Cait Sith (Final Fantasy VII)

Cait Sith is a playable character in Final Fantasy VII, Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. He also appears in Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII- as a summon, Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-, Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children, and Final Fantasy VII Remake. Cait Sith is a robot cat who often rides a giant stuffed toy moogle.
Cait Sith is remotely controlled with multiple copies, and controls the moogle with a megaphone. He worked as a fortune-teller in the Gold Saucer before joining Cloud Strife's party for initially mysterious motives. Though he was at odds with the party at first, traveling with them caused him to reflect on his own life and purpose, as he over time became a loyal member.
Cait Sith uses megaphones to give orders to his moogle. Unlike most characters, Cait Sith only has two Limit Breaks—Dice and Slots—that have unique chance-based effects.
==History==
===Prototypes===
On February 10 0007, Reeve Tuesti first controlled and deployed a prototype Cait Sith during "The Consequences of Our Choices" in Before Crisis. Cait Sith met the player Turk and told them their fortune. Cait Sith then led them to Tseng as, where Reeve revealed himself as Cait Sith's controller and had Cait Sith read a second fortune, stating that one of the Zirconiade's Support Materia is in Gongaga.
Cait Sith accompanied the Turk to find the materia, knowing the Turk was working for Verdot but not telling President Shinra. Cait Sith was damaged, leading Reeve to ponder how to improve Cait Sith's limited combat abilities without hindering agility or movement, leading Reeve to create the robot moogle. The player Turk gathered parts to rebuild Cait Sith, and Reeve allowed them to use a backup controller to control Cait Sith while Reeve was in a meeting. Vice President Rufus Shinra learned about Cait Sith from Tseng, suggesting it be used for reconnaissance. The player Turk meanwhile used Cait Sith to infiltrate a mako reactor and retrieve materia, making use of Cait Sith's prediction powers to find the correct doorways into the reactor core.
Thereafter, Cait Sith rode the large robotic moogle, manufactured to gather intelligence by the Shinra Electric Power Company's Urban Development Department.
===Original continuity===
====Joining Cloud====
Sometime after, Cait Sith was a fortune teller at the Gold Saucer. On December 0007, depicted in "Sanctuary of Amusement" in Final Fantasy VII, Cait Sith met Cloud Strife's party, and tried to tell Cloud's fortune; after several failed attempts, Cait Sith predicted "What you pursue will be yours. But you will lose something dear", and then forced Cloud to take him along, so as to spy on his party. Cait Sith joined them and helped in their pursuit of Sephiroth thereafter. Cloud and the party suspected that a spy was in their midst later on, Cait Sith deflecting blame but saying they would only suspect him as the new one.
In "Secret Date", when Cloud's party returned for the Keystone as a means to enter the Temple of the Ancients, Cait Sith stole it while Cloud was in his hotel room, and handed it to Tseng. Cloud caught Cait Sith, who revealed only that he was being controlled by someone within the Shinra Electric Power Company, but not revealing who, and claiming that he was moved by Cloud and his friends' selflessness and thus they were "not entirely enemies". Cloud did not buy it, forcing Cait Sith to reveal that Barret Wallace' adoptive daughter, Marlene Wallace was being held hostage, forcing Cloud to keep them with him. As an olive branch, Cait Sith took them to the Temple of the Ancients.
During "Within the Temple of the Ancients", the party learned that the temple itself the Black Materia they were looking for, but that obtaining it would kill anyone who attempted. Knowing this would not deter Sephiroth, the party were forced to entrust Cait Sith to sacrifice for the Black Materia. Aerith Gainsborough, as a final fortune, asked Cait Sith how compatible she and Cloud were, with Cait Sith, apologizing to Tifa Lockhart, saying Cloud and Aerith were a perfect match. Aerith gave encouragement, which delighted Cait Sith, who gave a heartfelt message asking not to be forgotten before being crushed by the temple. Meanwhile, Reeve had a duplicate Cait Sith arrive, which saved Tseng from the temple and joined Cloud's party thereafter.
