SMALL CATS

Itcuintlipotzotli

a fierce carnivore native to Equus and Tapiri, this beast, like the sapient Lobizon, is often mistaken for the flightless bat called the Chupacabra

Katalope

A Katalope is a cat with large antlers. It's face is fairly flat and wide, but it's body is long and slinky. It closely resembles a small leopard, however, it's fur is brown with blonde spots instead of pale yellow with black spots.

The Katalope species was only discovered around twenty years ago when famous explorer Alfonoso 'The Compass' Pointer was travelling across the Badlands and he fell into a small ditch leading to an underground Katalope den.

Katalopes have been placed on the 'SERA' (Super-Endangered-Red-Alert) list. This means that anybody found causing harm to them will instantly receive a sentence of up to fifty years in prison.

Whillawhisper

Found in the forests and abandoned cities of Boardor, whillawhispers haunt the ledges of city high rises and park trees alike after dark, leaping with grace from perch to perch in pursuit of small vermin above the hustle and bustle of life many stories below.

Hei-Hei

The elusive Hei-Hei is a native to Manechuria. These creatures are characterized as being small cats of endless coat variety; however, they are made unique by their wings (or wing markings in hybrids between hei-hei and house cat)

Chartooth

a unique species of cougar native to the northern tundras and mountains of Equus, the Chartooth is well known for being able to breathe fire

Troglobite Cat

A small, cave dwelling predator native to Zebrica. It has lost its fur and skin has grown over its eyes as they are no longer used. They stalk deep within the caves using the agility that is a well known trait of cats using their hearing, sense of smell, and enlarged whiskers to sense their environment and hunt out potential prey, complimented by a primitive form of echolocation adapted from purring behavior. They are smaller than modern domestic cats and feed mainly on insects and cave fish. One interesting adaptation is that they are thermoconformist like naked mole rats rather than thermoregulators like other mammals. Instead of keeping their body at a certain temperature, which is an energy-hungry process, they allow their bodies to adjust to the ambient temperature of their environment. This means that they don't require as much food, but it also means they are more vulnerable to changes in temperature though deep in the caves the temperature usually remains comfortably warm. Troglobite cats live in groups of up to thirty and typically form strong social and familial bonds. They sleep together to conserve heat and often nap in "shifts" with hunting groups headed out to gather food for the entire group and then staying behind to nap as another group awakens and leaves to hunt themselves. They mature faster than modern cats and upon reaching sexual maturity males often leave to seek out or found their own groups while females rarely leave and often join a younger male's harem.

Vampire Beast

This creature is said to terrorize rural areas due to its appetite of livestock and pets but unlike other predators, this thing prefers drinking the animal's blood.

Slivercat

The Slivercat is a northern pine-woods dweller native to Equus. These are big animals, sometimes reaching three hundred pounds weight. A mature Slivercat carries an eleven foot long tail with a hard ball on the end. Half of this ball is polished smooth, half is studded with a burr-like barbed growth. The Cat beats the ball on his chest in the mating season, being careful to use only the smooth side.

But the chief function of this tail is to obtain food. Crouched on a limb overhanging the trail, the Cat hits the passer-by on the head with the polished side of his ball, and then slaps the burred side into the senseless victim’s hide and draws him up to the roost to be consumed.

Splinter Cat

native to Equus, the Splinter Cat eats bees and raccoons, and the method used by this animal in its hunting of these animals is simple but effective. It climbs one tree, and from the uppermost branches bounds down and across toward the tree it wishes to destroy. Striking squarely with its hard face, the splinter cat passes right on, leaving the tree broken and shattered as though struck by lightning or snapped off by the wind.

Mishibizhiw

The Mishipizhiw (aka: Water Lynx, Underwater Panther, Mirror-Walker Cat) of Equus is well known for walking upside-down just beneath the surface of a body of water, making it look like a reflection.

there are three distinct subspecies of this feline

the northern variety is the largest and most aggressive, and is capable of using electricity.

the southern variety, which is the smallest, is more crocodilian in its habits

the horned variety is found across Equus, and is considered the strongest

River Cat

Swift and graceful in the water, the river cat of Tapiri will actively hunt fish and is able to take even quite large specimens several times its own weight. They swim with an up-and-down undulating movement like an otter, sculling with the tail and using their limbs to change direction. Their digits are webbed, and the pads are rough, giving them an excellent grip on slippery rocks and wriggly prey. The claws are retractable, but the tips remain visible even when fully retracted because they’re not covered with the usual hood of loose skin.

