Grass Padrique | The Fabulous Scientist
It Started With a Friend’s Dilemma
The story began when a friend asked me for my opinion on which colorway of the PENBBS 498 Hehe Cat he should get. He was torn between two options: a dark blue pen with gold accents, a gold-colored nib, and a gold cat perched on the cap, or a blurple version (a lovely blend of blue and purple) with black accents, a black nib, and a black cat on the cap.
Now, asking a fountain pen enthusiast to look at pictures of pretty pens is a dangerous thing to do. Asking one who has a particular fondness for cats (in case you don’t know, I’m usually a cat magnet) is practically an invitation to financial irresponsibility.
The pen was so cute that I immediately asked my friend to budol me, too, and send me the link so I could check out the available colorways. For those unfamiliar with the Filipino term, budol is what happens when someone’s purchase temptation becomes contagious. It’s the stationery equivalent of peer pressure, except nobody really needs to twist your arm.
When I opened the listing, I discovered that there were so many color combinations to choose from! I recommended the blurple version to my friend because I thought it was more unusual, the black accents and black cat seemed like a good fit for him.
As for me, I had a different problem. I went ahead and checked out the Deep Galaxy with silver trims and a silver cat on the cap. It was the one that caught my eye, and before I knew it, I had placed an order. My friend hasn’t bought his pen yet, so technically, I got budol-ed into buying one ahead of him! I wonder if he’ll tease me about it the next time we talk. Haha!
In my IG post above, I tried to pair it with one of the gemstones I have in my stash that comes closest to the pen’s color. I also inked it with Pilot Iroshizuku Kon-peki, one of my favorite blue inks. I wrote the draft of this review about this pen on my notebook as you can see in the photo. If you visit the IG post and swipe right, there’s a short video showing the pen under daylight so you could appreciate its shimmery body.
A Comfortable, Just-Right Size
Having tried fountain pens ranging from petite little pocket pens to really oversized ones, I’ve learned that size can make a significant difference in how much I enjoy writing with a pen. Some smaller pens are charming but can feel a little cramped in my hand, while really big pens can be cumbersome, especially during longer writing sessions.
The PENBBS 498 hits that comfortable middle ground. It has the proportions of a regular, full-sized fountain pen—not too small, not excessively large, and just right for everyday writing. Its size reminds me of my Wancher Mofu, another pen whose proportions I appreciate although the latter is a bit shorter than the PENBBS 498. For someone who has experimented with different pen sizes, this familiar, well-balanced feel is a welcome feature.
The 498 also has a classic cigar-shaped silhouette, with gently tapered ends and a rounded profile. I particularly like the gentle slope from the barrel into the grip section. There is no abrupt transition that makes my fingers feel as though they have encountered an unexpected obstacle. The shape feels natural in my hand, allowing me to settle into writing without constantly adjusting my grip.
For me, this combination of familiar proportions and a comfortable section makes the pen easy to reach for whenever I want to write. It is the sort of design that lets me focus on the writing rather than on the pen itself, which is precisely what I want from a fountain pen I intend to use regularly.
A Wet and Buttery-Smooth Nib
And then there is the nib, which might just be my favorite part of the entire experience. It is engraved with a face of a cat that appears to be snickering, which is the same expression on the cat accent on the cap.
The nib writes wetly and feels buttery smooth on paper. Ink flows generously, and the writing experience is wonderfully effortless. There is very little resistance as the nib moves across the page, making it a pleasure to use for journaling, writing letters, or simply scribbling down thoughts when the urge strikes.
I appreciate a smooth nib because I want writing with a fountain pen to feel enjoyable, not like I’m trying to persuade a reluctant instrument to cooperate. The PENBBS 498 makes the process feel easy and satisfying. Combined with the comfortable grip and balanced, cigar-shaped body, the nib turns what is already an attractive pen into one that I genuinely look forward to using.
Of course, nib preferences are personal, and a wet, smooth writer may not be everyone’s cup of tea. But if you enjoy a generous ink flow and a nib that glides across the page, this pen has plenty to offer.
One of My Best Pens Yet
What makes the PENBBS 498 Hehe Cat particularly satisfying for me is how well it ticks all my boxes. It has a comfortable grip, a gentle transition from the barrel to the section, a wet and buttery-smooth nib, and a chatoyant resin body that shimmers beautifully in daylight. Add the cute cat on the cap, and you have a fountain pen that appeals to both my practical and decidedly less practical sides.
I didn’t initially set out to buy another fountain pen. I was merely helping a friend choose a colorway. Somehow, that innocent conversation turned into an international order and another addition to my collection. In my defense, I was presented with a difficult situation: several beautiful resin colors, a smooth-writing nib, and a cat. What was I supposed to do?
Jokes aside, the PENBBS 498 Hehe Cat Deep Galaxy has quickly become one of my favorite pens. It isn’t just the novelty of the feline design or the beauty of the resin that makes it special. It is the combination of aesthetics, comfort, and writing performance that makes me want to reach for it again and again.
Would I recommend it to fellow fountain pen enthusiasts, particularly those who love cats? Absolutely. If you also appreciate shimmering, chatoyant resin and a smooth, wet-writing nib, this model is well worth investigating.
Just be careful when browsing the other colorways. You might go looking for one cat fountain pen and end up wanting an entire litter.
And if you happen to have a friend who enables your fountain pen habit, do yourself a favor: never ask them to help you choose a pen unless you’re prepared to buy one, too.
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