====Meteorfall====
During "In a World Approaching Its End", after Sephiroth summoned Meteor, Shinra sent Tifa Lockhart, Barret Wallace, and the rest of Cloud's party to be executed in Junon. Cait Sith disguised as a reporter, and as Sapphire Weapon's attack distracted Shinra, incapacitated Scarlet and freed Barret. When Barret asked why, Cait Sith simply declared being "against capital punishment" and hating Scarlet; Barret later called Cait Sith a "partner". The two fled Junon's streets and escaped on the airship, the Highwind, securing Tifa as they escaped.
In a reversal of his role, Cait Sith served as a spy for the party, first offering to give Tifa any information on Shinra that she needed. In "Struggle for the Huge Materia", Cait Sith allowed the group to listen on Scarlet and Heidegger's meeting, where they learned about the Huge Materia.
During "Mako Cannon Rampage", when Diamond Weapon attacked Midgar, Reeve spoke through Cait Sith, confronting Barret about Barret's apparent indifference to those that his mako reactor bombings had killed. Before the argument escalated, Tifa mediated, understanding both sides, knowing that Reeve was trying to do good from within Shinra, and Barret was trying to do good from without. Later, when Vice President Rufus Shinra was accidentally killed, Reeve blew his cover as Cait Sith, and was taken custody by Scarlet and Heidegger, but was still able to control Cait Sith and guide them during the raid on Midgar.
As the final battle loomed, Reeve, through Cait Sith, announced the fall of Shinra. As Cloud asked each of his comrades to find a reason to fight, Cait Sith went dormant, its lifeless body remaining within the Highwind. Reeve, declaring people from Midgar had taken him in, reactivated Cait Sith, and joined their final battle. Cait Sith was present in the battle in the Northern Cave in "The Planet's Judgment". As Meteor descended onto Midgar, Reeve told the party through Cait Sith that Midgar was evacuated.
====Geostigma crisis====
In 0009, depicted in Advent Children, Cait Sith, riding on Red XIII, joined Cloud's party to battle Bahamut SIN. When Cloud awoke in the pool of water in Sector 5 slums church after having once again defeated Sephiroth, his friends gather around him and Cait Sith was among the crowd, being held by Marlene.
====Deepground crisis====
In Kalm during Deepground's attacks, Cait Sith posed as Reeve Tuesti when meeting with Vincent Valentine, but Deepground soldiers destroyed his disguise. In Mako Reactor 0, Cait Sith aided Vincent and after the mission, Nero captures him and uses him to enter the Shera.
Another Cait Sith was built by Reeve (Cait Sith #5) with all the memories of the previous four models. Cait Sith used Synaptic Net Dive (SND) after Shelke Rui to show the World Regenesis Organization (WRO) the horrors experienced by Deepground victims. Using the data, the WRO realized Deepground was trying to make a Lifestream pure of Jenova to summon Omega.
===Remake continuity===
During "Fight for Survival", from the Shinra Building helipad, Cait Sith watched in horror as the Sector 7 plate collapsed, falling in despair.
Cait Sith was deployed to the Gold Saucer as a fortune teller. He met Cloud Strife's party in "All That Glitters", helping Cloud and Barret rent rooms at Ghost Square by hacking into the system. He tried to tell Cloud's fortune, and after two failed attempts predicted "Seek and you are sure to find. But alas, you shall forever lose... what you cherish most." Cait later helped Cloud's group in clearing Barret's name before asking to join their group in their pursuit of Sephiroth, coming clean of his ties with Shinra up front. Leading the group to Gongaga in "The Planet Stirs", he saw Cissnei there and asked her not to reveal his identity.
Cait Sith decided to help Cloud's group find the location of the black materia by accessing a Shinra terminal in Nibelheim in "The Long Shadow of Shinra". He needed access from the terminal below the Shinra Manor, and while Cloud, Tifa, and Yuffie headed to Nibel Reactor to procure clearance, Cait Sith, Barret, and Aerith made their way to the manor's basement through various trials. From the terminal, Cait Sith uncovered that that the black materia was being held in the Temple of the Ancients, and that the key to get in was last seen in Dio's possession.
