Hello, I'm Shetani the king cheetah! I've been actively participating in the furry scene since 2012, and fursuiting since 2014.My character reference is here.
This is what my fursuit looks like.If you take photos or video of me at an event, please tag me on social media (see Links), or send to me directly via the contact buttons at the bottom of this page.

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I became actively involved with the furry community in 2012, though I had been following it for quite a few years prior. A new friend and my partner finally convinced me to give in and make a fursona, and thus Shetani was created!

Shetani is a no-nonsense, nerdy, yet passionate cheetah with a flair for the gothic. She enjoys tea, video games, cats, and her hobbies.
Click the Fursona tab to learn more about Shetani!

When it came time to create myself a fursona, there was little question as to which species I'd use to represent myself in our community. The cheetah has been my favorite animal since my youth. I was always fascinated by how unconventional cheetahs are compared to the other big cats. I decided on the king cheetah variant to introduce some individuality to Shetani's design without using unnatural colors or markings.
In an inversion of the typical story you hear from furries, I initially didn't feel connected to cheetahs on more than a superficial level. As I matured and progressed through life, I found myself more strongly relating to many of the cheetah's defining aspects, most notably how they endure a great deal of hardship and injustice yet continue to persevere.

Shetani in one of her favorite pastimes. Art by Galvanity

Even before becoming a furry, I had a passion for cosplaying and attending fan conventions. It took less than a year for me to decide I wanted to try fursuiting, too.
My fursuit was custom-made by MagpieBones in 2014. It is a use-your-own-eyes (UYOE) style fursuit that, as the name suggests, utilizes the wearer's actual eyes instead of fake eyes or mesh view ports. This gives me unparalleled field of vision and ventilation while allowing me to wear my prescription eyeglasses.

Me applying makeup around my eyes in preparation for a fursuit outing.

While many UYOE fursuiters exist, a special feature of my personal fursuit is that it also uses my own hair.
Click the Gallery tab to browse through a few of my more memorable fursuit looks.
To learn more about how my fursuit works and why I chose this style, check out this video.
I share a fursuit picture every week on my Mastodon, Twitter, and Instagram accounts as part of the #FursuitFriday community hashtag trend.

A couple of the many hairstyles I have sported thanks to my specialized fursuit

My YouTube channel features lots of videos, including convention highlights, fursuit unboxings, and interviews. Launched in 2018, my ongoing series Cheetah Chat with Shetani covers underrepresented topics of interest pertaining to the furry community.

After the pandemic hit in 2020, I started hosting lecture panels at online conventions to share my knowledge and experience with furries at large. These are recorded and archived on my YouTube channel for all to access.

Most recently, I've begun streaming video games in fursuit, to bring us a little closer together in these isolated times.

When there isn't a deadly illness sweeping the globe, I try to attend one furry convention every year, and as many other cons as time and budget allows. Photos from my con trips can be found on my Weasyl. If you see me at a con, don’t be afraid to say hi - I need to make more furry friends! Please please please tag or send me any photos of me that you take, so I can remember the memories we shared!I'm slowly and painstakingly moving my convention reports over onto this homepage. You can find them in the Writing tab, along with a few personal essays and other word-smithery.I am a staff member at Furry Weekly, an online magazine for - you guessed it - the furry community. My current roles include Convention Calendar segment writer, archivist, and social media ad producer.

Furry Weekly staff ID card with a portrait of Shetani, identifying her name, gender, species, and position as Convention Calendar host.

ID card by KimsRetroShirt

I am most active on the Fediverse, Twitter, and Instagram, and use Weasyl for art, personal suit photos, and general community networking.See my Links page for more!

You can read Shetani's backstory here.
Looking to draw her? Check out her ref page.
Click here to see even more art!

