From Grooming to Clones: Shami and its 'Little Copies'

That afternoon, sunlight streamed through the window onto the off-white sofa, filling the air with a faint scent of books and warmth. Shami, a chubby, droopy-eared cat with golden stripes and a snow-white belly, was curled up in a state of extreme relaxation. With half-closed eyes, it enjoyed my gentle grooming. As the brush moved, fluffy clumps of orange and white fur danced in the sunlight. Shami purred contentedly, completely unaware of the cloud-like amount of fur it had contributed. After grooming, I quietly took out my needle felting tools and poked the fur, still carrying Shami's scent, into nine 'flat, tiny' mini-clones. Each had a round cat face, short, droopy ears, and the signature orange stripes, neatly arranged on a small cushion. When Shami woke up, it tilted its head in confusion. It stared at the nine little figures on the cushion, first tentatively batting at them with a paw. Realizing these 'intruders' didn't move and just stared blankly, Shami couldn't help but put on an expression of proud helplessness, as if to say, 'Who are these flat little good-for-nothings?' Watching them, Shami eventually leaned against the cushion, curling up like a giant cinnamon roll. The nine tiny clones quietly kept it company, as if holding a miniature family gathering. In this corner filled with yarn and healing vibes, Shami and its 'felt clones' spent the warmest, laziest afternoon together. I feel like the fur from such a round body could actually make an army 🤣