The avatar known as Kikii Littlepaws was “born” into Second Life on 4 January 2010, but if I’m honest, my journey in SL began 24 September 2004. Over the years, you could say I’ve learned a thing or two, but also being honest, I wouldn’t say I’ve ever been an “expert.” I find that I’m still learning new things as I progress throughout my SL journey. I imagine that has a lot to do with why I’m still engaged some 21 years after starting.
The only other thing that’s captured my attention for as long has been World of Warcraft.
Eight years into my SL journey I was introduced to adorable pixel cat pets (that can breed) called KittyCatS! I was given a pair of adorable silver tabbies by my beloved niece and nephew, Rory & Heath. Initially, I really had no idea what I was doing with them, and didn’t realize that you can turn off their breeding functionality, keeping them as just pets. Not knowing that, though, my two little tabby cats, a boy and a girl, to represent my RL cats Beau and Dixie who were litter-mates, grew up and eventually – having no other cats to partner with – made me a kitten box. I was delighted to discover the KittyCatS could produce offspring, and before you knew it, I had some hundred pairs of breeding cats.
It got expensive fast, because live cats, even those that aren’t breeding, require kitty kibble. Suffice it to say, I learned that I needed to stick to a strict number of live pairs to stay within a reasonable budget.
Not long after I had started breeding my KittyCatS, though, I discovered that there were secondary markets for people to sell their kittens, and that many of those secondary markets also hosted auctions. Hoping to find cute kitties, and also to learn a little bit more about them from more experienced breeders, I began attending auctions. One of the first secondary markets I became involved with was The Borough. I have many, many fond memories associated with that place, and with the friends I made there, Nephelle and Cortez, who not only taught me a lot about KittyCatS, but also took me under their wings as a student when I wanted to learn how to find hiders, and call KittyCatS auctions.
Although some friends remain, and some have long since left SL behind, I still treasure the memories of each and every one of those exceptional people I met through the KittyCatS community, and through The Borough.
There is a season for all things, though, and eventually The Borough came to close.
I auctioned at other markets, for a time, with each one still holding a special place in my heart. Too Adorable really & truly lives up to their name, as one example. Eventually there came a time where I wanted to strike out on my own, and run a KittyCatS secondary market of my own. Maybe I’m a control freak, or maybe I just genuinely love KittyCatS that much, that I wanted to help to create spaces where people felt welcome to sell their cats, bring them to auction, and be part of a large group of friends. The reality, though, was that I simply couldn’t have done it alone. I could neither have afforded it alone, to get started, nor could I have managed everything. Thankfully, I had a very dear friend named Mirsoul who also had the same idea and goals for owning a KittyCatS secondary market. So we began the endeavor together, and CatTales was born.
Again, though, there is a season for all things. Largely because of first life health concerns, I felt obligated to leave CatTales. I am, though, very pleased – and even a little proud – to say that CatTales lives on, in the hands of very capable and wonderful auctioneers and management.
When my health improved, and I felt ready to throw myself back into Second Life, and all things KittyCatS, I am also pleased to say that I found myself welcomed in an endeavor for a different market, Blue Fish Bay, with dear friends at the time. I helped in every way that I possibly could, but Blue Fish Bay’s season came and went, as well. When that door closed, a new one opened, in the shape of Realm Breedables, which was a multi-breedable secondary market that my beloved sister, KittyKat Pawprint launched. From the time of its inception, right up until it was no longer possible, I threw my love & support into Realm. It will always be near and dear to my heart, as will KittyKat. Sadly, though, I lost my sister KittyKat on 5 May 2025, and Realm was forced to close its doors, and shutter its windows. These days, I throw myself into Pawsitive Vibes, with the knowledge that I had and have my sister’s support.
I suppose I should tell you something about me in First Life. The truth of that is that I’m pretty much the same exact person in both environments. I’m warm, cheerful, approachable, kind, helpful, loyal, and practically cripplinging introverted and shy. Not the same thing, although they often go hand in hand. I’m also absolutely enamored of red pandas, and cats. Since I can’t keep a red panda as a pet, I am instead owned by three beautiful kitties named Lucy, Loki, and Gambit.
If you’ve gotten this far, I don’t know whether to say congrats, or to apologize.
If you’re also in SL, I am always happy to make new friends, especially if we have a love of KittyCatS in common.
