diff --git a/core/cat/mad_hatter/decorators/tool.py b/core/cat/mad_hatter/decorators/tool.py
index c97f6295..7e3ba72f 100644
--- a/core/cat/mad_hatter/decorators/tool.py
+++ b/core/cat/mad_hatter/decorators/tool.py
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 # All @tool decorated functions in plugins become a CatTool.
 # The difference between base langchain Tool and CatTool is that CatTool has an instance of the cat as attribute (set by the MadHatter)
-class CatTool(BaseTool):
+class CatTool:
     def __init__(
         self,
         name: str,
@@ -18,12 +18,7 @@ def __init__(
         examples: List[str] = [],
     ):
         description = func.__doc__.strip()
-
-        # call parent contructor
-        super().__init__(
-            name=name, func=func, description=description, return_direct=return_direct
-        )
-
+        
         self.func = func
         self.procedure_type = "tool"
         self.name = name
@@ -44,14 +39,9 @@ def start_examples(self):
     def __repr__(self) -> str:
         return f"CatTool(name={self.name}, return_direct={self.return_direct}, description={self.description})"
 
-    # we run tools always async, even if they are not defined so in a plugin
-    def _run(self, input_by_llm: str, stray) -> str:
+    def run(self, input_by_llm: str, stray) -> str:
         return self.func(input_by_llm, cat=stray)
 
-    # we run tools always async, even if they are not defined so in a plugin
-    async def _arun(self, input_by_llm, stray):
-        pass
-
     # override `extra = 'forbid'` for Tool pydantic model in langchain
     class Config:
         extra = "allow"
diff --git a/core/tests/agents/test_main_agent.py b/core/tests/agents/test_main_agent.py
index 7f054edf..d3989498 100644
--- a/core/tests/agents/test_main_agent.py
+++ b/core/tests/agents/test_main_agent.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def test_main_agent_instantiation(main_agent):
 @pytest.mark.asyncio  # to test async functions
 async def test_execute_main_agent(main_agent, stray):
     # empty agent execution
-    out = await main_agent.execute(stray)
+    out = main_agent.execute(stray)
     assert isinstance(out, AgentOutput)
     assert not out.return_direct
     assert out.intermediate_steps == []
diff --git a/core/tests/looking_glass/test_stray_cat.py b/core/tests/looking_glass/test_stray_cat.py
index a7cf40f7..c3030847 100644
--- a/core/tests/looking_glass/test_stray_cat.py
+++ b/core/tests/looking_glass/test_stray_cat.py
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ def test_stray_nlp(stray):
 def test_stray_call(stray):
     msg = {"text": "Where do I go?", "user_id": "Alice"}
 
-    reply = stray.loop.run_until_complete(stray.__call__(msg))
+    reply = stray.__call__(msg)
 
     assert isinstance(reply, CatMessage)
     assert "You did not configure" in reply.content
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ def test_recall_to_working_memory(stray):
     msg = {"text": msg_text, "user_id": "Alice"}
 
     # send message
-    stray.loop.run_until_complete(stray.__call__(msg))
+    stray.__call__(msg)
 
     # recall after episodic memory was stored
     stray.recall_relevant_memories_to_working_memory(msg_text)