When I brought my first cat home at the age of 50, I had never imagined it would lead me to create an AI-driven virtual band about cats. But here we are.
Like many people, my life took some unexpected turns under the pandemic. I left a demanding business job, treated family loss, received a life-changing health diagnosis and learned to manage ADHD for adult-all together while trying to find out what came next. What I didn’t expect was that the answer would be … cats.
Specifically, have two Siberian forest cats named Lucifer and Missy, who would not only transform my daily life, but also ignite a creative spark that I didn’t know I had.
In love with the hypoallergenic fluffball
I had always wanted a cat, but serious allergies and frequent journeys had been holding that dream. Then I discovered the Siberian race, known for their lower allergen levels. I reached out to a breeder and was invited to spend time with the cat mamma and kittens to test my reaction. The moment I met Lucifer, a mixed black fluffball with golden eyes and a curious staring, I knew I was a goner.
When he got home, I started an Instagram account just for him, mainly to prevent my personal feed from turning into a non-stop cat roll. It was meant to be a quiet side hobby. But the Cat community online had other plans.
From killing updates to catfluencer -Status
What started as a couple of playful posts quickly became a daily ritual. I was hit by how warm, funny and inviting the global cat society was, especially on Instagram. I shared imaginary conversations between Lucifer, his human father and me, humorous photo editing and sincere reflections on life with a cat -shaped shadow.
When we adopted Missy six months later, the dynamics between the two cats were irresistible. Lucifer assumed the role of the patient’s older brother, while Missy brought chaos and charm. Their Antics had supporters who commented as if they were seeing a soap opera (and honestly, sometimes it felt like one!).
Before long, we collaborated with pet brands, reviewed gadgets and got offers for campaigns. From candy goodies to smart litter boxes, our inbox was filled with options, and so were our hearts.
Creating a virtual band (yes, really)
As someone with a background in marketing and communication, I had examined AI tools for my day job in pharmacovigilance software (a field where artificial intelligence is used to improve medicine’s safety). One day, on a whim, I decided to see what would happen if I combined my love for cats with the music -generating tools I played with.
What started as a joke quickly turned into something surprisingly fun and touching. I launched Kirsti and her cats, a virtual band that creates songs with a combination of human creativity and AI, inspired by my two cats and their online friends. The music, which is now distributed via distrokes, mixes synth-pop, playful lyrics and the kind of unfiltered joy that only cats can inspire.
To my surprise, the answer was overwhelmingly positive. Cat lovers from all over the world began sharing how much the music made them smile. Some even told me that they played it for their own cats (which of course approved).
Rediscovering joy, one meow at a time
Looking back, all this started with a decision: to finally bring a cat into my life. I couldn’t have predicted how much this choice would reshape my identity, not only as a pet parent but that creates.
Lucifer and Missy helped me find joy at a time when life felt uncertain. They gave me structure, inspiration and a sense of connection, not only to them, but to a society of people who love their cats as hard as I do.
And while I never imagined I would make AI-Synth-pop songs about cats in the 50s, I have realized that this is exactly where I am intended to be: at the intersection of science, creativity and cat hair on everything.
Tips for anyone who starts their own cat journey
Whether you are considering adopting your first cat or just wanting to elaborate on the tape with the one you have, here are a few things I have learned:
- Let them change you. Cats have a way to help you slow down, observe and feel more present.
- Embrace the silly. To talk to your cat, create voices for them or pose songs? Completely normal and wild therapeutic.
- Find your community. Online cat people are some of the friendliest, most fun people around. You don’t have to do this alone.
- You are never too old to try something new. Whether it is to adopt your first cat, learn AI tools or launch a music project, makes it joy.
The post from the Corporate Burnout to the Cat Band creator: How my Siberians helped me rewrite my life (and my playlist) by Kirsti Harefallet first appeared at Catster. Copying over entire articles violates copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for so that they are not considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued to share just the first paragraph of an article and then link to the rest of the play at Catster.com.