In "A Golden Key", the party returned to the Gold Saucer to look for the keystone. Cait Sith acted as the narrator in the VR production of Loveless and had a chance to ride the skywheel with Cloud, Vincent, and Cid. Cait Sith tried to foster a party atmosphere but became angry when his efforts were not being appreciated. Cait Sith stole the keystone during the Naming Rights tournament and handed it to the Turks. The group ostracized him as they traveled without him to the Temple of the Ancients, their new ally Vincent being able to track the Turks' helicopter via their radio signal.
When the party triggered the temple's self destruct in "Where Angels Fear to Tread", Cait Sith came to their rescue and sacrificed himself so the others could escape with what was revealed to be a fake black materia. Cait Sith immediately returned in a duplicate body and was welcomed back into the group.
Following Cloud's collapse at the temple, the group headed to the Sleeping Forest in "End of the World" to find a lost city of the Cetra, according to Aerith. A fog fell and the group was separated from her. Cloud awoke and Cait Sith apologized to him and claimed he had feared something bad might happen at the temple and so had thought it better for the Turks get into trouble than them. Cloud said he did not need to apologize, and though he was still upset about Cait Sith's betrayal, he was more concerned about Sephiroth and Aerith.
When the group reached the city, Whispers appeared to block their path. The group allowed Cloud to go through and find Aerith alone. When the wall of Whispers dissipated, they found Cloud cradling a dead Aerith while Jenova attacked them. The group fought Jenova Lifeclinger and Sephiroth's reborn form in a separate dimension from Cloud. When the battle ended, Cait Sith mourned for Aerith.
The group fixed Cid's Tiny Bronco and headed further north to find Sephiroth.
==Characteristics==
=== Appearance ===
Cait Sith is an anthropomorphic remote-controlled plush toy cat standing just over three feet tall with short black fur and a white stomach and face. It wears a short red cape and white gloves and a small crown. Cait Sith does not possess any outward robotic features.
Cait Sith normally rides atop large robotic moogle with small wings, one of the robots utilized by the Golden Saucer.
=== Personality ===
As Cait Sith is a robot controlled by Reeve Tuesti, his personality can be difficult to perceive. Cait Sith acts notably different from Reeve, particularly in having looser speech patterns, and a Scottish accent. Reeve often expresses his thoughts to Cloud's party through Cait Sith, particularly regarding the discomfort he felt for Avalanche's terrorism, but also how seeing their selflessness affected him.
Cait Sith does appear to have some degree of artificial intelligence. Notably, Cait Sith asked not to be forgotten "even if another Cait Sith comes along" when sacrificing in the Temple of the Ancients, a direct assertion of sentience. Cait Sith also spoke on its own when controlled by the Turks and not Reeve. In Dirge of Cerberus, Reeve and Cait Sith can be seen together in the same room, and are able to move and talk independently of each other. In addition, in Rebirth, Cait Sith is a clear employee of the Gold Saucer, and it can be reasonably assumed that Reeve does not have the time to spare to make Cait Sith dance and entertain customers all day. These things suggest Cait Sith has some personality independent of Reeve as well as autonomy. However, Reeve can assume direct control if necessary.
Cait Sith is fun-loving and playful, but cowardly and a poor fighter. Cait Sith makes a hobby of telling people their fortunes, which often turn out to be correct, if vague.
== Gameplay ==
===Final Fantasy VII===
Cait Sith is a playable party member who uses megaphones to give orders to the moogle. Cait Sith is a very unique party member due to having only two Limits: Dice and Slots. Aside from these, Cait Sith has one of the higher Magic stats in the game, and his weapons tend to have many Materia slots to take advantage of this. Cait Sith's stats outside of Magic are lower than most characters, and the physical damage range is random.
Though Cait Sith's strengths are based on randomness, when used effectively, he can become one of the more powerful party members in all situations. Early game, Dice can deal fixed damage which is effective against all enemy types, while Slots' effects include the ability to greatly buff or heal the party, deal immense damage to enemies, or even wipe out any enemy if the right combination is selected. Gaming these can make Cait Sith particularly formidable in spite of his weaker stats. Cait Sith's ultimate weapon, the HP Shout, deals more damage the higher the current HP.
