Flounder the Purrmaid Turns Four: A Birthday with Pocahontas
Flounder the Purrmaid turned four years old this year, and to celebrate, I wanted to do something truly magical. Over the past few years, Flounder has developed quite the obsession with Pocahontas—the Disney movie. She’ll watch the movie with total focus, she pushes her “Pocahontas” button on the soundboard constantly, and she often chooses her mushroom chair specifically so she can sit and watch Pocahontas on TV.
So when I was brainstorming birthday surprises, one idea kept popping into my head: What if the real Pocahontas came to celebrate with Flounder?
Of course, as exciting as this sounded, I had my doubts. Flounder is notoriously reactive to strangers. She’s the cat who bolts under the bed at the sound of a knock on the door, and if we’re out in public, she shuts down completely the moment she spots a human she doesn’t know. So while the idea of Pocahontas visiting felt perfect in theory, in reality, I worried Flounder would never even peek her head out of hiding.
Still, I decided to take the chance. After all, if anyone could coax Flounder out, surely it would be her idol.
The Moment Pocahontas Walked In
When Pocahontas arrived and stepped through the door, I braced myself for the familiar sound of paws scurrying under the bed. Instead, something remarkable happened: Flounder peeked out cautiously from her room, wide-eyed, just staring at this unexpected guest.
Her gaze was intense, unblinking—almost disbelieving. I had worried Flounder wouldn’t make the connection, that she wouldn’t recognize this visitor as Pocahontas. But from that very first moment, my worry melted away. She knew. Without a shadow of a doubt, she absolutely knew who this was.
Pocahontas sat down near the soundboard, waiting patiently, and Flounder did something that made my jaw drop: she walked right up and gave her a high five.
For Flounder, this simply doesn’t happen. She doesn’t just stroll up to strangers and interact on the first meeting. But this wasn’t just any stranger—it was Pocahontas.
The Pocahontas Movie Overload
At first, I still had the Pocahontas movie playing on TV in the background (purely by accident—I’d forgotten to turn it off). This, however, turned out to be overwhelming for Flounder. She kept glancing back and forth, eyes darting from the screen to Pocahontas sitting in our living room, clearly trying to reconcile what she was seeing.
Finally, I decided to switch the TV off, and that seemed to ground her. With the distraction gone, she was able to fully focus on real-life Pocahontas.
At one point, Flounder even climbed up onto her mushroom chair—the exact same spot where she usually watches the movie—and watched Pocahontas from there, as if to say, This is how I do it. This is how I interact with Pocahontas. It was her safe, familiar way of connecting with Pocahontas.
Ballet, Piano, and Stick Toy
Once she adjusted, the magic truly unfolded. Pocahontas generously followed Flounder’s lead, helping her distinguish between “real” and “pretend.” And once that clicked, Flounder opened up like never before.
She proudly showed off her ballet school routines. She played the piano for Pocahontas. She even batted at the stick toy while Pocahontas waved it, although to my surprise, she wasn’t as invested in showing off her Mouse Toy (her usual favorite).
Pocahontas got the full tour of FlounderLand: the Pocahontas-themed Christmas tree, her button soundboard, her puzzles, her lure course. Everything Flounder loves most, she shared with her hero.
The Bathroom Mystery
Throughout the visit, Flounder kept taking little “breaks” where she would run to the bathroom and scream. I couldn’t figure out what was going on—was she overwhelmed? Was she asking for help? I followed her in a few times, only for her to casually walk back out like nothing had happened.
But when it came time for Pocahontas to leave, the mystery was solved. Just as Pocahontas was heading toward the door, Flounder darted ahead of her, ran into the bathroom, and turned back to make sure Pocahontas followed. Once satisfied, she hopped up on the toilet, struck her proud “potty stance,” and waited for her guest of honor to watch.
Yes, my cat insisted on showing Pocahontas that she can use the people potty. And yes, I wanted to melt into the floor from embarrassment. But Pocahontas found it hilarious, and honestly, it was the perfect ending to their visit. The video of this interaction is posted in our FlounderLand Community and it's worth the watch!
The Aftermath: Buttons, Real vs. Pretend, and Best Friends
Since that unforgettable birthday, Flounder’s use of her “Pocahontas” button has completely changed. Before, she only used it to request the movie. Now, she uses it to talk about Pocahontas the person. She presses it to reminisce about playing stick toy, to ask where Pocahontas is, to request ballet school with her.
Even more fascinating, Flounder has been thinking deeply about what’s “real” and what’s “pretend.” She’s been talking about how the TV is pretend, her toys are pretend, but Flounder is real, Mom is real. The hardest concept for her right now is reconciling how Pocahontas came out of the TV. She now fully expects Pocahontas to appear from the screen whenever she requests it. It’s a work in progress.
Looking Ahead
The best part? Pocahontas herself was absolutely wonderful with Flounder and has already made plans to spend more time together. Because that’s what best friends do.
As I reflect on this birthday, I can’t help but marvel at Flounder’s courage and growth. A cat who once hid from every stranger not only came out to meet one, but opened her heart, shared her world, and made a true connection.
Flounder’s fourth birthday wasn’t just a celebration of another year—it was a glimpse into what’s possible when we meet our pets where they are, nurture their unique passions, and give them opportunities to surprise us.
And if you ask Flounder, the highlight wasn’t the treats, the toys, or even the presents. The highlight was simple: spending her special day with her bestie, Pocahontas.
