In the dusty pages of frontier history, few families have trotted so gracefully across the saddle of time as the Cattersons—a line of rugged, sharp-whiskered felines who first set paw in the American West in the 1850s. Arriving from Scotland, where they were known as keen mousers and fierce protectors of barns, the Cattersons quickly found their place among the early settlers of Wyoming Territory. Clad in miniature leather vests and wide-brimmed hats cut to size, they were no ordinary house cats—they were cowboys through and through.

Among the first pioneers was Silas Catterson, known for taming the untamable calico mustang, and establishing the first all-feline cattle ranch near Paw Creek. His daughter, Mabel “Clawshot” Catterson, made a name as one of the few female gunslingers of the time, famed for her role in negotiating peace between rival ranches during the Marmot Hill Dispute of 1879.

Cornelius Catterson, third in line, was a feline of numbers and diplomacy, becoming mayor of Whisker Junction in 1902 and instituting the first rodent-friendly grain storage laws, greatly reducing conflict with local wildlife.

But it was Josh Catterson, great-grandson of Silas, who cemented the family’s legend. In 1934, Mouse Gulch had fallen under the claw of the notorious Rattrap Gang. Armed with nothing but a lasso, a tin badge, and an iron stare, Josh rode into town and single-handedly ousted the bandits, restoring order and earning a bronze statue outside the old saloon.

Other memorable members include Tabitha Catterson (here seen a as pilot in combat) who led the Cat Scouts during WWII in search and rescue missions, and Sheriff Rufus Catterson, the longest-serving sheriff in Purr County, respected for his fair paw and scratch-resistant policy enforcement.

Today, the legacy gallops into the digital plains with Zoë Catterson, a direct descendant and current CTO of a major AI firm in Silicon Valley. Known for leading projects that combine behavioral analytics with affective design, Zoë often says her coding logic comes from her ancestors’ cattle herding instincts—direct, adaptive, and intuitive.

As servers hum where horses once neighed, the Cattersons remain a symbol of adaptability, grit, and the curious charm of blending spurs with semiconductors.