Little Cato

Little Cato is one of the two tritagonists alongside his friend Avocato in the animated series "Final Space." He is a 14-year-old Ventrexian, a race known for their small stature and mischievous nature. Despite his young age, Little Cato possesses a sharp wit, a curious mind, and a heart full of courage. He is the adoptive son of Avocato, a fellow Ventrexian and skilled assassin, and Gary Goodspeed, a human astronaut.

• Biography

Pre-series:

Little Cato was born to the King and Queen of Ventrexia. During an evacuation after an attack, their ship was destroyed by Avocato, a Ventrexian general, on the Lord Commander's orders. Little Cato survived and was adopted by Avocato, who promised to protect him.

Three years before Season 1, the Lord Commander ordered his generals to kill their firstborn children to test their loyalty. Avocato refused and was demoted to a bounty hunter, with Little Cato taken hostage to force compliance. Separated from his father, Little Cato remained determined to reunite with him.

Season 1:

In "Chapter 2", Avocato tried to rescue Little Cato from the Lord Commander's prison on Tera Con Prime, but was captured in a trap. Little Cato was then moved to a prison on Zetakron Alpha.

A mysterious ally helped Little Cato escape, letting him send a distress call to Avocato. However, it was revealed the "ally" was the Lord Commander, setting a trap. The Lord Commander then mind-controlled Little Cato to attack Avocato when he arrived. Avocato broke the control and they reunited, but Avocato sacrificed himself to save Little Cato and the others from a bomb planted on him.

Devastated, Little Cato tried to avenge his father recklessly with a stolen ship. He survived but the ship was destroyed when he and KVN attempted to steal a time machine to change events.

Little Cato later volunteered to clear a path through enemy ships so Quinn could deliver an antimatter bomb. He succeeded and took command of the resistance, attacking the Lord Commander's ship. Though he killed Viro, Gary's ship collided with the Lord Commander's ship right where they stood. The explosion blasted Little Cato off into space.

Season 2:

In "The Toro Regatta", Little Cato was revealed to have been picked up by Clarence and made his slave as a washboy. Reuniting with Gary, HUE, and KVN, he competed in the deadly Toro Regatta. They helped Clarence steal the Nymerian Cube and met Bolo, who guided them to find Dimensional Keys to free him.

Joining the crew of the Crimson Light, Little Cato faced trauma - trapped in a time shard for 60 years, watching Gary and the others age. In the past, he tried to save Avocato from dying, only to lose him again to Invictus. Heartbroken, Little Cato was forced to shoot his possessed father, believing he killed him.

Temporarily leaving, Little Cato rejoined when Gary offered to adopt him. They recovered stolen keys from Todd Watson and freed Sheryl. Awaiting Bolo's release, they faced Avocato, possessed by Invictus again. Ash freed Avocato, reuniting father and son after months apart. Overwhelmed with joy, Little Cato now had both his fathers back.

Appearance

Little Cato has a striking appearance with his smooth, sunburnt orange fur and eye-catching cyan-turquoise mohawk. A distinctive brown arrow-shaped marking travels down from his forehead, halfway across his face. His fashion sense is bold and eclectic - he dons a bright yellow sleeveless shirt with a high collar reminiscent of a turtleneck. A medium grey skirt completes his lower half, along with grey leggings and sturdy grey boots that reach his knees. His ensemble is accented by a dark grey chest strap and matching wrist gauntlets, all secured by a grey belt with a practical black buckle resembling a seatbelt.

In "Chapter 7" of season one, viewers caught a glimpse of an older Little Cato while he was trapped in Nightfall's ship. Time had transformed him, but his signature style remained - now with silver shoulder and knee pads, and a slightly shorter mohawk.

The season 2 episode "The Other Side" presents a dramatically aged Little Cato due to the time shard's effects. His once vibrant fur had darkened and become unkempt, his mohawk now slicked back. He was clad in robust torso armor, complete with a sturdy chest plate, formidable gauntlets, and built-in shoulder pads. A yellow skirt replaced his former skirt, and he wore rugged steel boots reaching his knees. Fortunately, Gary and the crew's rescue brought him back to his proper age, and he returned to his recognizable appearance.

Personality

Little Cato is a bold and rebellious spirit, driven by an unwavering determination to reunite with his father after years of separation. His youthful energy fuels his bravery, and like Avocato, he can be serious and threatening, though in a less deadly manner. With a quick wit and sharp mind, Little Cato consistently seeks to undermine the Lord Commander's authority.

During his captivity, boredom seems to be his constant companion. In Chapter 3, he displays a surprising talent for beatboxing, suggesting he's found creative ways to pass the time. Little Cato also demonstrates a remarkable familiarity with advanced technology, hacking his way out of his prison cell with ease. His confidence in his tech skills borders on boasting, once claiming he's a better hacker than even his father.