Cait Sith is the only non-optional character in Final Fantasy VII who at no time is required to be a member when selecting a party.
CaitSith-ffvii-field.png|Field model.
CaitSith-ffvii-reporter.png|Field model disguised as a reporter.
===Crisis Core -Final Fantasy VII-===
Cait Sith is a summon for Zack, appearing on the Digital Mind Wave once Zack acquires "Cait Sith's Megaphone" in a treasure chest in "M8-4-3: Suspicious Mail 3". Cait Sith uses Courage Boost to cure Zack of Poison, Stun, Silence, and Stop, and grants various status buffs, the duration of which varies depending on the level of the summon.
===Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-===
Cait Sith is temporarily playable in Mako Reactor 0 (where he is, in fact, a terrible fighter, making the mission he takes part in require a good deal of stealth). Later, Cait Sith can also be used as a playable character in several of the Extra Missions.
=== Final Fantasy VII Rebirth ===
Cait Sith is a playable character in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, joining the party at the start of Chapter 9. On his own, he is capable of some light physical combos with his unique ability, Kitty Wallop, or use his megaphones to deal ranged damage. When Let's Ride! is used, Cait summons his moogle, for further potential. When the moogle is on the field, his unique ability becomes Mount, where Cait Sith will ride his companion and may attack seperately or in tandem with it, with Mount becoming Dropkick. The moogle can also be left to attack on its own but can still take damage, as indicated by its separate health bar next to Cait Sith's own. If the moogle is left to fight alone, Cait Sith's unique ability upon mounting it again will change to a randomly selected one depending on the tier, either party-wide buffs or status-inflicting attacks on foes. Many of his weapon abilities are based on random chance or require the moogle being active, and can provide useful effects like building stagger and raising the stagger damage bonus. Overall, he is a dynamic character who can provide many options to change the course of battle with his moveset.
== Musical themes ==
"Cait Sith's Theme" plays during his introduction in the Wonder Square, and later before he sacrifices himself in the Temple of the Ancients. A jazz rendition is available as a music disc in Final Fantasy VII Remake, bought for 50 gil from the Sector 5 Slums trains station vending machine.
"Cait Sith's Theme" is included on the second disc of Final Fantasy VII Vinyl Limited Edition compilation album.
== Other appearances ==
=== Guest appearances ===
Cait Sith has appeared in the following games throughout the Final Fantasy series:
*Dissidia Final Fantasy as a cameo.
*Dissidia Final Fantasy Opera Omnia as a playable character.
*Pictlogica Final Fantasy as a playable character.
*Final Fantasy Airborne Brigade as a series of abilities.
*Final Fantasy Artniks as a series of cards.
*Final Fantasy Record Keeper as a playable character.
*Final Fantasy Brave Exvius as a summonable vision.
*Final Fantasy Trading Card Game as a series of cards.
*Triple Triad as a series of cards.
=== Mentions and cameos ===
A costume for Cait Sith in Gunslinger Stratos 2 was released on November 6, 2014.
The quote of the minion Cait Sith Doll is "What may be a few to you was everything to those who died...", a line Cait Sith said to Barret in Final Fantasy VII in regard to collateral damage caused by Avalanche.
=== Merchandise ===
Cait Sith has appeared in numerous merchandise for Play Arts and others, 
Cait-Sith-Key-Chain.jpg|Keychain available from Japanese crane catcher games in 1997.
RedXIII-Play-Arts.jpg|Play Arts figure alongside Red XIII made by Kotobukiya.
Red-XIII-Cait-Sith-Potion.jpg|Potion can alongside Red XIII.
