Meet your Dublin celebrity – the 2024 Dublin Nose of Tralee, Sooty.
Name: Sooty
County: Dublin
Age: 3
Breed: Floofster tuxedo cat
Special Skill: Financial Advisor! In the space of 2 days I went from living in the hood to owning a penthouse in Dublin and having free food for life! Contact me for my “how I did it program!”
Favourite Food: Dreamies! And fresh tuna from the can!
Favourite Toy: my tunnels – I play hide and seek in them.
Favourite Place to Sleep: anywhere I like but I especially enjoy taking up as much space on the bed as I can!!
Favourite Activity: cooking up plans to manipulate my Meowmy into giving me more treats!
Favourite Place To Go For A Walk/Hangout: my catio! I have a wonderful balcony garden with lots of plants, a hammock and a great view! I also have a my own vip entrance cat flap that only I can use.
Most Mischievous Thing You Have Ever Done? I jumped off the balcony once and nearly gave my Meowmy a heart attack ! I was only little but I can assure you, I only did that stunt once. Unlike Tom Cruise I know when to quit!
How Did You Come Into Your Owners Life? An angel from heaven decided my Meowmys life needed a shake up and landed my fluffy butt on her doorstep! How could she resist!?
What Makes You The Most Pawtastic Pet Ever! Have you seen me!! But in all honesty – I am the most Pawsome pet because I love to strut my stuff around the apartment and remind my Meowmy that she is not the center of the universe- I am! I bring her into the moment and what moments we have had. She even dedicated the book she wrote to me and she is planning a children’s book staring guess who!?? ME!!
Why Did You Decide To Enter The Nose Of Tralee? We entered it 2 years ago but I was still a bit little and didn’t get chosen … so we decided to try again and poof! The next thing I am representing Dublin and meeting the Lord Mayor of Dublin.
How Did You Prepare For The Contest And Get Votes? I am furrmous on Instagram with 16k followers who were all very excited to vote for and support me. I was trending worldwide with votes coming from all four corners of the globe. My Meowmy has a huge network of customers aswell as all her sports clubs and affiliates who were all smitten and voting for me daily (or so they said!) My Meowmy also sent out press releases and I was featured in the Dublin Gazette and she was interviewed on Dublins Q102 – we went on tour to shops and best of all – I got to sit on the couch in the mansion house!! The Lord Mayor of Dublin hosted me and Meowmy , he even made a video in support of me. All my cousins, Furrends and family were voting for me and sharing it across all their social networks too. Short of going on CNN and Fox News I really don’t know what more we could have done.
What Did You Enjoy Most About The Nose Of Tralee? The campaigning – I liked all the treats and brushing I got in order to look my best!!
What Advice Would You Give To The Next Nose Of Your County? Enjoy the moment – like Take That said “Someday this will be someone else’s dream!”
How Are You Handling Your New-Found Fame? I’m used to it!! I was featured last year in the Irish Independent and get messages from all over the world daily from fans! My Instagram is growing more rapidly and I was sent a huge food parcel for me to promote & EAT!!! (Not sharing!)
If You Could Be Any Super Hero Who Would You Be? I’m a cat- I am already super and can’t be improved!
Where Can Your Fans Follow You Online? My Instagram is @SootysBestLife and in my Meowmys book: Life Is A Cycle.
Kate McQuillan is the co-founder of Pet Sitters Ireland, an award-winning pet sitting and dog walking company established in 2010 with her husband, Michael. Together, they support thousands of pet owners across Ireland with trusted, in-home pet care. With over 14 years of experience, Kate shares practical advice to help pet owners feel confident and prepared when it comes to their pet’s care.