Art by Lynxurious || Art by AlwaysRedArt

Shetani is a king cheetah who lives with her partner, a rat named Mika, and their pet kitten. The lot of the cheetah is to endure despite the many hardships life throws at them, and Shetani is no exception to this. Her kind heart and dependability are not to be mistaken for weakness; years of stress have left her with a low tolerance for nonsense, and she becomes downright fierce when the situation warrants.
Though she has many casual acquaintances, there are but a handful of close friends she trusts deeply enough to be her true self around. Once one gets to know Shetani better, her initial demure and polite demeanor gives way to reveal a quick wit and unexpectedly sarcastic sense of humor. At a gathering, she's most likely to be found perusing the host's reading material, gushing over any pets present, or hovering near the refreshments providing a muttered dry commentary on the other guests to her plus-one.

Art by jameslikesegg || Art by AlwaysRedArt

Shetani finds that the "nerdy" label fits her quite comfortably. Her hobbies include reading, cosplaying, playing video games, listening to My Chemical Romance, maintaining her myriad of collections, and caring for animals - she particularly loves cats! Much of her day is spent managing a cat cafe, renowned in the community for its exotic teas and baked goods freshly made by Shetani herself. After adoption hours, the non-cat areas of the cafe are used as a community space to host LGBTQ+ events and resources, including a free library, social mixers, and live music. Nothing helps Shetani wind down after a long day at work like some games or internet time and a nice hot cup of tea, followed by a bath bomb in the tub.

Art by birdlittle || Art by Canideo

In her day-to-day, Shetani's fashion sense is all about comfort and self-expression with a flair for the gothic. She practically lives in band tees or hoodies and leggings - her wardrobe has a legging color or pattern to match each of her many vintage My Chemical Romance tops.
Summertime sees Shetani switch to cutoff shorts, with or without tights, along with her favorite graphic tees. She's extremely proud of her long wavy hair, and will dye it bright colors for extra flair. In winter, she loves cuddling up in an oversized knit sweater and thigh-high paw-socks (bottoms optional if she's staying at home).
Because of her non-retractile cheetah claws, she doesn't wear shoes unless they're modified to accommodate - cosplay being the only exception.
She relishes sporting goth attire for a night on the town, and with her naturally black lips and claws, she just needs to throw on some eyeshadow to accentuate something like a black bell-sleeve top, corset, and velvet pants with open-toed paw boots.
Shetani sleeps in matching pajama sets or a nightgown, and wears a one-piece bathing suit for swimming.

Art by Jon Timmons || Art by ArtOfGrimmuzA

Torn piece of family portrait of Shetani standing solemnly, only the arms of her cheetah father and white cat mother visible

Torn piece of a family portrait. Art by Airena14.

Shetani is the only child of a cheetah father and a domestic cat mother. Her father, a spiritual man, was overjoyed upon seeing his daughter's blotchy fur. According to beliefs, the king cheetah fur pattern was a trait that had been passed down among the females of his family, and indicated that their family's lineage could be traced back to the First Cheetah herself. The splotchy-spotted and striped coat appeared only once a generation and heralded extrasensory powers in its bearer, including prophetic dreams.

Art of young Shetani in overalls, lying on her belly and reading a book

A young Shetani lost in her favorite book. Art by Skelisteri.

Little Shetani was a shy cub, but very intelligent with a thirst for knowledge. When she was about six years old, her father received news from back home that one of his sisters had given birth to a king-patterned daughter. This came as quite a shock for Shetani's father, who urged his young cub to try and "fulfill her potential," but it quickly became apparent that this cousin of Shetani's had received the blessing, and Shetani herself carried nothing more than a distinctly patterned coat. Instead, she threw herself headlong into her studies in an attempt to please her father, and while there was no resentment between them, Shetani always felt that he was disappointed in her for not living up to his expectations.

Art of Shetani sitting with a book in her lap

Shetani studying. Art by Seasaidh.

Aside from that, Shetani's youth was happy and uneventful. She flourished academically - always coming in top of her class - and though not "popular" in the traditional sense, she had a close-knit group of friends about her and was never treated unfairly by her peers. When not studying, she took pleasure in reading and learning more about nature and animals. As a teenager, she got into the occasional spat with her mother, but kept her grades up and stayed out of trouble (preferring to listen to music or play video games than go out on the town).

Art of Shetani and Mika cuddling on a couch while their cat sleeps

Shetani, Mika, and their kitten. Art by Rowan00.

