It was June 13, 2011. I’d recently been introduced to the breedables scene by my then-SL-Partner. We were up to our eyeballs in Meeroos, and he had pulled his old Ozimals Bunnies back out of the depths of his inventory. This was my first experience with breedables in SL, even though I’d been in SL for over two years. I had no idea such a magnificent creation existed. Something about the puzzle, the mystery, surprise, and ability to control and create was addictive to me.
I’d heard about a breedable form of cats, and had been casually browsing the grid, wondering how the market was for these things. I discovered a bustling community of multiple market sims, and figured that was a good sign. So, off to the mainstore I went, and purchased a full 4-kitty starter pack. I zipped right home and unpacked them, birthed them, and then promptly set about reading the entire manual on the website. I was now the smartest person on the grid when it came to KittyCats.
I joined the Addicts group and was bowled over by how many cat-crazed people were involved with these pixels. And got smacked in the face that I actually knew nothing but the basics. But I didn’t let that phase me. No, I went home and set up an entire outdoor cattery, complete with cat trees, blankets, beds, and food dishes. This was going to be the best thing I’d ever done. Each kitty was arranged just so on a piece of furniture so they would look perfectly adorable while sleeping. I didn’t feed them milk, I was too good for that. They deserved 30 minutes of cuddle time every day.
My SL Partner was wise enough to keep his comments to himself at this point. He had his bunnies and we shared our Meeroos. Oh yes. I wore my little kittens around on my shoulders everywhere I went. I had portable food snacks so they wouldn’t even risk getting 1% hungry while I was shopping on the grid. And then I made a mistake.
I started attending auctions. At first, it was because I just wanted to learn about breeding and what traits were popular. I sat there with a pen and paper and took notes on what was selling well and for what prices. I didn’t bid, I was just the creepy girl in the back corner who sat silently. Eventually, I started joining in the general chatter. And then, it happened. “300!” Ut oh. Did I just do that? “500!” Oh my gosh. What am I doing?! And I had bought my first kitty from an auction.
My SL partner started to notice. He asked where all the extra cats were coming from. “Oh, I found some *really* good ones at an auction,” I would say, and smile pretty, and flutter my lashes. He was just worried about prims on our parcel. I was more worried about affording kibble and milk.
My very first box from my KittyCats was a Genesis Diamond with Soft Fold ears, and she was a Teacup. I had read that Teacups were extremely rare. This was back in the old days when the only special sizes were Teacups and Toys, and if you got one, the size alone was enough to make them sell for extra Linden. (I still have her, she is perma-petted.) I almost exploded with glee and posted it in the Addicts group, not realizing how pathetic she was at the time. Really, the only thing that made her special was the size.
Shortly after, the first major trait release in KittyCats happened. Oh my, it was a circus. The release was late, due to a few last minute bugs. There were people picketing at the mainstore with signs. We were there dancing and partying until we couldn’t keep our eyes open any longer. Finally, they released. And my cattery exploded once more. An entire 8-pack of starters, just to get in on the new traits.
Wait, how did I end up with 20 cats?? I just bought a small starter pack a month or so ago. Well, no worries, I would keep my limit at 20 and that was that. I had to get an automatic feeder though. I told myself I didn’t want to risk them going hungry; they were going through food faster. And now I had to break down and buy milk. It was so hard to cuddle 20 cats for 30 minutes every day! Things were starting to get expensive. But I had a solution to that.
I took my first cats to auction. And suddenly I was utterly and totally involved in the cat scene. Not 6 months after buying my first cats, I was on the staff at Catnip or GTFO (remember that awesome sim??). Next thing I knew, I was asking how to auctioneer. And lo and behold, I found myself on a stage with 15 panels, a tip jar, and the sound of my own voice… selling cats!
These cats have completely changed my SL. I went from living on a small rented parcel to owning a full sim, because I started breeding everything I could get my hands on. We eventually dropped the Meeroos out of frustration, but now that ex-SL Partner is just as neck-deep in cats as I am. His bunnies are nowhere to be found. I’ve been through them all: rocks, horses, tigers, plants, cats, meeroos, butterflies, dragons, crystals, pigs, pufflings. And after all that, I never once thought to let go of my cats. Currently I breed KittyCats, all Papillon types, and PlantPets.
When I look back over my past two years in KittyCats, I laugh as I see the changes that have evolved in my cattery. Of course, I started out like every great mommy, spoiling my pixel pets with all the toys and treats. I’d wear them around proudly, be cautious in my buying, never let one get hungry or sick. Back then I had utterly no idea what I was doing with breeding. It wasn’t until Saga made a tremendous breakthrough with the dominance charts that everything finally clicked in my head. And my cattery made a major leap forward. Before, I struggled to breed 4 or 5 trait cats and celebrated when I got a 6 trait cat (because 7 traits was the max). And now, I have so many 9 trait cats that I lose track of them in my inventory.
Nowadays, I occasionally leave a cat in my inventory overnight because I forgot I’d picked it up. Oops. Or I log off with one still attached to me. Ah well. They’ll eat when they eat. Are they sick? No, ok good. Now there are no pillows, blankets or cat trees. My cattery is all about organization and sanity. I average around 60-70 active breeding cats at any given time. Nobody is allowed to run around unless they are a perma-pet or a megapuss. I got tired of tracking down boxes when they spawned under the fireplace or inside a tree. And the menagerie is my happy place, where I send a LOT of cats to keep my records clear. It no longer generates feelings of agony or remorse.
But I have never been happier or more addicted to this amazing breedable. Yes, I realize it’s just pixels. However, what Callie and her team created is more than that. It’s beautiful, its art, its science, it’s fun, and its COMMUNITY. I have met so many amazing people doing this. And I have had the opportunity to own and run 2 market sims. I have auctioneered at various places over the past 2 years, I have cried, screamed, tossed cats across the sim, squished them in glee, gotten in fights with people, sworn, cussed, and dreamed about this stuff (yup, really). But I wouldn’t give it up for anything.
Because I love the challenge, the creativity, and the people. I can make my perfect cat, but I have to think about it and work at it. I am constantly amazed at what Callie puts out for us. And I love the people who share this same passion. It’s what founded Kitty Kottage in the first place.
Kitty Kottage 