Lifestyle

FlapTzy’s Secret: He Owns More than 20 Cats

“Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character.” — Arthur Schopenhauer

David Charles Canon, aka FlapTzy, has a gentle side many people don’t know about: He has a soft spot for animals, particularly cats. Some of his teammates did not even know this side of FlapTzy until ALL-STAR poked around during an interview with the team in April. 

It’s no surprise few people knew about Flap’s softer side because he is often portrayed as cocky or full of swag. But FlapTzy is very affectionate toward animals, and he constantly worries about stray cats and dogs in his neighborhood. 

Toji, FlapTzy’s favorite cat
Toji, FlapTzy's favorite cat

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“We have nine cats inside our house. But outside, there are so many!” FlapTzy told ALL-STAR

The indoor cats are a mixture of Persian-Calico and Persian-Siamese. Meanwhile, the outdoor cats are all puspins.

When he showed us photos of his indoor and outdoor cats, we couldn’t help but giggle. 

“Is it safe to say you have more than 20 cats at home?” we asked. 

“Opo, baka mas marami pa!”

Miho, FlapTzy’s other favorite cat
Miho, FlapTzy's other favorite cat

Many of these cats are offsprings of the first two cats that FlapTzy and his sister own. 

“Yung first two cats ko, actually kay ate yung isa, yung first one si Sinclaire, akin. Tapos si Hoshi, lalaki. Siya yung kay ate. Yung mga anak nila, si Sunny, si LV, si Miho, Toji, Geto, si Tuts, tapos si…. Nakalimutan ko yung pangalan ng isa!” 

(“My first two cats, well actually the other one belongs to my sister, the first one, Sinclaire, is mine. And then we have Hoshi, he’s a boy. He’s my sister’s cat. Their children are Sunny, LV, Miho, Toji, Geto, Tuts, and…. I forgot the last one.”)

Sinclaire (left) and Hoshi, the wife and husband pair of cats.
Sinclaire and Hoshi, FlapTzy's cats
Sinclaire and Hoshi, FlapTzy's cats
Sinclaire
Hoshi

FlapTzy is a dog person but decided to take care of cats because they are easier to handle. 

“Hindi sila masyado kailangan intindihin. Dog person po talaga ako kaso wala po akong time mag-alaga. Mas pinili ko po yung cats kasi yung ate ko rin, cat person po siya,” said FlapTzy. 

FlapTzy spends up to P10,000 every month for the 20 cats at home. 

“Noong una po, mahirap. Lalo na noong nagka-anak. Mahirap kasi kailangan ipa-vet, ang daming kailangang iturok. Every month siguro, umaabot sa P10,000 yung gastos. Bukod pa sa mga gamit iyon, kasi binibilhan ko pa sila ng mga laruan,” FlapTzy told ALL-STAR

(“At first, it was hard. Especially when they are giving birth. It was difficult because you have to send them to the vet, there were many vaccines that needed to be administered. Every month, I would spend P10,000 on the cats. That’s not counting their toys.”)

Sunny, LV, Miho, Toji, Geto, and Tuts

Because the cats inside the house are well-fed and have considerable amount of entertainment, they don’t cause trouble or destroy things. 

“Sa bahay, chill lang sila, hindi sila umaakyat sa mga shelves. Binibilhan ko po kasi sila ng mga laruan. Bumili rin ako ng stand tapos doon sila naglalaro at umaakyat. Naka kalat lang yung mga pusa sa bahay, tapos sa bawat sulok ng bahay namin, mayroong cat litter. Para kahit maglakad-lakad sila, mayroong cat litter doon, hindi sila nagkakalat sa mga lugar,” FlapTzy said. 

(“The cats are just chilling at home. They don’t climb on furniture. I buy them toys. I also bought them a stand where they can play and climb. The cats are just usually just lying around at home. There are litter boxes in ever corner of the house, so they can do their business even if they are walking around the house. They wouldn’t make a mess.”)