The cat’s preferred method of hunting land-dwelling prey is to lurk in the shallows by the bank of a lake or pond or the edges of a river, crouched down so that only the eyes and nostrils break the water’s surface. When an unwary animal lowers its head to drink, the huge cat pounces. If the prey manages to leap back in time or break free, it is safe, as the river cat is a poor runner and disinclined to pursue.

Cloud Cat

Found throughout the floating Mountains of Khaan, little is known about these mysterious felines

Urdarkottur

The urdarkottur, or ghoul cat, is a dog-sized feline native to Mustikk

a scavenger by nature, this cat gets its name from its habit of digging up graves to devour corpses

Cyclops Cat

a small, friendly, nocturnal feline native to Equus.

Spiny Cat

Native to desert climates, and found primarily in Equus and Tapiri, the spiny cat is a curious example of protective coloration at work. Like other mammals who have developed a spiny coat for protection—hedgehogs, porcupines, and echidnas- evolution and necessity has modified the spiny cat's fur, making it a feline with a passive form of defense. They are also green, which provides them with remarkably effective cover in their preferred living environment: in and around the trunks of large cactus.

Spiny cats are ambush predators, preferring to wait for their prey to come to them, rather than spending time stalking. Like lions, they live in family groups, often referred to as "pads," with one or more members of the group doing the bulk of the hunting.

Spiny cats live only in desert climates, although they have been found in both hot and cold desert regions. They do reasonably well in captivity, but have never been truly tamed. This is in part due to their very sophisticated social structure. A spiny cat which has seemed to live contently with ponies for years will still run if given the opportunity to join a pad.

Adults average sixteen to twenty pounds in weight, and are between three and four feet in length when they are measured from toe to toe. Their tails are bobbed, and provide one of the best methods of determining gender: the males have thick spines on their tails, allowing them to obtain a better grip on females during the mating process. When in repose, they prefer to "hump up" into a shape resembling a barrel cactus, rather than lounging like typical felines. They are primarily nocturnal, although they have been observed during the day.

Spiny cats bear litters of two to six. Multiple adults will be involved in rearing the kits, to the point where only observing a birth can reliably confirm the identity of the biological parents. This leads to both strong bonds within the pad, and reduced trauma should something happen to a family member.

Kits will not develop their protective adult coats until they reach puberty, typically at six to ten months of age. This makes them an easy target for poachers, who will remove spiny cat kittens from the wild and sell them as "exotic pets." This has led to spiny cats appearing all over Equus, as most people will not voluntarily keep a cat which scratches them every time they try to pet it.

Hunting Cats

Descended from mountain lions, these felines were originally bread by the now extinct lowland ahuitzotl as hunting companions, but have since been domesticated by other races. The actual names of these cats roughly translate into the names Sneaks, Sprints, & Bulks. This is due to their uses, as each breed is meant to be used for different purposes. Since their discovery, they have become popular pets.

Bulks are the largest of the three, and are typically used for going after larger game. They assist in bringing down large animals, but not always to kill. In some areas where mammoths are tamed, herders allow calves be born in the wild, only to be captured and raised to be used for labor. These cats are bred to actually assist in separating calves from the herd, and then pinning them down, so that a wrangler can put a rope on it. Outside of hunting and wrangling, however, they have a personality comparable to that of a pitbull. So be cautious if you wish to adopt one. And it isn't recommended around children.

Sneaks and sprints are both used for going after light, fast moving prey, but they do so in different areas. Sneaks are used predominantly in the forests, using their medium sized stature and high intelligence levels to pounce on fast-moving forest dwellers. Sprints, however, are used for going after swift prey items in the open grassland. They also have different personalities to each other, though they are much more docile than the Bulks, generally described as being like a Labrador. Both are very smart and friendly around their owners, and are seen very much as companions in their homeland, as well as on the surface. 

BIG CATS

Kamadan

Native to Tapiri, the Kamadan is highly adaptable, and may be found in jungle, desert, or mountains. They climb and swim superbly, and spend a great deal of time in tree tops when in a forested area. They often stalk their prey for hours before pouncing.

The average Kamadan resembles a jaguar with six snakes sprouting from its shoulders. The Kamadan's coat is generally medium yellow in hue, and is covered with dark spots. The snakes extend about three feet from its shoulders, and are sandy colored with a diamond pattern. A rattle, much like that of a rattlesnake, tips the kamadan’s tail, and rattles when the beast is frightened or otherwise agitated.

Kamadans live in small prides, and roam in territories with defined boundaries.