Having graduated high school, Shetani pursued higher education with her sights set on the field of zoology, and those who knew her had nothing but the highest expectations. However, her plans ground to a halt when her mother fell seriously ill. A devastated Shetani dropped out of school and returned home to help her father care for her ailing mother. She took a receptionist job at a reproductive health clinic to help with the bills, where she met her partner, a rat named Mika. Shetani reconnected with her hometown friends, who introduced her to the world of fandoms and cosplaying. Escaping into the fantasy worlds she loved and attending conventions with her friends and partner helped Shetani cope with the stress of her home life.

Art of Shetani and Mika snuggling at a cafe, with tea and brunch sandwiches on the table

Sampling the cafe's menu during downtime. Art by Poodlewool.

After Shetani's mother passed away, her father returned to his home country to be with his family. Shetani moved with Mika into a place of their own, with a pet kitten making three. After some time, she decided to open a cat cafe. The establishment built a name for itself among feline aficionados, and the exotic teas and baked goods freshly made by Shetani herself attracted regular cafe-goers as well. At the behest of her regulars, Shetani expanded the warm and cozy establishment by adding shelves of books in the cafe section for patrons to borrow, bring home, and donate at their leisure, and the cafe also began hosting community-focused events, including punk nights every Friday and an LGBTQ+ social on the weekends. Mika helps out at the cafe too, washing dishes and cleaning up after their two- and four-legged clientele alike. Eschewing any lofty aspirations, Shetani is fulfilled and content with a life that allows her to pursue her hobbies and be with the people she cares about - as long as she gets a little vacation now and then!

