diff --git a/history.md b/history.md
index 8c457e9..62b8542 100644
--- a/history.md
+++ b/history.md
@@ -2,6 +2,9 @@
 
 ## 1.1.0 - 2011-06-XX
 
+* Major Fixes
+  * CastedModel no longer requires a Hash. Automatically includes all required methods.
+
 * Minor Fixes
   * Validation callbacks now support context (thanks kostia)
   * Document comparisons now performed using database and document ID (pointer by neocsr)
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb
index 7b6255a..66f3b66 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/base.rb
@@ -81,10 +81,6 @@ module CouchRest
         super
       end
 
-      def persisted?
-        !new?
-      end
-
       def to_key
         new? ? nil : [id]
       end
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/casted_model.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/casted_model.rb
index 0074e18..e445f96 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/casted_model.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/casted_model.rb
@@ -1,9 +1,9 @@
 module CouchRest::Model
   module CastedModel
-
     extend ActiveSupport::Concern
 
     included do
+      include CouchRest::Attributes
       include CouchRest::Model::Configuration
       include CouchRest::Model::Properties
       include CouchRest::Model::PropertyProtection
@@ -19,23 +19,17 @@ module CouchRest::Model
         def base_doc?
           false # Can never be base doc!
         end
+
+        # Initialize a new Casted Model. Accepts the same
+        # options as CouchRest::Model::Base for preparing and initializing
+        # attributes.
+        def initialize(keys = {}, options = {})
+          super()
+          prepare_all_attributes(keys, options)
+        end
       end
     end
 
-    def initialize(keys = {})
-      raise StandardError unless self.is_a? Hash
-      prepare_all_attributes(keys)
-      super()
-    end
-
-    def []= key, value
-      super(key.to_s, value)
-    end
-
-    def [] key
-      super(key.to_s)
-    end
-
     # False if the casted model has already
     # been saved in the containing document
     def new?
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
index 03a9ee8..a9e0a75 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/persistence.rb
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ module CouchRest
       # Trigger the callbacks (before, after, around)
       # only if the document isn't new
       def update(options = {})
-        raise "Calling #{self.class.name}#update on document that has not been created!" if self.new?
+        raise "Cannot save a destroyed document!" if destroyed?
+        raise "Calling #{self.class.name}#update on document that has not been created!" if new?
         return false unless perform_validations(options)
         return true if !self.disable_dirty && !self.changed?
         _run_update_callbacks do
@@ -69,6 +70,10 @@ module CouchRest
         !!@_destroyed
       end
 
+      def persisted?
+        !new? && !destroyed?
+      end
+
       # Update the document's attributes and save. For example:
       #
       #   doc.update_attributes :name => "Fred"
diff --git a/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb b/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb
index 133e9b9..93cd447 100644
--- a/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb
+++ b/lib/couchrest/model/properties.rb
@@ -168,7 +168,7 @@ module CouchRest
             # check if this property is going to casted
             type = options.delete(:type) || options.delete(:cast_as)
             if block_given?
-              type = Class.new(Hash) do
+              type = Class.new do
                 include CastedModel
               end
               if block.arity == 1 # Traditional, with options
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/models/cat.rb b/spec/fixtures/models/cat.rb
index 481bc37..d8e5584 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/models/cat.rb
+++ b/spec/fixtures/models/cat.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 
-class CatToy < Hash
-  include ::CouchRest::Model::CastedModel
+class CatToy
+  include CouchRest::Model::CastedModel
 
   property :name
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/casted_model_spec.rb b/spec/unit/casted_model_spec.rb
index 9e47ab0..5c8b6f5 100644
--- a/spec/unit/casted_model_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/casted_model_spec.rb
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # encoding: utf-8
 require "spec_helper"
 
-class WithCastedModelMixin < Hash
+class WithCastedModelMixin
   include CouchRest::Model::CastedModel
   property :name
   property :no_value
@@ -9,11 +9,17 @@ class WithCastedModelMixin < Hash
   property :casted_attribute, WithCastedModelMixin
 end
 
+class OldFashionedMixin < Hash
+  include CouchRest::Model::CastedModel
+  property :name
+end
+
 class DummyModel < CouchRest::Model::Base
   use_database TEST_SERVER.default_database
   raise "Default DB not set" if TEST_SERVER.default_database.nil?
   property :casted_attribute, WithCastedModelMixin
   property :keywords,         [String]
+  property :old_casted_attribute, OldFashionedMixin
   property :sub_models do |child|
     child.property :title
   end
@@ -22,7 +28,7 @@ class DummyModel < CouchRest::Model::Base
   end
 end
 
-class WithCastedCallBackModel < Hash
+class WithCastedCallBackModel
   include CouchRest::Model::CastedModel
   property :name
   property :run_before_validation
@@ -155,6 +161,33 @@ describe CouchRest::Model::CastedModel do
     end
   end
 
+  # Basic testing for an old fashioned casted hash
+  describe "old hash casted as attribute" do
+    before :each do
+      @obj = DummyModel.new(:old_casted_attribute => {:name => 'Testing'})
+      @casted_obj = @obj.old_casted_attribute
+    end
+    it "should be available from its parent" do
+      @casted_obj.should be_an_instance_of(OldFashionedMixin)
+    end
+
+    it "should have the getters defined" do
+      @casted_obj.name.should == 'Testing'
+    end
+
+    it "should know who casted it" do
+      @casted_obj.casted_by.should == @obj
+    end
+
+    it "should know which property casted it" do
+      @casted_obj.casted_by_property.should == @obj.properties.detect{|p| p.to_s == 'old_casted_attribute'}
+    end
+
+    it "should return nil for the unknown attribute" do
+      @casted_obj["unknown"].should be_nil
+    end
+  end
+
   describe "casted as an array of a different type" do
     before(:each) do
       @obj = DummyModel.new(:keywords => ['couch', 'sofa', 'relax', 'canapé'])
diff --git a/spec/unit/dirty_spec.rb b/spec/unit/dirty_spec.rb
index f527d9c..ceadb16 100644
--- a/spec/unit/dirty_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/dirty_spec.rb
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 require "spec_helper"
 
-class WithCastedModelMixin < Hash
+class WithCastedModelMixin
   include CouchRest::Model::CastedModel
   property :name
   property :details, Object, :default => {}