A rare smile graces his face only when he can make fun of the Lord Commander, revealing a playful side impervious to the tyrant's threats. Little Cato's concerns in Chapter 2 lie more with his father's safety than his own, showcasing his loyalty.

By Season 2, a more laidback Little Cato emerges, enjoying carefree moments with Gary, like dancing enthusiastically to "Footloose." His ego shines through when challenged by Clarence to a game of thimbles, proudly proclaiming his status as Ventrexia's Junior Thimbles Elite Champion. Even praise from Ash leaves him somewhat flustered, hinting at a softer side beneath his tough exterior.

Little Cato's personality is a compelling blend of youthful bravery, tech-savvy intelligence, and a deep devotion to family, making him a multifaceted and endearing character.

Relationships:

Avocato - First Adoptive Dad

Avocato is Little Cato's loving father who he admires, despite Avocato becoming a feared warrior. When Avocato couldn't bring himself to kill Little Cato on the Lord Commander's orders, Little Cato deeply respected his father's loyalty. It's later revealed that Avocato killed Little Cato's royal parents on the Lord Commander's orders, but later adopted the baby Little Cato.

Gary - Second Adoptive Dad

After Avocato's death, Little Cato struggled with grief. Gary, trusted by Avocato to watch over his son, worked hard to make Little Cato happy and helped him through his pain. Their bond grew as Gary treated Little Cato as an equal, earning Little Cato's respect and appreciation. By Season 2, they are very close friends. Gary lets Little Cato be a kid and have fun while still being a supportive father figure. When the time comes, Little Cato happily accepts Gary's adoption of him.

Ash Graven - Former Friend (and potential romantic interest)

Little Cato initially avoided angering Ash and cared about her, as shown when he rescued her twice. Ash seemed to care about Little Cato too, treating him like a pet but showing sadness when he took risks for his father.

Fox - Enemy and Occasional Friend

Little Cato and Fox have a long-standing rivalry due to their species' blood feud. Despite sharing a room and often arguing on the Crimson Light, they've also had bonding moments, like when Fox saved Little Cato from an airlock accident. Tensions remain, but there's a begrudging respect between them.

Trivia

Olan Rogers, the creator of Final Space, confirmed that Little Cato is canonically gay. This revelation was initially set to occur in Season 3, but plans changed to focus more on developing Ash's friendship with Evra. Had the series continued beyond its third season, Little Cato's sexuality likely would have been explored further, potentially hinting at his feelings for Ash. However, the show's untimely cancellation after Season 3 left this storyline unresolved.

"Hell-Cat," one of Little Cato's nicknames, is possibly a reference to the Dodge Challenger Hellcat, a high-performance muscle car manufactured by Chrysler. The name may be a nod to his fierce and rebellious nature, or simply a coincidence.

In the episode "The Notorious Mrs. Goodspeed," it is established that Little Cato is 14 years old, a teenager navigating the challenges of his circumstances with remarkable maturity.

In "The Grand Surrender," Little Cato boasts about his impressive credentials, claiming the title of Ventrexia's Junior Thimbles Elite Champion. This achievement highlights his skills in strategy and hand-eye coordination, qualities that serve him well throughout his adventures in Final Space.

Resilience: Little Cato shows remarkable strength in coping with adversity, such as finding creative outlets like beatboxing while imprisoned. His adaptability, like forming a bond with Gary after losing his father, highlights his psychological resilience.

Trauma and Grief: Significant losses, including the deaths of his father and discovery of his birth parents' fate, impact Little Cato emotionally and shape his attachment styles. His initial struggle to trust Gary suggests he fears abandonment.

Identity: As a Ventrexian-Tryvuulian hybrid, Little Cato struggles with questions of identity and belonging, especially in his rivalry with Fox. Understanding his place in the universe is a key part of his psychological growth.

Agency: Despite his youth, Little Cato demonstrates a strong sense of self-belief and willingness to defy authority, as seen in his claim of being the Junior Thimbles Elite Champion. This suggests a healthy sense of self-respect and confidence.

Relationships: Bonds with his adoptive fathers, Avocato and Gary, are crucial for Little Cato's emotional well-being. The loss of Avocato leaves him vulnerable, but his relationship with Gary provides trust and support. Potential feelings for Ash show his capacity for intimate connection.

Possible Mental Health Concerns:

PTSD: Little Cato's trauma history may cause symptoms like intrusive memories, avoidance, low self-esteem, and hypervigilance.

Complicated Grief: He might struggle to recover from losing Avocato, impacting his ability to engage positively in life.

Anxiety: Fears of losing his adoptive family and the dangers of his environment could lead to generalized anxiety or specific phobias.

Adjustment Disorder: Adapting to new situations and the constant threats in Final Space may cause stress-related symptoms.

ODD: Little Cato's rebellious streak and defiance towards authority could be evaluated further for Oppositional Defiant Disorder.