He became jealous of Miles "Tails" Prower, who had "[Tom's] share in the tails department", and decided to go one better by constructing three mechanical tails and calling himself Kat O'Three Tails. He used his three mechanical, prehensile tails to perform chores for other people (for example painting a fence, washing a window and unblocking a sink all at once). However, this upset local tradesmen who felt that "Kat" was stealing their jobs. One beaver plumber tried to have Kat killed by hiring a killer robot from Mike O'Chip's Hire-A-Bot, but Kat was rescued by Tails. At the same time, Kat's three tails malfunctioned due to interference from the robot, exposing his plan. Kat, now revealed as the plumber's neighbour Tom Manx, explained his story, and Tails encouraged him by saying he prove