Paws, Pets & Metal is Metal Insider’s ongoing column on bands with pets, discovering who watches them on the road, and more. Get to know more about these metal furbabies. We caught up with Canada’s Maitreya as their pets enjoy some Knocked Loose or Between the Buried and Me.
Tell us more about your pet(s) and their names?
Brandon: I’ve got 3 cats: Tammy, Maggie, and Chicka!
Tammy is a tabby, very rotund, incredibly cuddly and I always look forward to some “Tammy Time” when I am stressed!
Maggie the menace is a Tortie with a very distinct coat of black, brown, and orange. She is a beautiful angel but likes to terrorize the other cats since she is the youngest and full of energy.
Chicka is a white and gray Domestic Shorthair. Certainly the most high maintenance of the bunch. Very vocal when she wants attention and loves to be brushed while standing on the toilet in the evening.
They certainly all have their quirks and I love them!
Have you ever taken your pet on tour?
These cats don’t even want to go outside let alone go on tour!
Who looks after your pet while on the road?
Usually my girlfriend Abi assumes the cat mom responsibilities. When we are both gone then they go to my parents place where they can keep another menace named Misha company! He is a Siberian type (Neva Masquerade) and an absolute psychopath when it comes to playing! So when the other cats come to hangout Maggie and Misha have a great time. The others, not so much.
What’s your pet’s favorite song or album?
The household always has some metal going on. I think they most like some Knocked Loose or Between the Buried and Me. They have probably heard BTBAM’s “Parallax II” album more than they’ve heard their own names. They probably spend all their sleeping time dreaming of sick guitar riffs.
How did you introduce your pet to metal?
I have my drums setup in the basement so they have definitely heard me practicing Maitreya tunes and honing my blast beats. Other than that, they can hear Abi and I singing some tunes while we cook. Maggie usually hangs around in the kitchen and I think it’s because she loves our singing and getting bits of kale.
What animal charity means most to you?
I love any sort of local animal sanctuary. One Ontario based one I have been planning to check out and help at is “Happily Ever Esther Farm Sanctuary”. I think these spots are great because they are providing first hand solutions to animal suffering by giving abused animals a better life. Another big thing is that the public can visit these animals and change their perception on what a “farm animal” actually is. They are not a product to be exploited, fattened, slaughtered, and sold, they are a living being with an identity, feelings, consciousness, desires, and a life. That connection is crucial for everyone to realize, as it plays a significant role in making the world more sustainable. A house cat is no different than a pig or cow, and they should all be treated fairly and not eaten!
