The Calico Cat is a fictional animal character in the VVaywards comic book series published by VS Comics. Originally a companion to the roller-derby combatant Whisper, the unnamed male calico later becomes a symbolic and emotional support animal for Will "Rook" Holloway. Despite never speaking or transforming, the cat has become an iconic background presence in the series—often appearing during key emotional or transitional moments.
Biography
The Calico Cat was rescued by Whisper during a supply raid gone wrong, discovered meowing beneath the wreckage of a regime-controlled safehouse. Whisper took him in, claiming, “He’s too pissed to die and too soft to fight. Perfect.”
For a time, the cat accompanied Whisper on her missions—riding in her courier bag, slipping through shadows, and occasionally tripping regime foot soldiers. Eventually, however, Whisper gave the cat to Will “Rook” Holloway, symbolizing her attempt to sever emotional ties and focus fully on the mission.
Since then, the cat has remained close to Rook, offering quiet companionship and a strange, subtle emotional counterbalance to Rook’s brooding solitude.
Appearance
The Calico Cat is a rare male calico, featuring a tricolor coat of white, orange, and black in patchy formations. His eyes are golden green, and one ear appears notched from a past injury—never explained in the story.
His tail is unusually bushy, and he often wears a scratched collar with no name tag. He is sometimes drawn with tiny goggles or a bandana, depending on the artist or special issue.
Personality
Though he doesn’t speak, the Calico Cat’s body language suggests a mix of aloof confidence and intense loyalty. He shows affection rarely but chooses who he follows with clear intentionality.
He tends to appear near characters during their most vulnerable or reflective moments, acting as a quiet witness to personal evolution. He also displays fearlessness in dangerous situations, often refusing to flee even when explosions or firefights erupt nearby.
Abilities and Skills
While not a combatant in the traditional sense, the Calico Cat has a notable list of talents:
Stealthy movement – Navigates ventilation shafts and rubble effortlessly
Threat detection – Often hisses or reacts seconds before danger arrives
Distraction tactics – Has disrupted regime drones by pouncing on control panels
Emotional grounding – Provides unspoken emotional comfort to characters in turmoil
Uncanny timing – Appears at pivotal story beats, sometimes before characters make key choices
Equipment (Canon & Meta)
Although he wears no formal gear, the cat has been featured in merchandise, alternate covers, and fan art with:
Miniature goggles
A red scarf
A tiny pistol holster (used jokingly in one gag issue)
Backpack armor in the "Battle Pet Variant" trading card edition
Relationships
Whisper – His original caretaker. She once called him her “silent teammate” and reportedly trained him to respond to whistles.
Will “Rook” Holloway – His current companion. The cat sleeps near Rook’s boots, sits on ammo crates, and is seen during some of Rook’s rare moments of peace.
Doc – Gave the cat a biometric tracker and mild protective nanocoating after an injury scare.
Knokout – Once tried to train the cat to box using yarn gloves. It didn’t go well.
Story Arcs
VVaywards: Nine Lives
A rare spotlight issue told largely from the cat’s perspective. Through silent panels, readers see the resistance’s operations, heartbreaks, and heroics from a low, quiet angle—culminating in the cat saving Rook by triggering an explosive tripwire before it’s too late.
VVaywards: Feral Circuit
After a power outage disables security systems, the cat is trapped inside a regime surveillance outpost. The team must rescue him while he navigates deadly corridors—leading to the discovery of secret files only his size could’ve retrieved.
Reception
The Calico Cat has become a cult favorite among readers and artists alike. Fans often treat him as the unofficial mascot of the VVaywards, citing his quiet loyalty and comic relief as some of the series' most grounded and heartfelt elements. He frequently appears in fan art, plush merchandise, and variant covers.
Trivia
He has no official name in the comic, but fans commonly call him “Whispy,” “Patch,” or “Bullet.”
The decision to make him a male calico—an extremely rare real-world occurrence—was intentional to reflect his “one in a million” presence.
He has appeared in more issues than some speaking characters.
A running gag across the series involves him sleeping on highly sensitive equipment at the worst possible moments.
His eyes glow faintly green in the presence of regime tech—possibly due to Doc’s enhancements.