Hello, fellow whiskered wanderers! It’s Tyson here, thrilled to share my very first interview — and it’s a special one! Today, I’m featuring someone truly extraordinary—Flounder the adventure cat! Not only is Flounder a seasoned explorer with an impressive Instagram following at @flounder_meatloaf, but she’s also mastered the art of communication using AIC (Augmentative Interspecies Communication) buttons.
For this interview, I had the honor of chatting with Flounder’s wonderful purrson, Nina. In the talking pet community, it’s important not to guess or put words in a learner’s mouth, so Nina shared her own insights about their adventures together.
From scaling mountains to sharing her thoughts one paw-press at a time, Flounder is a true trailblazer in the feline world. Join me as I dive into her story, her adventures, and the magic behind her “talking” buttons. Get ready to be inspired by a cat who proves that the world is an endless playground, one meow at a time.
Tyson: Could you tell us a bit about yourself? What breed are you (you look like a Bengal to me)? I know you’re never supposed to ask a lady her age, but if you could just give us a hint…
Nina: Flounder is a 3-year-old fish, but we tell everyone she’s a Bengal so we don’t seem crazy.
Tyson: How did you get the name “Flounder”?
Nina: Flounder’s mom is a professional mermaid, so naming her fish sidekick “Flounder” just seemed appropriate.
Tyson: Your Instagram handle, @flounder_meatloaf, is so unique! What’s the story behind it?
Nina: Flounder Meatloaf is her full name. (When she was little, she looked like a little meatloaf after she ate a meal – as most kittens do, and it stuck)
Tyson: What’s been your favorite adventure so far? Any memorable moments?
Nina: I would have to guess that her favorite adventure so far has been the first day we went paddle boarding at low tide and found a secluded beach. When she discovered she could jump off the paddle board and stand in the water, she was thrilled!
Tyson: Is there a particular type of adventure (hiking, camping, etc.) that you love the most?
Nina: Definitely paddle boarding and swimming.
Tyson: How do you prepare for your adventures? Do you have a special backpack or gear?
Nina: She has a life vest for paddle boarding but refuses to wear it. (We are in the process of using positive association to get her more comfortable). She also has a backpack that she doesn’t typically use but it’s nice to have just in case something comes along that scares her – her safe place is always available to her. We also take a small board of buttons along with us on the paddle board. The buttons that are available are “water” (for when she needs a drink of water), “beach” (for when she wants to stop at a beach), and “all done” for when she wants to head back in. And last but not least, mouse toy usually accompanies her on her adventures per her request.
Tyson: Have you ever encountered any unexpected challenges while adventuring?
Nina: Unexpected challenges for Flounder come in the form of humans who want to pet her. She doesn’t like strangers, and doesn’t like to be touched. Reminder if you are out and see an adventure cat: they are not dogs. Please talk to their human prior to approaching.
Tyson: How did you first get into using AIC buttons to communicate?
Nina: I started her with AIC buttons because she used to scream ALLLLLLL the time, and I thought giving her a way to make noise that wasn’t screaming might help her. I figured even if she didn’t understand what they meant, it could still provide an alternative for her. Little did I know at the time that not only would she understand what they meant, but she would become such a huge purrsonality!
Tyson: What are your favorite words or phrases to use on your AIC buttons?
Nina: Flounder’s most favorite words change from time to time, but as of right now, her favorite words are “Ugh” and “Rude.”
Tyson: Do you remember the first time you used the buttons? How did it feel to “talk”?
Nina: Flounder first began using buttons in April of 2023, and I think at the very beginning (because I was modeling very consistently), she may have slipped into a bit of a power trip. Lol
Tyson: What’s something funny or unexpected you’ve said with your buttons?
Nina: One of the funniest things Flounder has said was when I was drinking a glass of wine one evening, she came over and smelled my wine, then walked over to her board and said “mom” “water”, and ever since then, I refer to wine as “Mom Water”
Tyson: When you’re not adventuring, what’s your favorite thing to do?
Nina: When Flounder isn’t adventuring, her favorite thing to do is ballet school (she’s a dancer), and watch Pocahontas next to her Christmas tree.
Tyson: Do you have any favorite snacks or toys you’d recommend to other cats?
Nina: We do, we have a list of some of FLounder’s enrichment faves here: https://www.amazon.com/shop/floundercat/list/3TNRU9TC8YHDC?ref_=aipsflist&ascsubtag=srctok-99a1e2d738c83ab8&btn_ref=srctok-99a1e2d738c83ab8
Tyson: What’s it like balancing your life as an adventurer and Instagram celebrity?
Nina: She has a full time employee (me), so it’s not very stressful for her. It’s a pretty posh life she has created for herself.
Tyson: What inspired you to start sharing your adventures online?
Nina: There are a lot of cat parents who put their cats in theoretical boxes. They don’t think their cats would like to go on adventures, they don’t think cats can be trained, they don’t think their cats would like to swim, they don’t think their cats are smart or willing enough to use buttons, so we want to share what Flounder is doing to show them that their cats are capable of a lot more than what they think.
Tyson: Do you have any advice for cats (or their humans) who want to try AIC buttons or start exploring the great outdoors?
Nina: Go slow. Everything you introduce with cats should be done on their terms as to not stress them out. Read their body language, and make sure they are comfortable so you’re not putting them in a position that is scary to them. Understand that what is scary to them might not be scary to you.
As for buttons, I have a free tutorial available here: https://floundercat.com/aic-course-7022
Tyson: If you could invent a new AIC button, what would it say?
Nina: Flounder’s next button is going to be “piano” as she loves to play the piano when we go on vacation to rentals that have pianos and she is getting a piano delivered to her house soon so she can learn how to play for real.
Tyson: Are there any places you dream of exploring but haven’t yet?
Nina: YES! Flounder has never experienced snow and I want to give her this opportunity, so we have a trip planned in February for her to go see snow for the first time.
Tyson: What’s one thing about you that surprises people?
Nina: One thing about Flounder that surprises a lot of people is that she doesn’t like to be touched. People see her on social media and doing her ballet, and she looks very snuggly, but she is not a snuggle bug at all.
Tyson: Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
Nina: Don’t underestimate the intelligence of your cats. They are capable of so much more than you could ever imagine. Give them enrichment throughout the day and the opportunity to express themselves, and you will witness true happiness.
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