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How did you find the furry community?
A: I've loved animals since I was a child, so it was a natural progression from there. Growing up, I was enamored with films, cartoons, and literature that featured animal characters. In the early days of the internet, I discovered fanart of The Lion King on personal webpages and DeviantArt, and from there I came across anthropomorphics. I learned quickly that furries were mocked and looked down upon by the majority of the internet, and later, the world at large. While I still consumed art and kept up-to-date with the community, I did so in secret and took great pains to never label or associate myself with furries. It wasn't until a heartfelt conversation with a new friend decades later that I realized being a furry wasn't anything to be ashamed of. I started dating another furry around that time, who convinced me to finally bring Shetani to life.
In ▶️Cheetah Chat #2, I further discuss my discovery of the fandom and what it means to be a furry.Q: Your fursona is so neat! How did you come up with her?
A: She's really just myself as my favorite animal! I've loved cheetahs since I was young, and as an adult, I find myself relating a lot to them. I chose a king cheetah in particular because Shetani doesn't have any unnatural markings or coloring, and I wanted her to stand out a bit more. Her physical appearance, personality, interests, and wardrobe are all reflections of myself, so compliments and positive comments are twice as meaningful to me! Her name was meant as an obscure reference to something unrelated, but I take pride in how I've redefined it as something uniquely my own.
I talk more about the thought behind Shetani's design in ▶️Cheetah Chat #1.Q: Why do you like cheetahs so much? / Why did you pick a cheetah?
A: As I mentioned, cheetahs have been my favorite animal since childhood. Out of all the big cats, I was drawn to cheetahs in particular because of their uniqueness. They are the only big cats with non-retractile claws, can purr but not roar, are in a genus all their own, etc. In an inversion of the typical story you hear from furries, I initially didn't feel connected to cheetahs on more than a surface level. As I matured and progressed through life, I found myself heavily relating to many of their defining aspects, most notably how they endure a great deal of hardship and injustice yet continue to persevere. You should message me sometime so I can talk your ear off about it! :3Q: Do you roleplay?
A: I do RP, but I charge for my time, the same way artists charge money when drawing a picture for somebody else. Drop me a line if you're interested in paying for a RP session!Q: Who made your fursuit?
A: My fursuit was made by the lovely MagpieBones.
As of 2023, auxiliary parts by The Forgotten Imp and Gnoll Patrol are used in some of my photography.Q: Why doesn't your fursuit have eyes?
A: It does - they are my own eyes. :) MagpieBones's fursuits are intended to be blended with the wearer's actual eyes using makeup to create a realistic effect. Her mission statement is to create living, breathing characters you can interact with like a person, as opposed to static mascot-like costumes.Q: Is that a wig or your real hair coming out of the suit head?
A: By request, my fursuit uses my own hair in addition to my own eyes. Its color and length may vary depending on what I decide to do with it, but it's always my actual hair. This can be troublesome sometimes (I envy fursuiters who can just put their heads on and off at a moment's notice!), but having a fursuit that "auto-updates" when I change my look is pretty dang cool.Q: What made you choose this style of fursuit?
A: My primary reasons for choosing MagpieBones as my fursuit maker were realism, aesthetic, and practicality.
I consider my eyes, my hair, and my glasses to be my best features, so I gave those physical attributes to my fursona - and they would need to be represented in a fursuit of her. Hiding my glasses and hair under a fursuit head and attaching false versions of both would be redundant, not to mention unsightly and high-maintenance. I had dealt with concealing my hair under wigs for years when I cosplayed, and it's an uncomfortable, cumbersome process that I didn't want to go through again. Fursuiting is strenuous enough as is, let alone adding elements that would be more physically taxing. I also didn't care for the unnatural "bobblehead" look of partials where the head is made larger to fit glasses underneath.
After a ton of research, I decided on MagpieBones for her specialized experience, ability to work with my unique requirements, and creative vision that aligned with my own. This kind of fursuit is not for everyone, but it suits my needs perfectly (pun intended).
I speak at length about my fursuit and why I chose it in ▶️Cheetah Chat #5.Q: Will you do a suiting up video or face reveal?
A: Nope! MagpieBones's public gallery shows many photos of fursuit heads (including Shetani's!) on mannequins, which should give you a good idea of how they are worn. There are some suiting up videos on YouTube from other MagpieBones suiters, though you won't be seeing one from me anytime soon.Q: How does the fursuit head work?
A: I don't discuss the construction of my suit publicly because I prefer Shetani, and my portrayal of her, to be appreciated as a living character, not just the sum of a few parts and materials.
Also, I didn't build the fursuit myself, so I have to keep my suitmaker's business in mind. I don't know what elements she might or might not want her clients to publicly divulge. You'd probably be better off asking the person who actually made it!Q: Can I draw you gift art?
A: I'd be honored! Here is Shetani's Refsheet.
Hit me up if you're on Instagram and I'll add your art to my gift art highlight!Q: Can I interview you for a documentary, podcast, school project, etc.?
A: Absolutely! I've been interviewed for several different productions, and have done script consultation work for films pertaining to the furry subculture. Contact me via any of the links at the bottom of this page to discuss your project further.Q: Why can't I see some of your Youtube videos?
A: I had to put a few protections in place to control what kinds of people have access to my videos. That affected embeds on the website, and you may have to click through to the Youtube page. Sorry about that! Youtube has really bad audience moderation tools.Q: Why don't you do this with your hairstyle, eye makeup, clothing, glasses...? I would like your fursuit a lot better if you changed that.
A: I appreciate that Shetani evokes such an engaging response in people, and I do read every single comment and message I receive! When communicating with me, I strongly encourage you to take a minute and ensure your words are a genuine suggestion vs. a backhanded compliment or just flat-out being insulting. I wasn't born yesterday, it's very apparent when people do this, and I 100% don't permit it.
