diff --git a/packages/backend/src/remote/activitypub/models/person.ts b/packages/backend/src/remote/activitypub/models/person.ts
index c663cdd9c..28498bc63 100644
--- a/packages/backend/src/remote/activitypub/models/person.ts
+++ b/packages/backend/src/remote/activitypub/models/person.ts
@@ -301,7 +301,10 @@ export async function createPerson(
 					tags,
 					isBot,
 					isCat: (person as any).isCat === true,
-					speakAsCat: (person as any).speakAsCat === true,
+					speakAsCat:
+						person.speakAsCat != null
+							? person.speakAsCat === true
+							: (person as any).isCat === true,
 					isIndexable: person.indexable,
 				}),
 			)) as IRemoteUser;
@@ -545,7 +548,10 @@ export async function updatePerson(
 		tags,
 		isBot: getApType(object) !== "Person",
 		isCat: (person as any).isCat === true,
-		speakAsCat: (person as any).speakAsCat === true,
+		speakAsCat:
+			person.speakAsCat != null
+				? person.speakAsCat === true
+				: (person as any).isCat === true,
 		isIndexable: person.indexable,
 		isLocked: !!person.manuallyApprovesFollowers,
 		movedToUri: person.movedTo || null,