She said she had plans to spay both and get them adopted, but before she could, Ellie’s sister was hit by a car and died.
“I spotted Ellie under a parked car near her sister and decided I couldn’t wait any longer, so I immediately scooped her up and took her home. The plan was initially to only foster Ellie, but that obviously changed!” said Sunita.
When Sunita took Ellie in, she and her housemate Dina discovered that Ellie was a domestic shorthair. Did you know that this particular breed of cat doesn’t have a specific look? That’s right. Domestic shorthairs can come in just about any size and colour.
It has been said that cats generally take their time to warm up to humans. And it was the same for Ellie. The moment a guest comes to visit, the kitty ducks for cover, emerging only when the coast is clear.
“It takes a bit of work to get in her good graces. It’s all a front, of course. She tries not to give away how much she loves us, but slips up sometimes and reveals herself for what she truly is: a softy,” said Sunita.
Sometimes it’s just her dynamic with the people around her.
“She is definitely affectionate, friendly (to a certain extent) and sassy across the board. She’s become a lot better with strangers, but only allows to be loved from afar – if she slowly blinks at you, you’re in,” said Dina.
And once you’re in, welcome to the world of Ellie-topia! Her doting caretakers even started an Instagram account under the same name, dedicated to documenting the shenanigans Ellie gets up to.
It works almost like a diary, where her every mood is captured. She even consented to posing for photos when the Barbie film was launched last July – with the caption “I’m a star”.
When not taking photos, Ellie – who’s been described as a rather “lepak’ cat” – spends a lot of time in nature, in the leafy neighbourhood she lives in. Whether it’s bird- or lizard-watching, Ellie is often doing her own thing.
“She loves sunbathing! When I put my towel down on the balcony to sit in the sun, she’s right there with me, soaking it in. She also loves destroying my plants, which she’s definitely not sorry about. “‘Why grow yummy green thing if not for me to eat, mama?’, she meows,” said Sunita fondly.
When she’s back indoors after a long adventure, she can’t resist an affectionate brush with her favourite cat grooming comb.
Snacking is another “activity” Ellie loves, and like a dog, she has learnt how to “sit” on command.
“Sometimes I think she’s saying ‘Mom’ with her meow. It sounds scarily similar, especially through a closed door. She’s great at getting attention, and she’s developed this recent habit of being very pointed about wanting her treats.
“This has escalated to the act of toppling her box of treats off the table, and if you try to put them back on the table without giving her one, she does it again. Repeat the cycle until the poor human gives in and gives her a treat.”
Sunita is also currently teaching Ellie to stand like a bunny for treats, but with varying degrees of success.
At three and a half years old, Ellie has loads of time to learn more of these tricks to show off to the people of Ellie-topia.
This article was written by Alena Nadia @ FMT Lifestyle. Read more pet stories here.
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