Cid Highwind & Cait Sith FF7 AC by Play Arts Kai.jpg|Advent Children Play Arts -Kai- Set with Cid Highwind
Cait Sith FF7 AC by Play Arts Kai.jpg|Advent Children Play Arts -Kai-, shown riding previously released Red XIII
==Behind the scenes==
===Concept and design===
Cait Sith was conceived early on as a robotic spy from Shinra controlled by Reeve. As Reeve grew fonder of the party, he would have developed a kinship with them and found his loyalties between them and Shinra torn. Cait Sith's job class was originally listed as "Toysaurus (Beastmaster)", with age given as 9 years old, and instead of megaphones, would have fought using whips and cards.
In a scenario cut from the final product, Avalanche would have needed to shut down the Mako Reactors around the world to help combat Sephiroth, but would have been unable to strike them all in time. At risk of jeopardizing his position at Shinra, Reeve would have shut the reactors down himself. The scenario developed into Shinra using the Sister Ray powered by Mako Reactors, during which Reeve tries to talk them out of using the cannon and is arrested.
Cait Sith Sketch.jpg|Concept art by Tetsuya Nomura.
Cait Sith Portrait Sketch.jpg|Concept art of Cait Sith's menu portrait by Tetsuya Nomura.
Cait Sith Toys Sketch.jpg|Concept art of Cait Sith's toys for his Slot Limit Break.
Cait Sith Lucky Girl Art.jpg|Concept art of Cait Sith's Lucky Girl limit break effect by Tetsuya Nomura.
===Allusions===
Early in Final Fantasy VII, during the Wall Market series of quests, if the player enters the Honey Bee Inn and peeks through the keyhole of the Lover's Room, there is a tiny Cait Sith to the far right of the screen. The room is occupied by an elderly couple who refer to each other as "Grandma" and "Grandpa", and whose son has been recently promoted to Head Department at Shinra: in the Japanese version, the two speak with a kansai accent, which, along with their dialogue and Cait Sith's presence, implies they are Reeve's parents, which is confirmed in the FFVII 10th Anniversary Ultimania.
If Cloud rides the gondola in Gold Saucer with Cait Sith, Cait Sith will be too big to fit on the seat and will stand facing toward the player.
When meeting Cait Sith on the Shera during the seventh chapter of Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-, much like in the original game when Cait Sith #2 appears, Cait Sith will introduce himself with a number, which ranges between 5 and 7 depending on how much time the player spent completing the previous chapter. This could mean that the Cait Sith seen at the start of the game is the fourth incarnation, and numbers 2 and 3 were destroyed in some way before the events of the game.
If the Cait Sith activated is number 5, he will make a reference to the film Short Circuit by saying "Number 5 is alive!". This line is said by the film's main character, Number 5, after being given sentience by a lightning strike.
Although a folklore superstition of black cats being unlucky is common, in Japan and in Great Britain being crossed by a black cat is a sign of good luck. Although Cait Sith is not fully black, this belief may have influenced him being made a fortune teller. The fortune given to Cloud by Cait Sith in Gold Saucer is referred to in the Square Enix title Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories. In the opening Marluxia informs Sora that "Along the road ahead lies something you need, however in order to claim it, you must lose something that is dear to you."
===Voice===
Cait Sith is voiced by Hideo Ishikawa in Japanese. He shares his Japanese voice actor with Auron from Final Fantasy X and Final Fantasy X-2, Squall Leonhart from Dissidia Final Fantasy and Dissidia 012 Final Fantasy, (and by extension, Leon from the Kingdom Hearts series), and Qator Bashtar from Final Fantasy Type-0. Ishikawa uses a rare light-hearted high pitch that sets it apart from his other voice roles. Cait Sith speaks in an altered Kansai dialect.
In English, he was formerly voiced by Greg Ellis in the Compilation series, and is currently voiced by Paul Tinto in Rebirth, both of whom voice Cait Sith with a Scottish accent likely as an allusion to his name origin as a supernatural cat that haunts the Scottish Highlands.
== Gallery ==
== Etymology ==
==Notes==
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Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VII
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VII Remake
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
Category:Characters in Before Crisis -Final Fantasy VII-
Category:Characters in Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children
Category:Characters in Dirge of Cerberus -Final Fantasy VII-
Category:Gamblers
Category:Guest characters