The Origin of usei usei cat: A Story of Intentional Living

I didn't set out to create a cat; I set out to capture a feeling. 

That feeling became Usei Usei Cat. This quiet revolution in character IP is also a reflection of how we choose to live.

The story began earlier in July 2025 when I was invited to speak at the Sarawak Media Conference 2025—my first time visiting Kuching, Sarawak. 

From the moment I arrived, I was struck by a deep sense of calm, warmth, and authenticity. The pace was slower and steadier, a welcome contrast to the hustle I was used to. Sarawakians were incredibly generous with their smiles and stories- it is no doubt that their hospitality is top-notch. 

I had the privilege of sharing my personal experiences with the top media in the Borneo region here and here. 

As the organizer of the inaugural Sarawak–Singapore AI Friendship Design Hackathon 2025, I knew I needed a spark beyond the usual logistics and programming. 

I needed a living example of what it meant to design with cultural depth, emotional resonance, and generative AI. While most national mascots default to what's expected, like merlions or monuments, I asked myself, "How do we create a character IP that fits this friendship theme and is relevant, relatable, and lovable?"

Because only by walking the talk could I show (not tell) participants that creating and owning character IPs will bring tons of opportunities and growth in the age of AI. 

The answer came during a conversation with Dr. Kamree of HumanLogica. A single and deep phrase shifted everything: "usei usei."

It's a Sarawakian Malay colloquial expression that means "slow and steady" or "chill."

I instantly fell in love with the phrase because it represents a movement and a lifestyle against burnout—a way of being that many of us have lost in a world obsessed with hustle and living by other people's expectations. 

The idea hit me: 

"usei usei" + "kucing" (Malay for cat) + "Kuching" (the capital city of Sarawak) =

usei usei cat. 

The lowercase spelling is intentional, of course, because uppercase requires unnecessary effort. XD

I turned to Lovart AI to bring usei usei cat to life: a sleepy-eyed black cat who doesn’t rush, doesn’t chase, and doesn’t bend to burnout. (Watch my full documentation of how I gave birth to usei usei cat on Lovart AI!) 

He's gentle, grounded, and deeply unapologetic about his pace because he's so aligned with himself.

Do you like his u.u eyes? (so cuteee!!)

Over time, usei usei cat grew on me and outgrew his original purpose for the hackathon. 

As more and more people asked for merchandise, I realized he meant something to all of us. 

usei usei cat truly stands for intentional living—for creating with heart and for being clear and intentional on what you want when the world is filled with noise. 

He's a symbol for choosing peace, even when the world screams for productivity.

He's all about self-care and not burning out. 

Since he's AI-generated by WW, usei usei cat's also proof that everyone can make AI his/her ally in terms of visual storytelling and deepening the human connection across borders. 

There is a usei usei cat in all of us—that part of you that’s tired of the constant pressure to perform and hustle, the part that wants to slow down and remember how to breathe.

breathe.

if your body tells you to take things slow — 
or if you want more calm in your life — 
you have a usei usei cat in you too. (:

"Yes, he's chill. No, you can't steal him. #useiuseicat" 

Copyright & Usage Notice for Usei Usei Cat

© 2025 Wan Wei. All rights reserved.

usei usei cat™ is an original character concept created and developed by a Singaporean lady Wan Wei using Lovart AI, inspired by the slow-living, heartfelt lifestyle of Sarawak. 

All visual assets, character designs, and related content were generated using licensed Lovart AI under valid commercial use terms. usei usei cat is a unique intellectual property and may not be reproduced, copied, or used in any form without prior written permission from Soh Wan Wei, the creator.

You are not permitted to use, sell, or profit from any likeness, image, or merchandise featuring usei usei cat without an authorized commercial licensing agreement. Unauthorized commercial use will be treated as a violation of intellectual property rights.

For licensing, partnerships, or press inquiries, please contact Wan Wei's licensing agent, Shelly Bryant, at shellybryant [@] tlinsights.com.