My name is Nina Mickle. I’m 28 from the D.C. metropolitan area, and I’m a pediatric dietitian. This video was filmed last month (01/06/2020) in the apartment where I live with my husband Jax, who’s in the video.The warm weather had been driving a few bugs and flies into our apartment, and our cat Phoebe had spent the whole day hunting them and chasing them around the living room.

One last fly was on the ceiling, and phoebe was chirping and meowing up a storm because it was out of reach. My husband Jax decided to scoop her up to help her get it. When I saw how chill Phoebe was with being carried around and how focused her little face was on catching that fly, I decided to start filming.

My friends and family thought the video was hysterical and too cute! I shared it on my Facebook page where it sort of blew up. It was amazing how many people shared they also do this with their cats. It’s nice to know I’m not the only crazy cat lady who uses their cat as a flyswatter!

In the video, my husband Jax carries our cat Phoebe around our living room as she dole gently tries to catch a fly with both paws. She doesn’t mind that Jax is slinging her around or that I’m giggling in the background - she’s too focused on catching that “sky raisin.” I think in her mind she’s a svelte apex predator, when really she’s a squishy cat with a bell collar.

Phoebe is now a healthy, happy two year old cat, but her story could have ended much differently. She was rescued when she was 8 weeks old from a kill shelter in Alabama literally hours before her and her littermate were going to be put down. Black cats are less likely to be adopted than other cats, but they don’t deserve the bad rap they get. Just look at Phoebe - she’s a sassy, funny, and affectionate little creature. I’m a big believer in “adopt, don’t shop.” Every cat deserves a second chance and a loving home - and a chance to eat as many sky raisins as they can.