Meet KT Out of the A.R.C.

If you’ve spent any time around KT’s A.R.C., you likely know me through the animals: feeding tongs in hand, misting bottles at the ready, working on naturalistic setups, or covered in cat fur. But beyond the vivarium glass and feeding schedules, there’s a slightly wacky and weird person keeping everything together.

I wanted to take a moment to step away from the animal routines and properly introduce myself—who I am and what life looks like when I’m off keeper duty.

Long before establishing KT’s A.R.C., a significant part of my working life was rooted in supporting people with disabilities. I’ve spent 13 years working alongside both children and adults across a wide variety of settings—from private family homes and day centres to supporting individuals out and about in the community.

Working in care changes how you perceive the world. It teaches genuine patience, alternative ways of communicating, and the vital skill of meeting people exactly where they are. That background in quiet observation, advocacy, and empathy carried over seamlessly into animal keeping, especially when working with misunderstood or delicate species that communicate entirely without words.

In my experience, life rarely moves in a straight line. Like many people, I’ve navigated my share of mental health challenges. Alongside those experiences, my day-to-day life involves managing chronic illness as well as navigating the world with a neurodivergent brain.

I don’t share this to cast a shadow over things; it’s simply the terrain I live on. It means my physical energy operates on a strict, finite budget. Some days are productive enclosure-build days, while others demand intentional pacing, low stimulation, and true horizontal rest. Living with chronic conditions has taught me how to listen to my body, respect my limits, and find joy in quieter rhythms.

When physical rest is non-negotiable, my mind usually escapes into another world. I am an avid reader with a love for immersive fantasy novels. Give me sprawling magical settings and compelling characters, and I can happily lose entire afternoons with my nose in a book.

At the same time, I have an inventive, restless maker’s brain. Over the years, I’ve quietly developed a diverse toolkit of creative and crafting skills. Having a hands-on project on the go keeps my mind engaged and balanced. I won’t give too much away just yet—there are plenty of ideas quietly brewing in the background—but making and creating will always be central to who I am.

A lot of my past experiences have ended up shaping KT’s A.R.C. in ways I probably didn’t expect. The patience and observation I learned through support work, learning to work within my own limitations while managing my health, and all the time I’ve spent making and creating have all found their way into this place. They influence how I care for each individual animal in my home, from how I approach creating each of their setups to how their daily needs are met. All of it has helped me create KT’s A.R.C.

So whether you’re here for the spiders, the reptiles, or the cats, thank you for following along. When you step away from your own daily routines or passions, what’s your go-to way to recharge? What book or creative project brings you the most comfort?