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 Catharia as their pets battle between Nuclear Assault and calming pet videos.
Tell us more about your pet(s) and their names?
Dylan: I have two dogs and a cat.
Jax (Hound/Aussie mix), Millie (mini Mastiff mix), and an orange tabby cat, Ginger. Jax is all bark and no bite. Millie is all bite and no bark. Ginger is the most domesticated cat. If he gets lonely (nobody has paid attention to him for 15 minutes), you will hear his opera meow.
Nick: We have 7 cats and 1 ferret, my wife works in vetmed so we tend to take in animals with higher needs than the standard pet. Stevie for example the most recent had his eyes removed before we met him and he is still acclimating to the house. We have Stevie, Beatrice, Edgar, Hugo, Wilma, Nash, Gary, and Frankie the ferret.
Matt: I have a dog and a cat. The dog’s name is Bowser, he’s an Australian shepherd mix. And the cat is named Zelda. I’m a big gamer obviously. Bowser is just under a year old and is a rescue. Zelda is about 5 years old and is also a rescue.
Michael: I have 2 dogs, a Pomsky (JuJu) and Shiba Inu mix (Dahlia). I have had Dahlia for 10 years now. Juju we rescued last year. She still is getting used to her new home but is adjusting well.
Have you ever taken your pet on tour?
Dylan: Unfortunately we have not been on tour yet. I would probably not take my pets out until I get more experience on the road or can afford better accommodations. If I did, Millie is a solid guard dog for watching over the gear and merch.
What’s your pet’s favorite song or album?
Dylan: I can’t say I’ve found a favorite for any of my current pets but they do seem to like relaxing to those calming pet videos on YouTube.
However, I used to have a boxer who loved the album Handle With Care by Nuclear Assault. She would happily bark along with a particular track that had other dogs barking in it.
Nick: We tend to play Bent Fabric’s Alley Cat. It’s a 60’s swing piano album.
Matt: I’d like to say Midnight Sun or Unimaginable Dreams of Fate by Catharia but Zelda seems to actually like Falkenbach. Bowser likes to watch any vinyl I’m listening to spin around. He’s got a lot of energy so anything fast or aggressive he seems to run around to. Particularly anything thrashy.
Michael: Both of the dogs love calm and quiet music. Occasionally I’ll put on some death metal and Dahlia will take a Power Nap to it.
How did you introduce your pet to metal?
Dylan: I love this question. If I play a riff that is particularly spooky it freaks out Jax, but Millie loves it. That’s the litmus test for if a song section should stay as-is or not.
Nick: For better or worse they quickly became used to hearing me practice vocals in the house..
Matt: Both animals listen and watch me play guitar. I always found it amusing watching their heads turn when I hit a really high note or squeal on the guitar.
What animal charity means most to you?
Dylan: Well, I would say my local humane society but they were recently caught dumping animals back out on the street. Feeling salty about that so I thought I’d throw it out there. Let’s say C.A.R.E. Inc or Wolf Park (Battle Ground, IN) instead.
Matt: Michigan Road Humane Society.
Nick: Medical Mutts Service dogs, they train dogs to help owners with medical issues, diabetes, seizures, and other medical conditions.
