of old age, glad that I never accepted to go out with you HAHA.

11:00 1/03/2020

11/03/2020

Hila

Btw the funny guy sent me a game by mail, kinda shit it remind me the one that he sent you some months ago.

17:00 11/03/2020

Wolf

Sorry Hila it's been a difficult period. Could you say to me again where you found the cats?

18:00 11/03/2020

Hila

Have you crossed the three after death reigns like Dante before replying to me?

I don't remember much of that day but we were hanging out in the woods and he, to be like a tough guy, took a cat to bring it at home. Why?

18:03 11/03/2020

Wolf

Nothing, just wanted to know, see you as soon I can.

18:03 11/03/2020

Hila

Whatever I wanted to chat a bit but bye.

18:04 11/03/2020

20/05/2020

Hila

I'm starting to have nightmares with cats too…

I hope you're okay even if you don't write me anymore💔.

8:37 20/05/2020

It appeares that the subject nicknamed Hila (whose true identity is still unknown to the Foundation) died within three months of this conversation

Addendum 088: Wilson's Wildlife Solutions report.

On [REDACTED] date, the Wilson's Wildlife Solutions (WWS) sent the following report to the Foundation:

▶ Creature Profile: Essi!

▼ Creature Profile: Essi!

Creature Profile: Essi!

Summary!

Summary!

Name: Essi.

Species: Felis catus (Domestic Cat).

Main Carer: Jack Davis, Terrestrial Team.

Diet: Various types of meat (usually cat colonies provide their own food).

Accommodation: Outside of the structure.

Creature Characteristics!

The colonies of Essi specimens are made of Felis Cattus specimens with a marked territoriality. There are a total of sixty-one specimens, of which twenty-one in colony 1, fifteen in colony 2, and twenty-three in colony 3.

Cat colonies are organized on a social hierarchy based on the coat pigmentation:

- Black: identifiable as the Alpha cat. There are a maximum of two specimens per colony and they are exclusively male. From his union with an inferior female cat, a male cat identical to his father will always be generated;

- Orange: identifiable as Beta cat (in variable number per colony). Variable sex, their defense function is the marking of territory;

- Gray: identifiable as Beta cats (in variable number per colony). Exclusively of female sex, their main function is hunting small sized animals similarly to the other same speciment prey;

- Brown: identifiable as Gamma cats (in variable number per colony). Doesn't have a defined function.

History!

The first cat colony was discovered in 2011. The discovery of a second and third colony dates back to 2013. A series of photos were taken as documentation of the discovery.

It is hypothesized that the nightmares generated by the visual representations of Essi's exemplars, similar to the representations themselves, possess the ability to generate significant mental alterations in the viewers.The suicide of agent Brooke Burton, who was responsible for collecting photographic images of the Essi colonies, would seem to represent evidence in support of this hypothesis. For this reason, the taken photos are now archived and it is prohibited to take any more.

During an inspection in 2017, carried out following a storm in the area, it was discovered that one of the Alpha cats from colony 2 had disappeared.

Special Needs and Habitat!

The three colonies do not need any external help, except in cases where their safety is put at risk; it is necessary to ensure that no digital images of the specimens can circulate online. If this were to happen, Jack Davis must be notified as soon as possible; he will then institute a joint search with Foundation forces.

Sent by: Tim Wilson

Recipient: everyone

Date: 10/02/2020

Dear colleagues,

Following the recent events involving the Foundation, any information we have regarding the cat colonies will be shared with them.

I ask you all to pay more attention to the three cat colonies to prevent other cats from being kidnapped or photographed and cause other tragedies similar to the one that occurred in 2017.

Following the information collected, a collaboration deal has been make with WWS, with the purpose of tracing any other specimens that may have escaped containment.