Who is Cat?
Cat is a gamer, Cosplayer & graphic designer in the South African Gaming Community.
We recently had the pleasure of interviewing this local internet sensation on Life, gaming, and her role in the community.
We asked Cat for a little of her backstory to gain insight into this up-and-coming girl gamer and here is what she had to say:
“Most people know me as Cat, & I am a gamer, cosplayer & graphic designer in the South African Gaming Community.
The name derived from back when I’ve always wanted a codename, somewhere I feel I could fit in & yet be different. I chose a name after my favourite colour & animal & turns out I am both a marvel character & peanut butter.
Like most other people I started gaming at a young age. My cousin & I would play all these 8bit games on pc like; Abes Oddesy, Metal Slug, Spy vs Spy, etc. & then as I grew older, my step brother & I got an 8bit gaming station & started playing Mario Bros & others from those 8 in 1 cartridges. Fast Forward to 2010, I got introduced to lans at my high school & started playing call of duty with our small group of friends on their PC’s.
That’s the year I got introduced to rAge at the coca-cola dome & have been going consecutively ever since. The chain reaction took place as I got introduced to cosplaying & started my journey from there on forward.”
Her other interests and hobbies include:
- Ice Skating
- Gym
- Feeding the Homeless
- Paintball
- Reading
- Martial Arts
- Swimming
When asked what she feels her role in the gaming community is she said:
“In all honesty, the role I have is something I feel I had to step into as opposed to choosing it for myself. A lot of people have ‘dubbed’ me as an influencer before I even thought of myself as one because of the interaction I had on the Facebook gaming group ZA Gaming Alliance.
So fulfilling the ‘influencer’ role, I’ve tried my absolute best to be seen as a more down-to-earth person than a celebrity. I didn’t want people to feel like they need a VIP invitation or book an appointment to speak with me so instead I’ve always made it my mission to interact with the community in the field to show that I am just like everyone else.”
Personally, I found Cat to be super approachable and she answered my messages and correspondence almost straight away with such professionalism.
What is Cat’s favourite game? Well, she had this to say regarding this burning question:
“For this, I’d much rather state my favourite genre because we all know it’s hard to pick just one.I enjoy FPS games such as COD, CS: GO, APEX, R6S, and more. I’m a “rush in, skop skiet & donner” type of gamer so games like League of Legends, Skyrim, etc doesn’t work for me. I don’t enjoy being patient, crafting potions & weapons before strategically plotting to kill my enemies, I want to run ‘n gun.”
Her preferred platform according to her?:
“I will always pick PC as I started gaming on pc, it feels more dynamic & I get to multi-task between programs since I also use my pc for designing & video editing.
Although I have recently bought myself not only an 8bit gaming station, PS1 & a PS2 & looking at purchasing a PS3 to add with our current PS4. Going forward I’ll look at purchasing Xbox consoles & Nintendos as well for an all-round experience.”
We wondered what her favourite thing about gaming is, here is her answer:
“My absolute favourite thing in the gaming community is how much it connects. It connects people, events & experiences. It’s more than just gaming, it’s the entire geek fandom from comics, to TV shows, to dressing up. Like one big family woven into one another, having different views but standing for the same thing, Entertainment & passion.”
To become an integral part of the South African gaming community you need passion and when we asked Cat what drives her Gaming passion she said:
“There’s a few things:
1. Being my very own Gamer Girlz Facebook Group. A safe haven for non toxic women to support one another & enjoy the virtual platform without harassment. I want to make everyone feel welcome & a part of the family so we have merch out there for everyone who wishes to be a part of the community.
2. Streaming. I quite enjoy not only giving my viewers a peek into my life, my facial expressions, stories & life experiences but the engagement of everyone who shares the same viewpoints in life as I do, engaging in conversation, supporting one another with good life advice & just being around & having a good time.”
You are probably wondering if she has any projects or events that she is busy with? Well here is the answer from the source:
“I do indeed. I have my very own comic book in the making. Issue #1 is out & there are still x3 more to come. It’s about ninjas. yes, I know. My other event is to do streams where I can support our alternative pets such as lizards & tortoises & snakes by donating to the SaveMe Reptile Rescue Centre.”
There you have it, folks. Cat is not just another gamer girl, she wears many hats namely, cosplayer, humanitarian, Comic Book author, and graphic designer among others. Her inclusive and professional manner will make sure she goes far in her chosen field and we wish her many years of success.
If you wish to check Cat out here are her socials:
Twitch: twitch.tv/black_cat1309
Instagram: @catblack1309 / @gamergirlz_rsa
TikTok: @BlackCat1309
Facebook Group: Gamer Girlz RSA
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/307528249967253
Don’t hesitate to go check Cat out on her various platforms as she advocates for girl gamers everywhere.