Tink (full name: Ferguson Rodney Tinkles) stands out among Mewgenics’ eccentric NPCs. This professional photographer and self-proclaimed “pageant dad” runs Boon County’s cat beauty pageants, and he’s got some interesting rewards if you’re willing to part with your freshest kittens. Here’s everything you need to know about working with Mr. Tinkles.
Who Is Tink in Mewgenics?
Full Name: Ferguson Rodney Tinkles
Nickname: Mr. Tinkles
Occupation: Professional photographer and beauty pageant organizer
Zodiac Sign: Gemini
Mission: To sparkle 24/7!
Signature Quote: “Oh my wife would get a kick out of that one! God I love my wife!”
Tink brings an upbeat, eccentric energy to Mewgenics’ darker tone. Unlike other NPCs who want injured, elderly, or parasite-ridden cats, Tink specifically deals in kittens – cats born on the exact same day you hand them over.
What Does Tink Want?
Tink accepts kittens only – meaning cats that were born the same day you’re giving them to him. This makes him unique among Mewgenics NPCs, as timing matters significantly.
You can’t stockpile kittens and deliver them later. Tink’s system forces you to make immediate decisions: keep the newborn kitten for breeding or adventuring, or trade it to Tink for rewards.
This creates interesting strategic choices during your breeding cycles. When multiple kittens arrive simultaneously, you’ll need to evaluate which ones have the best stats, abilities, and mutations worth keeping versus which ones make better trade fodder.
Tink’s Rewards & Unlock Progression
Tink offers tiered rewards based on how many kittens you’ve delivered:
First Kitten Delivery
Reward: Fancy Bow
Description: The exact reward details are marked “It’s a secret!” in the game files, but delivering your first kitten unlocks this cosmetic item.
10 Kittens Delivered
Reward: Information to help breed cats
Description: Tink provides valuable breeding knowledge at this milestone, likely revealing mechanics or tips about genetics, stat inheritance, or mutation chances.
25 Kittens Delivered
Reward: Gaydar
Description: Reveals cats’ sexual orientations (Hetero: no flag; Gay: gay flag; Bi: bi flag) for optimal breeding pairs. Avoids failed matches; gay pairs recruit stat-inheriting strays.
How Tink’s System Changed During Development
Originally, Tink had a completely different function. Early Mewgenics concepts included beauty pageants and minigames tied to his character. Players would photograph cats, compete in challenges unrelated to adventuring, and potentially complete tasks involving full gear sets or specific cat characteristics.
However, these features were removed from the base game. According to community discussions with moderators, the minigame functionality may return in the first DLC or future updates, but it’s not available at launch.
This means Tink’s current role focuses purely on the kitten exchange system rather than interactive pageant competitions.
Should You Give Kittens to Tink?
The strategic value depends on your current needs:
Give kittens to Tink when:
- You have multiple newborns and some show poor stats or undesirable mutations
- You’re early in the game and need breeding information quickly
- You’ve hit the 100-food cap and don’t need extra mouths to feed
- The kitten has no valuable abilities or traits worth inheriting
Keep kittens when:
- They inherit powerful abilities from adventuring parents
- Their stat distribution looks promising for future breeding
- They have beneficial mutations you want to propagate
- You’re building specific bloodlines for tactical advantages
Remember: Kittens can only adventure once before retiring to breed. Trading mediocre kittens to Tink prevents them from consuming food while you wait for better breeding opportunities.
Comparing Tink to Other Mewgenics NPCs
Understanding how Tink fits into the broader NPC ecosystem helps optimize resource allocation:
Dr. Beanies – Likely wants mutated cats; provides starter content and quests
Butch – Wants experienced/injured cats; offers combat advice and unlocks
Baby Jack – Wants injured cats; sells furniture
Frank – Lives in sewers; unlocks house expansions
Tracy – Wants elderly cats (5+ days old); runs item shop
Organ Grinder – Wants cats with parasites; mysterious late-game NPC
Tink’s kitten focus makes him the early-game resource dump for clearing out unwanted newborns before they drain your food supply.
Tink’s Personality & Lore
Despite Mewgenics’ generally dark humor, Tink provides surprisingly wholesome energy. His constant enthusiasm about his wife and dedication to making things “sparkle” creates comedic relief among the game’s more twisted NPCs.
His Gemini zodiac sign fits the dual nature of his character – outwardly cheerful and sparkly while running a business that essentially culls your kitten population for rewards.
The “pageant dad” descriptor also adds layers. Tink isn’t just a photographer; he’s invested emotionally in the cats he works with, treating beauty pageants with the intensity of competitive parents at kids’ sports events.
Tips for Maximizing Tink’s Value
Breed strategically around Tink deliveries. If you’re one kitten away from hitting the 10 or 25 milestone, time your breeding cycles to produce fresh kittens specifically for trade.
Don’t rush early deliveries. While getting the Fancy Bow and breeding information helps, make sure you’re not trading away potentially powerful kittens just to hit milestones faster.
Monitor your food economy. If you’re approaching the 100-food cap with multiple kittens draining resources, Tink provides a productive outlet rather than the alternative (sewers, anyone?).
Check stats before trading. Always evaluate newborn kittens before immediately handing them to Tink. That “mediocre” kitten might have a hidden passive ability worth breeding.
Frequently Asked Questions
Tink’s confirmed rewards include the Fancy Bow (1 kitten), breeding information (10 kittens), and an unknown reward at 25 kittens. Rewards unlock progressively based on total kittens delivered.
Beauty pageants and minigames tied to Tink were removed from the base game but may return in the first DLC or future updates, according to developer discussions.
No. Only trade kittens with poor stats, undesirable mutations, or no valuable inherited abilities. Keep kittens worth breeding into future generations for tactical advantages.
Tink focuses on fresh kittens, while other NPCs want injured cats (Butch, Baby Jack), elderly cats (Tracy), or parasite-infected cats (Organ Grinder). Each NPC serves different strategic purposes.
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