When hunting, Kamadans make use of their ability to breathe out a 30-foot cone of sleep gas to incapacitate prey.

Another variation, the Dusk Kamadan, exists. A Dusk Kamadan has midnight black fur and snakes bearing black and red ring patterns on their bodies. Unlike the common Kamadan, the snakes of this subspecies have a poisonous bite

Mngwa

The Mngwa of Zebrica is an invisible feline that is roughly the size of an adult equine. However, their powers of invisibility does not seem to work on reflective surfaces (water, polished metal, mirrors, etc.). Judging by the reflection, this creature resembles a small tiger or leopard with slate gray fur. This invisible predator also has razor-sharp claws, dagger-like teeth, and a long tail. Though these creatures are only as large as the average mare, they are packed with enough strength to bring down a minotaur.

Barong

Native to the islands of southeast Khaan, this small armored lion is often kept as a guard beast.

Krenshar

Krenshars typically hunt herd animals, with males and females hunting together. A krenshar can pull back the extremely flexible skin on its head, revealing the muscles and bony structure of its skull, which it uses to scare its foes. A krenshar is also able to emit a loud screech which has the magical effect of unsettling its foes.

relaxed Krenshars

A krenshar pride will usually send a solitary scout to scare prey and drive it towards the rest, chasing the fleeing target and joining the attack. A young krenshar can be domesticated, and will make a fierce and loyal companion.

Vichukha

Vichukha are large, powerful predators native to Boardor and western Stalliongrad/Muskovy. A vichukha can be described as having a knobbly spine, short tail and three pairs of limbs: four prehensile limbs and two large wings. They also have a long head with a blunt snout, consisting of a bat-like nose, eyes with vertical slit pupils set far apart on the head, and a large mouth with 4 primary teeth and several secondary teeth. Their backs are covered in sparse, short black fur and there are folds of skin on the base of the neck. Their wings are attached to their body with massively muscled arm like limbs that are almost twice the diameter of their thigh muscles. This explains it's ability to fly, as, despite the massive size and likely very high body weight, its wings are in fact so powerful that it can hover in place in the air for significant periods of time.

Displacer Beast

Native to Stirrope, displacer beasts are large cat-like creatures with six legs and a pair of long tentacles sprouting from their shoulders. They are covered in a pelt of blue-black fur. They are usually about 9 feet long and weigh as much as 500 pounds, but the occasional mutant can be twice this size. Like many big cats, displacer beasts are often pack hunters, although they are sometimes encountered alone

Displacer beasts use their innate magic to bend light, making them appear to be a foot or two from their actual positions.

Manticore

Found in Stirrope, Khaan, Equus, and some parts of Mustikk, manticores are solitary lion-like creatures with a red mane, a pair of bat's wings, and a scorpion's tail. Manticores are immune to poison, as well as most forms of radiation

They are territorial and curious creatures, but try to avoid confrontation outside of hunting.

Nundu

Native to Zebrica, this massive feline moves silently, despite its "gigantic" size. The breath of the Nundu is toxic and filled with disease. The Nundu is extremely hard to subdue, and has never been defeated by less than around one hundred trained magic users working together.

Armadillo Lion

Native to Khaan, the fur on the lower part of an armadillo lion's face is white, along with its feet. The armadillo lion's main trunk and the upper parts of its legs are covered by shaggy brown hair. Its back is topped by an armadillo-like segmented carapace, which extends to cover the top of its head. It also has a hairless, armadillo-like tail. Its body structure allows the armadillo lion to curl up into an armored ball when startled, much like the three-banded armadillo.

Pardalokampoi

Pardalokampoi, or sea cats, are among the most vicious and ubiquitous of coastal predators in the world’s tropical oceans. The upper body of a Pardalokampoi is that of a typical large cat, complete with a pair of clawed paws capable of rending the flesh from its prey. In place of back legs, however, this feline has a sleek and powerful tail that allows it to move quickly and silently through the water. While only the back half of a sea cat looks fish-like, its entire body from the neck down is covered in fine scales and fins, making it a formidable swimmer.

Pardalokampoi rely on speed and ferocity in the hunt, and are thus not built to withstand extreme cold, as they lacks fur or fat to insulate them in frigid waters. Most Pardalokampoi live in the ocean, where the diversity of life allows for a varied and consistent supply of food, though prides of sea cats and particularly adventurous individuals of the species have been known to follow prey into river deltas and beyond to inland lakes if pickings become slim in the sea.

