Cats

While the arachnids represent conquering a fear, and the reptiles represent a sudden explosion of passion, the cats represent something else entirely: Constancy.

For almost 30 years, there hasn't been a single day where a cat didn't rule my life. A house simply isn't a home to me without paw prints on the furniture and a tail twitching in the hallway.

They are the "C" in KT's A.R.C.—the original residents who have supervised every single new arrival, from the very first spider to the latest rescue snake.

Currently, the household is managed by two very different personalities:

The Soul Mate

Tilly (The Spirit Cat): Born in 2017, this beautiful calico is my emotional anchor. She is extremely affectionate and always wants to be held, carried, and snuggled. I truly believe she is the reincarnation of my first cat, Smudge—my constant companion from when I was 4 years old until I was 25—returned to keep me company.

The Grounding: She is my absolute emotional anchor. She possesses an incredible intuition and always knows exactly when I am stressed or overwhelmed, magically appearing for a quiet, grounding cuddle exactly when I need her most.

The Demands: She knows what she wants and exactly how to get it. She will follow me around screaming to be picked up, yell at my mum when it's feeding time, and if I dare turn my back on her while she reaches for me from the kitchen counter, she will nip the back of my arm!

The Trouble: Despite being a fiercely pampered house cat, she is a notorious escape artist who is constantly plotting her way out the back door.

Apopse (The Chaos): If Tilly is the soul mate, Apopse is the shadow. She is a completely black cat who joined the family as a tiny kitten in 2019. She is mischievous, flighty, and can usually be found right around my feet, actively attempting to trip me up.

The "Apopalypse": She earned her nickname because she has almost no coordination or spatial awareness. She is famous for knocking items over and breaking things just by walking past them.

The Quirks: She is the walking definition of "curiosity killed the cat," having managed to explore everywhere from the loft to under the upstairs floorboards. She is also incredibly vocal, and frequently meows in her sleep.

The Affection: Unlike Tilly, she isn't fond of being picked up or petted unless it is strictly on her terms. However, she absolutely loves a snuggle if I am already settled in bed or sitting on the sofa.
While the reptiles and spiders live in their meticulously designed enclosures, the cats live everywhere. They are the supervisors of the cleaning routine, the harsh judges of all new arrivals, and the absolute best comfort at the end of a long day.

The Shadow

While the arachnids and reptiles live in their meticulously monitored enclosures, the feline supervisors have claimed the entire house as their own personal free-roam habitat. Complete with custom wall-mounted cat shelves, prime window-watching spots, and a dedicated personal chef (me), their "enclosure" is designed for maximum luxury. They are the overseers of the daily cleaning routine, the harsh judges of all new arrivals, and the absolute best comfort at the end of a long day.