Dodo casually strolled into Timur Flores’s bedroom one day – and found a permanent spot in her heart. (Timur Flores pic)
PETALING JAYA: The mysterious “cat distribution system” seems to have Timur Flores’ number on speed dial. The independent singer-songwriter’s residence is now a feline haven with 11 permanent residents and one still waiting for a fur-ever home.
Nine of these cats simply showed up at her house. “The cat distribution system is operating a little too efficiently. It can calm down!” Timur told FMT Lifestyle with a laugh.
Among them is a handsome orange cat named “Dodo”, who casually strolled in through her bedroom window one day.
“I keep my window open because my cats like to go out onto the roof. One day, I was lying in bed when I saw a cat coming in. At first, I thought it was one of mine,” said Timur, who is of Swiss-Sarawakian heritage.
(R-L) Dodo with Yuki and Milo, the other permanent feline residents of Timur’s home. (Timur Flores pic)
It wasn’t. And he ended up becoming Timur’s seventh cat. As for his name? “He is named Dodo for a reason. He is not the smartest cat in the room – it’s more like he has very little cat social awareness,” said Timur, 30.
For instance, when three-year-old Dodo meets another cat, he assumes instant friendship is on the table. “Obviously, if a cat comes barrelling towards another, the other cat thinks it’s a massive threat.
“Dodo is not trying to do that – he is just like, ‘Oh my God, let’s be friends!’. But the other cat is hitting him!” said Timur with a laugh.
Thankfully, Dodo’s friendliness fares better with humans. “Whenever someone comes over for a meeting, Dodo becomes the welcoming committee. He greets them, sits with them and lets them pet him.
Kiba was the first cat to enter Timur’s life after she returned to Malaysia. (Timur Flores pics)
“If you ever need a cat to advertise how good it is to have a cat, Dodo is the man for the job.”
Fun fact: Dodo – along with another of Timur’s cats, Tori – inspired her single, “Between My Sheets”, a catchy song about the joy her feline companions bring to her life.
Timur is a former KRU artiste who writes, produces and performs her own music. She has also released songs in Malay and Mandarin. She is known for infectious tunes such as “According 2 You”, “Boom Boom Boom” and “Dance Through my Heart”.
Another resident is Kiba, the first cat to enter Timur’s life after she returned from the UK in 2019.
“The week I got back, a kitten showed up on my roof. I just thought, ‘Well, I guess I own a cat now!” said Timur, who named Kiba after a character from the “Naruto” anime/manga series.
Beautiful Kiba believes in social distancing – especially from men. (Timur Flores pic)
Timur described six-year-old Kiba as a “very chill cat” who values her personal space – and isn’t particularly fond of men. Whenever one shows up at the house, she disappears!
What Kiba loves to do is to climb up to a high spot and watch the world go by – and of course, keep a keen eye on the birds. It’s her version of Netflix, complete with feathers!
Dodo, on the other hand, enjoys sleeping. He’s even claimed his human’s storage box as his personal bed and loves snoozing in it, like a tired furry CEO on a break.
Timur’s cats have certainly added colour to her life. Having experienced such joy, she is a strong advocate for two causes: trap-neuter-release programmes, which help to improve the lives of strays, and the “adopt, don’t shop” movement.
Timur’s foster cat, Oreo, is still looking for a fur-ever home. (Timur Flores pics)
“Coming home to a cat greeting you is such a sweet thing. They are there when you want them to be, and they are so happy to be around you.
“I find it so rewarding to be with them and feel their love. You can tell when a cat likes someone and when they don’t. Knowing that you are the one they have chosen is very special,” Timur said.
Follow Timur Flores on Instagram. Listen to ‘Between My Sheets’ on YouTube and Spotify.
This article was written by Sheela Vijayan. Read more pet stories here.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR PET: FMT Lifestyle readers are invited to send in pictures (landscape format) and a short video (if any) of their furry, scaly or feathered friends to lifestyle@freemalaysiatoday.com. Don’t forget to include details like your pet’s name, age, breed and a short story about them.