Do keep in mind that Shetani is a self-representation, and I present myself the way I choose. I fursuit for my own satisfaction, not for public approval. My existence is not an invitation for critique.Q: I feel uncomfortable and this is your problem somehow, so can't you just put fake eyes in it/cut off your hair?
A: Statements that imply conformity or stripping me of my intentional unique elements are ignorant and should be kept to oneself. I didn't trip and accidentally throw a ton of money at an at-the-time relatively unknown costume artisan. No aspects of Shetani's design were by chance, and I don't need to disclose or justify my necessary accommodations to everyone.Q: "Cat-eye" or colored contact lenses would look so cool with your fursuit, why don't you wear them?
A: Why should I? My eyes are already a strikingly close match to a real cheetah's. Cheetahs and domestic cats have entirely different pupil shapes and eye colors. Cat eye contacts are very cool, but they would look fake and gross on me, and be inaccurate to the character.
Besides, if I used contact lenses, I wouldn't be able to wear glasses - one of the things I love most about the way I look.Q: Will you make a video about (insert topic here)?
A: I love to hear about what interests you folks, and am always taking suggestions for future Cheetah Chat episodes! I used to have a "sponsor-a-topic" option on my Patreon and Ko-Fi pages, but no one ever took me up on that. So for now, I'll consider all requests as long I have some amount of knowledge or experience on the subject. If a different topic is repeatedly requested, I might have a special guest in that field or demographic come on for an episode.Q: Would you recommend a use-your-own-eyes fursuit?
A: Every person is different. When considering a fursuit, think carefully about what goals you want to accomplish with your suiting, the way you wish to be perceived by others, and how prepared you are to deal with the limitations and quirks that come with it.
Each costume has its own benefits and drawbacks. My belief is that everyone who desires to fursuit absolutely can make it happen, though you sometimes have to venture off the beaten path. From my experience, I can say that a UYOE suit may be a challenging choice for someone who:
-- has a cutesy or heavily stylized character
-- wants to appear approachable and endearing to everyone they meet (e.g. working with kids, charity volunteering)
-- is very shy and seeks to hide their true self when fursuiting
-- desires a fursuit for popularity reasons
-- is easily shaken when on the receiving end of criticism or negativity
UYOE suits, and the work of MagpieBones in particular, appeal to a niche subset of people. You must have a certain measure of fearlessness to wear a fursuit like this.Q: Are you a Khajiit, Tabaxi, Zootopian, Beastars character, Bojack Horseman character, or species/race/character from some other popular franchise?
A: No, I'm a furry and Shetani is my fursona. I started doing my thing before many of these media series existed. The concept of realistic anthro fursuits has been around for even longer! Though I appreciate the sentiment and try my best to see it as the compliment it's intended to be, being called "a character from such-and-such" tends not to sit well with me. Shetani is a unique self-representation, not a derivative character based on another person's work, and I feel such comparisons cheapen the years of time, effort, creativity, and personal connection I put into the creation of my fursona.Q: What's your take on poodling¹?
A: As someone frequently met with backlash due to the style of fursuit I've chosen, it would be immensely hypocritical of me to police how others express themselves. There's no right or wrong way to wear a fursuit, cosplay, or any other costume - it's just for fun! Unless this is your job and the person complaining is your paying boss, neither they nor anyone else has the right to tell you how to wear YOUR suit that YOU own.
I choose not to display bare skin when fursuiting. That doesn't mean folks who do so are wrong, as they themselves have valid reasons for their conscientious decision. Personal opinions should never be used to dictate other people's behavior.
¹Poodling: wearing any combination of fursuit parts with revealing clothing in a way that bare human skin is intentionally visible. (Example)Q: Am I allowed to make or get a fursuit like yours?
A: I don't own the concept of animal costumes showing the wearer's real hair and eyes. MagpieBones alone has made hundreds of use-your-own-eyes and use-your-own-hair costumes since 2008, and that's without even mentioning all the other fursuit makers and craftspeople who do too! I have no clue why people so commonly associate the aesthetic with me (many of my peers are more prolific than myself and wear the look better, IMO) nor why they think I have the power to gatekeep others' access. We're talking about a mask with extra holes in it, not a Dutch angel dragon. ;)
All that's to say, YES! I sought out this style of fursuit because traditional fursuits were incompatible with my needs, and I'll always support furries finding freedom in suiting as I have. Please do, and I'd love to see what you come up with!Q: Do you work out in your fursuit for extra sick gainz?
A: No. In 2023, I signed up for a charity fundraiser called the Cheetah Fit Challenge, a 2-week fitness event during which I exercised in fursuit to raise money for charity. My video from the last day of the challenge unexpectedly went viral, resulting in >250,000 people seeing it completely without context. I work out in my fursuit about as regularly as people who raise money for ALS research dump buckets of ice water on their heads.
You can learn more about my Cheetah Fit Challenge participation by watching ▶️this Youtube video.Q: Will you be at this or that convention?
A: My confirmed cons will always be listed on the front page of this website!
I love attending, staffing, and participating in online furry conventions as a dealer and panelist. If there's an online con you think I'd enjoy, please tell me about it!
For the time being, I cannot attend in-person events which lack certain health and safety policies, or which require me to travel very far. This includes cons I used to frequent, like Anthrocon and ANE. Sorry.Q: How can I help support you?
A: If you're financially able to donate, I have an online tip jar on Ko-Fi. Your generosity helps fund the production of my videos and photoshoots, purchase of equipment and costumes, doing livestreams and online cons, hosting this ad-free website, and just enabling me to try bigger and better things!
Are physical goods more your cup of tea? Click here to snag yourself some sweet stickers, pins, and who knows what else!
Of course, the easiest way to help me out is simply by following me on social media, giving me feedback, and sharing my creations with your friends whom you think would enjoy them.
I'm so very grateful for all of your support!