A Pardalokampoi’s diet consists of small fish, crustaceans, and aquatic mammals such as seals and otters, but the creature’s overpowering predatory and territorial instincts often lead it to attack ocean birds, boats, and even other aquatic predators such as sharks and crocodiles.

When not hunting, Pardalokampoi can be found on coastal rocks, coral islands, or even isolated beaches sunning themselves and digesting their most recent meals. When in a state of rest, they are typically less alert and more vulnerable, and thus often lounge in pairs or larger groups so that one can act as lookout. This is especially true of mothers rearing cubs, which have been known to stay awake for as long as a week straight to allow their young rest in their most vulnerable time of life.

SABRETOOTHED CATS

Dingonek

a feline native to Zebrica, the dingonek represents an odd branch of the sabretooth cat family adapted to live in water.

Saber Fletch

slightly bigger than a house cat, these North Griffonian beasts are considered a sign of nobility, and make excellent hunting companions

Lyebard

Native to Equus, lyebards are terrifying because they are immune to magical attacks.

Drop-Kill Cat

The drop-kill cat is a puma sized sabertooth which lives in the forested regions of Stirrope and Khaan. It gets its name from its hunting strategy. Unlike most sabertooths, this cat is not designed to go after large game, but rather smaller prey items (such as equines and deer) that live in the woods. To kill them, the cat will follow their target from way up in the forest mid levels, and sometimes the canopy. The cat's large eyes help it to see through the thicket of leaves and branches, and its spotted brown coat makes it well camouflaged in the dappled forest light. Large paws and claws help the cat to keep itself clung to the trees, and a long tail acts like a counter balance. Once their target has been accessed, they jump on their prey, and bite down on the neck, killing the prey in seconds. In short, it's designed to sneak up on fast moving prey, using the cover of the trees to its greatest advantage.

Mammothslayer

Massive natives of Khaan and Mustikk, the average size for this feline is typically 4' 10" at the shoulder, 12' from head to tail, and up to 1,000 lbs in weight. Though this is not the largest carnivoran of all time, this is still an impressive beast none the less.

Mammothslayers are highly social animals, and live in pride systems like modern lions. Females tend to be smaller, and less bulky than the males, but do most of the hunting. Males are larger, and have a short neck ruff, similar to elks during the rut, covered in jaguar-like spots. Their role is to protect the territory, and their carcasses from scavengers, but are also essential for looking over the cubs when the females are out hunting. This is usually seen in the less dominant males within the pride, though. 

Everything about the Mammothslayer is meant to endure the struggles of large prey. The cats are heavily muscled, and weigh a lot, so as to better pin down their prey. But they are smart enough to effectively coordinate their hunting strategies. 

TRESSYM

Native to Equus, the Tressym, also known as the flying cat or the winged cat, is an arboreal feline that makes its home in temperate forests.

The wing membrane or patagium is completely covered in hair, and the trailing edge has a fringe of long stiffened hair that seem to act somewhat like feathers. Almost half of the wing is supported by a rod of bone that starts as a styliform cartilage in kittens that fully ossifies in mature adults. The styliform articulates on an enlargened wrist bone and allows the Tressym better control of the patagium during flight and enables it to be folded back while climbing or walking. The Tressym is not capable of true powered flight, but is a highly proficient glider.

Wild Tressyms spend most of their lives in trees, gliding between trunks seeking prey ranging from birds and mammals to reptiles and insects. They are sometimes able to snatch prey in the air, but usually catch animals they spot in a nearby tree or on the ground. The gliding approach of the Tressym is very quiet, and often they manage to take their prey completely by surprise. Due to this hunting tactic they rely heavily on their sense of vision, which is exceptionally keen for a carnivorous mammal.

Tressyms aren't exclusively carnivorous, and are known to feed on ripe fruits and berries, even honey. This suggest they can still taste sweet flavors, unlike other felines. Apparently the gene had not been lost when the lineage of the gliding cats diverged from the rest of Felidae approximately 20 million years ago. Even though the Tressym closely resembles domestic cats due to convergent evolution, it is actually more distantly related to housecats than lions or even sabertooth cats. .

The domestic Tressyms reveal one more unique trait of the species: their extremely high intelligence. It's generally accepted that tressyms are more intelligent than even the smartest canines, possibly rivaling the intelligence of crows and parrots. They can certainly learn to distinguish more than a thousand words, and thanks to their extensive repertoire of vocalizations can learn to communicate with humans on a level that rivals unspoken languages. Due to their intelligence they can be very challenging pets, though very affectionate and loyal to owners that treat them well.

Part 2

The images for the Vichukha and Kneazle aren't showing up for me.