Nicole Richie parties with her cat

Nicole Richie had a party with her cat because she was too sick to go clubbing.

The socialite was desperate to attend the launch party of her new House of Harlow 1960 clothing range in Beverly Hills, but had to cancel at the last minute because she was too ill. Instead, Nicole – who has spent a week in bed fighting the flu - decided to bring the fun to her home.

She posted on her Twitter account: “I need good hip hop songs to download so I can have a party with my cat and pretend I'm at a club. HELP!”

The 28-year-old star was quickly inundated with song ideas from partner Joel Madden, his brother Benji, DJ Samantha Ronson and hundreds of fans.

Just minutes later she posted a picture of her cat curled up in a ball sleeping, with the caption: “Oooohhhh this party is POPPINNN'!!”

Nicole’s night didn’t get off to a good start. A couple of hours before she started her one-woman dance party, she phoned to order takeaway food, only to be screamed at by the man who took her order.

She wrote: “Just called a restaurant to order take out and asked when the food would be ready. The man screamed ‘Hell if I know!’ sooo.... like 20 mins? (sic)”

Earlier in the day, the star – who has been home alone with her two children Harlow, 21 months, and two-month-old Sparrow while Joel tours Australia with his band Good Charlotte - posted several messages about her ailing health, including one that read: “pain, pain go away. come again another day.... body aches = hell.”