Enamel pin of Shetani

Fursona Pin #176 - ShetaniClick here to buy
Click here for convention pickup
Click here to tradeThank you all for the interest in my pins over the years. After the International Cheetah Day 2020 Fundraiser, where my very last pins were made available for donations to the Cheetah Conservation Fund, I've completely sold out and Shetani is officially a retired pin!
At this time, a reorder is not planned. Missed the chance to grab one of your own? Send me a message and let me know you want more Shetani pins! Who knows, if there's enough demand, I may be able to afford a second run.More enamel pins are available in my webstore:
http://ko-fi.com/shetani/shop

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Shetani's Coalition

A group of cheetahs is called a coalition! I've been collecting plush cheetahs for a long time. Allow me to introduce you to all the stuffed animals in my collection!

Name: Charo
Brand: Jungle Joe's Safari Friends
Acquired: 1998 or laterShe says "I'm Charo, a cheetah with attitude" and makes a wildcat scream when you squeeze her. In my youth, I would play wildlife refuge in the backyard with all the African animals in my stuffed animal collection, and Charo was my very favorite. I always made sure to take special care of her and keep her from getting dirty. She came with her name.

Name: Angel
Brand: Disney Animal Kingdom
Acquired: 1999I got this plush on a vacation to Disney World with my family. The bow around her neck was added by me. She's named after a cheetah character I made up when I was younger.

Name: Heeta
Brand: Cavanagh Coca Cola International Collection
Acquired: 1999 or laterHeeta represents the country of Namibia in a series of 50 bean bags corresponding with nations around the world that serve Coca-Cola. She came with her name.

Name: Piston
Brand: Ty Classic
Acquired: 2003 or laterPiston is a Ty Classic plush I've had for a very long time. He came with his name.

Name: Baby Hansa
Brand: Hansa Portraits of Nature
Acquired: 2012Hansa is known for their lifelike stuffed animals. This plush's mane is so soft and he looks just like a real cheetah cub! He was purchased from a vendor's catalog at FA:U and arrived in the mail a few days later. His name, as you may have guessed, comes from his brand.

Name: Mama Cheetah
Brand: Melissa & Doug
Acquired: 2012This fully life sized plush was a gift from my partner to celebrate our first furry con together, FA:U 2012. I drew so much attention carrying her out of the crowded Dealer's Den and through the lobby of the hotel on the last day of the convention. Mama is nearly three feet tall! I think of her as Baby Hansa's mother. Nowadays, she likes to dress up for holidays and wear silly hats.

Name: Jasiri
Brand: Build-A-Bear WWF
Acquired: 2013Jasiri belongs to a limited series of stuffed animals that could be made at Build-A-Bear Workshop, with proceeds donated to the World Wildlife Fund. I purchased him on eBay! His name is the Swahili word for "brave", and he's named after a cheetah in the furry fandom who is a rather prolific art-commissioner.

