Juicycat was born in Lansing, but lived in Ann Arbor from the age of 6 until leaving for college in 2000. Although he now lives in Pittsburgh, his parents still live in Ann Arbor, and he spends a week or two in town every year.

He worked for the University of Michigan Map Library for two years while attending Huron High School, and later worked nearly two years at the University's Undergraduate Library. He has also worked for the Top of the Park setup in 2003 and 2005, on the crew of Ann Arbor Ballet Theatre's Nutcracker Ballet in 2003, and in the information booths of the Ann Arbor Street Art Fair and State Street Area Art Fair in 2003.