FlapTzy’s Boss Cat is Named after a Character in Netflix’s Wednesday

Although some of FlapTzy’s famil y members named most of their cats at home, FlapTzy had the privilege of naming the matron cat of the house, so he called her Sinclaire

“Hati-hati kami, yung ibang family members namin, sila yung nagpangalan sa ibang cats. Pinangalanan ko si Sinclaire kasi nanonood ako ng Wednesday noon. 

The character Enid Sinclaire in Netflix’s Wednesday (a spinoff series of Addams Family), is a werewolf student at Nevermore Academy and is Wednesday Addams’ roommate and best friend. She is the inspiration behind the name of FlapTzy’s cat. 

Enid Sinclaire, the Inspiration behind the name of FlapTzy’s cat
Enid Sinclaire, the Inspiration behind the name of FlapTzy's cat

“Ang ganda ng series na iyon, so pinangalan ko doon si Sinclaire,” FlapTzy told ALL-STAR. (“That series was so good, so I named my cat after one of its characters.”)

“Si Toji, yung pinaka cute kong pusa, pinangalan ko mula sa Jujutsu Kaisen,” said FlapTzy. 

But who are his favorite cats? 

(“Toji is my cutest cat. I named him after a character in Jujutsu Kaisen.”)

Miho (left) and Toji when they were kittens

“Favorite ko si Toji saka si Miho. Sobrang malambing sa akin, tapos tuwing umuuwi ako, palagi silang nakaabang sa akin.”

(“Toji and Miho are my favorites. They’re so affectionate toward me, every time I come home, they are always waiting for me.”)

Toji the Cat Did Something FlapTzy Will Never Forget

Toji, FlapTzy's favorite cat
Toji, FlapTzy’s favorite cat

“You sleep with your cats, don’t you?” we asked. 

FlapTzy laughed. 

“Opo! Si Toji malikot eh! Si Miho palagi ko katabi,” said FlapTzy. 

But Toji did something to Flap he will never forget.

After MPL-PH Season 13, FlapTzy underwent an operation to remove gallstones from his gall bladder. When he came home, Toji and Miho were so excited to see him but FlapTzy couldn’t play with them, so he slept. 

“Noong kakagaling ko lang ng operation, natutulog ako, tapos biglang tumalon sa chest ko si Toji, nagulat ako!”

That was the most unforgettable memory FlapTzy has of his favorite pet. 

Meanwhile, FlapTzy’s garage is now a cat hotel of sorts, which hosts more than 20 stray cats who’ve decided to become permanent residents. 

The Stray Cats in the Garage Decided to Become Permanent Residents
FlapTzy's garage at home is converted into a cat hotel of sorts

“Yung ibang cats sa labas, naka-cage. Kasi kapag nanganak yung nanay, ang tendency, napapabayaan niya yung kittens niya, so nilalagay muna namin sa cage para maalagaan namin.”

(“Some of the cats outside are caged. We put them inside cages because when a female cate gives birth, she tends to abandon her kittens, so we have to put them inside cages so we can take care of them.”)

FlapTzy’s Message to People: Be Kind to All Animals

Before leaving the interview, FlapTzy appealed to people to be kind to all animals and not discriminate against strays.  

“Ang ibang tao, kapag nakakakita ng stray cats, binabalewala lang nila. Kami kasi, inaadopt namin tapos doon sila sa labas ng bahay namin. Pag nakakita kayo ng stray cats, tulungan niyo guys. Wala rin sa breed iyon. Kahit mga puspin sila, dapat alagaan niyo pa rin sila kasi sila ang pinamka malalambing na cats, mga puspin.”

(“When some people see stray cats, they ignore them. But we adopt them and let them stay outside our house. Whenever you see stray cats, help them, guys. It’s not about the breed. Even though they are puspins, they deserve to be loved because they are some of the most affectionate cats around.”)