Tribute To Amelie

The first thing that people ask me when I tell them I've leaving the country is 'What are you going to do with Amelie?'. I have to gently remind them that she actually isn't my cat but lives perpetually at the clinic though I do take her for the odd weekend away at my house. I don't blame them as every second photo I post up on facebook is Amelie, like that blind parental love that makes you think that your baby is the cutest and everyone must see, that's how I feel about Amelie. Is that creepy? Shush you, I know you are muttering a resounding 'yes' under your breath.

I admit, I do have a secret yearning to be a crazy cat lady and maybe one day, when I am more settled I can have my own little cat community (much nicer sounding then animal hoarder). Until then, I will be content to intensely love this one cat who isn't my own but whom which I will probably cry my eyes out when I leave her in 5 weeks and so here it is, my Amelie tribute page.

And if you've made it this far then you must love her (almost) as much as I so you get the piece de resistance, my tribute video that took my 6 solid hours to make (only to find out the song has strict copyright laws so you just have to play both  videos at the same time. Start the humming part of the song on the purple page.

Tribute video HERE

Background song HERE

Feel free to check out Amelie's other youtube videos whilst your there.

Life in a flash

Reading clockwise.

1. Daisy is over for the week, first encounter with miniature things.

2. Marcs dress with peter pan collar. Current project.

3. Owl figurines in tea shop in The Strand, Sydney. So darn cute.

4. Mossimo poppy print pants. Pretty print.

5. Bake sweet potato chips, perfect as is.

Friday Feline Feature - kittehs!

Ok so it's actually Saturday. Let's not go into technicalities here. Rather than feature a famous kitty, I'd like to post some cute mini kittehs we've had come into the clinic over the years. 

Three cheers for Leo, Squishy, Pippy and Monty (sorry to the kittens names I forgot). They'll surely make you squeeeee!

 

Le cat!

I remember the first time I met Amelie. I've just nervously walked into the clinic for my job interview and sat in reception. I looked to my right and there sat an adorable cat. I raised my hand and placed it 10cm from her face to see how she'd respond. She jumped up and rubbed her face against my hand. And there we began.

A former nurse at the clinic who first took on Amelie at the clinic named her after the French movie of the same name because at the time, she was so cute and dainty. Five cushy years of clinic life has left her far from dainty but she grows more adorable every day. I thought I'd make a tribute to her French roots.

Amelie! You've Got Something On Your Head...

Cats are such regal and dignified creatures. They demand things and generally they get it. Food, snuggles and the best spot in the bed. Unlike dogs, their love is not unconditional. There are conditions. Lots of them. Yet at the same time they give so much as well. 

On a normal day, Amelie will eat, sleep, eat some more, move around to find a better sleeping spot, punch a kitten in the head, then eat some more. But in her hectic schedule, I'm able to squeeze in some 'Toni Fun Time' or TFT.

It pretty much involves placing things on Amelie's head and laughing hysterically for a good minute or so. She normally looks super unimpressed but that actually adds to the enjoyment I get from it. A bit sadistic isn't it? I know secretly she loves all the attention I lavish upon her. Here are some prime examples:

Afghan Amelie.

Festive Amelie.

Party Amelie.

Dr Amelie (to you).

Sea Lion Amelie.

Hobo Amelie.

Asian Amelie.

The Village People Amelie.

Lady Gaga Amelie.

Inception Amelie.

Plotting Amelie.

Amelie's Perpetual Diet

So it's pretty bad when your clinic cat, the supposed  mascot for animal well being is a bit on the pudgy side. Now to me (I know this sounds like an excuse), I think it's just excessive skin paunch. You know like on the Biggest Loser when they lose weight too quickly and get that flabby stretch of skin.

My reasons are:

a) It's not solid tissue and fat, when you grab it (which I am often compelled to do just for fun) it's very stretchy and soft.

b) She is on a constant diet of Hills R/D (prescription weight loss diet) and only gets fed twice a day.

c) She does have a disproportionately small head compared to her body. 

BUT (and there is a big but) she must be part vulture because she is such a scavenger. If there is even a speck of food hidden under a cupboard or someone may have left the liver treat jar open, Amelie WILL be there. She even has the audacity to use her paw to reach in and scoop biscuits out of a food bowl in a hospital cage whilst the poor sick animal watches on helplessly.

Her day is broken up into morning meal time and evening meal time. I think she may be able to tell the time because at 5pm on the dot she will wake from her afternoon nap and start hassling everyone in sight for food. You walk into the room 'MEOW!'  is what you'll be greeted with. And if she thinks you're going anywhere near her cage (where her food is placed at night) she will come running towards her cage just so you get the point.

We've currently got her down to 4.8kg, which to me is average for a cat. You be the judge. But don't judge too harshly, she has feelings too.