Name: Hashire
Brand: PansonWorks BEAUTIFUL ANIMALS！
Acquired: 2013Hashire, or Hashi for short, is one of the more unique cheetahs in my collection. I bought him from a vendor at the AnimeNext convention. His name is from the Japanese word meaning "to run."

Name: Kenson
Brand: GANZ - Webkinz Signature Collection
Acquired: 2013This cute plush is another eBay find. He's named after another cheetah in the furry fandom who has the same exact stuffed animal. I brought him with me to Anthrocon in 2014, but I sadly did not run into his namesake there.

Name: Tristan
Brand: Douglas
Acquired: 2013This plush was purchased during Anthrocon. Designated "Chillin' Cheetah" by the maker, I renamed him after a fursuiter I encountered there.

Name: Katie
Brand: Kinectimals
Acquired: 2013Katie is the crown jewel of my collection! This plush came packaged with limited versions of the Kinectimals game. Until Disney introduced their character Fuli in The Lion Guard (and subsequently made toys of her), this was the ONLY official plush of a king cheetah in existence. A valuable item at the time, I managed to pick her up at New York Comic-Con in 2013 for a steal. She's named after a super cute artist I met at the con.

Name: Kidd
Brand: Gund
Acquired: 2013This cub was bought in an eBay lot. At the time, I was playing Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, and she's named after my favorite character in that game, James Kidd aka Mary Read. I gave her a piece o' pirate booty to wear around her neck.

Name: ???
Brand: K&M International
Acquired: 2013This scruffy feller was a bonus that came in a lot of Lion King toys I bought from eBay. He appears to be a very old (or at least well-loved) K&M International plush. After all this time, I still haven't come up with a name for him. Any suggestions?

Name: Deja
Brand: Applause - Disney
Acquired: 2013Deja's a Lion King plush from the movie's original theatrical release. I bought him off a user on Furbuy, and he's very well loved! I was very glad to finally get my hands on him, because he's the only official TLK cheetah plush. He's named after Andreas Deja, the supervising animator for Scar.

Name: Chessie
Brand: Ty Beanie Babies
Acquired: 2014This is one of just two cheetah Beanie Babies made. She was given to me by a friend, who let her do a lot of basking in the sun before she came to me, so my Chessie is a little discolored from sunlight. She came with her name.

Name: Shasta
Brand: Wild Republic Cuddlekins
Acquired: 2014-2016I got this plush at a Rainforest Cafe in the mall. Shasta came along with me to Anthrocon 2016! She went without a name for a while, until my partner helped me pick one out.

Name: Afiyet
Brand: WWF Wild Tales
Acquired: 2015This little guy was a souvenir from a trip to Turkey I took in 2015. His name comes from a Turkish phrase meaning "bon appetit."

Name: Ankala
Brand: FAO Schwarz
Acquired: 2015Received as a Christmas gift from her mother, this plush technically belongs to my partner, though she's graciously allowed me to share joint custody. Now that the two of us live together, so does Ankala, and I'm happy to call her part of my coalition. Her namesake is my partner's character in Fallout 2.

Name: Clawhauser
Brand: Disney
Acquired: 2016Everyone knows Clawhauser, the chubby cheetah receptionist from Disney's film Zootopia. This plush is part of their Tsum Tsum line, which can be collected, stacked atop each other, and even used to clean your laptop or phone screen.

Name: Andiamo
Brand: ???
Acquired: 2017During my Anthrocon trip, I visited the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium and got to see their two male cheetahs! This fella came home with me from the zoo gift shop. His name, which means "let's go" in Italian, is also the name of one of the cheetahs I saw that day.

Name: Miyoni
Brand: Aurora
Acquired: 2018Garage sale rescue! She came with her name.

Name: Zola
Brand: Aurora World
Acquired: 2019This cheetah is another souvenir from the Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium, this time from my 2019 Anthrocon trip. I named her after another of the Pittsburgh Zoo cheetahs.

Name: Samoa
Brand: Little Brownie Bakers
Acquired: 2019As far as I can tell, this plush was a reward for selling Girl Scout cookies during the 2014-2015 season. Though her assigned name is Amaze, she represents the Samoa cookie, so that's what I call her.