Post by Andunare on Jul 9, 2007 19:17:34 GMT -5
Classification: Hunting cats are animals and members of the cat family, Felidae.
Size: Hunting cats measure between just over two feet and just over three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between 80 and 150 lbs. Male hunting cats tend to be larger than females, though only slightly so.
Appearance: A hunting cat’s most distinctive feature is its spotted coat. The cat’s coat may be gold, tan, or tawny underneath and is covered in small, dark spots which run from its nose to the tip of its tail. Even the cat’s lighter colored belly fur is covered in spots. Hunting cats are not as large as lions or even leopards. Instead, they are lean and streamlined, with thin legs and an extremely long tail. Hunting cats are built for speed and have been known to run at close to 60 mph while sprinting. While running, their long tails help them steer and keep their balance. A hunting cat’s claws are blunt and less curved than those of other large cats in order to keep them from impeding the cat’s running ability. Hunting cats also have shorter snouts and smaller jaws and teeth than other big cats, and must exert more effort to bring down prey which is larger than they are.
Anatomy: A hunting cat’s anatomy is designed to give it speed and maximum endurance. A hunting cat’s lungs and heart are larger than a normal cat’s in order to maximize oxygen flow while running. A long spine and legs give the cat a longer stride. A hunting cat’s pads are also tougher than normal to allow for greater traction.
Development: A female hunting cat gives birth to a litter of 4 to 8 cubs after a gestation of about 90 days. Cubs are blind at birth and do not leave their den until they are at least eight weeks of age. Cubs are taught how to hunt by their mothers and live with her until they reach 1 to 1 ½ years of age. Hunting cats reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age, with females maturing more quickly than males. In the wild, hunting cats rarely live longer than 12 years, but those in captivity can live beyond 15 years of age if properly cared for.
Abilities: Hunting cats are renowned for their intelligence, tracking skill, speed, and ferocity.
Magic: Hunting cats do not have any magical abilities or properties.
Weaknesses: Hunting cats have no unusual weaknesses, though they may be more vulnerable than usual after a long sprint. Like most cats, they avoid immersion in water.
Habitat: Hunting cats are native to Srada, particularly the northern and eastern grasslands thereof. They prefer hot, arid climates to cold or humid ones and are most comfortable in savannahs or desert scrub.
Society: Hunting cats have little in the way of society. Most are solitary or live in small groups with no more than 7 to 10 members.
Outlook/ Alignment: Hunting cats are always neutral in alignment.
Lore: Hunting cats have no lore of their own.
Significance: Hunting cats have been domesticated and trained by Sradan nomads to aid in hunting large prey animals, thus giving them their name. Cubs are captured as young as possible (most are bred in captivity), preferably before they are eight weeks old, and nursed on goat’s milk until they are old enough to be sustained on meat. Then they are trained until around two years of age, at which time they are able to hunt independently. Hunting cats are often trained to hunt in pairs or even larger groups, depending upon the type of prey they are being trained to hunt. The breeding and training of hunting cats has become an art among the people of the desert, and extensive pedigrees of each pureblood line are kept and treasured. In some cases, the cats can be as valuable as racing horses, and a well bred cat is often worth its weight in gold. The owenership of such an animal is a mark of wealth and high social status among the nomads.
A note to readers: Please, feel free to PM me with any questions, suggestions, or objections you may have concerning any of my entries! I will attempt to read all comments with an open mind.
As always, your humble servant,
Andunare Selevarren Coranellyarien
Size: Hunting cats measure between just over two feet and just over three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh between 80 and 150 lbs. Male hunting cats tend to be larger than females, though only slightly so.
Appearance: A hunting cat’s most distinctive feature is its spotted coat. The cat’s coat may be gold, tan, or tawny underneath and is covered in small, dark spots which run from its nose to the tip of its tail. Even the cat’s lighter colored belly fur is covered in spots. Hunting cats are not as large as lions or even leopards. Instead, they are lean and streamlined, with thin legs and an extremely long tail. Hunting cats are built for speed and have been known to run at close to 60 mph while sprinting. While running, their long tails help them steer and keep their balance. A hunting cat’s claws are blunt and less curved than those of other large cats in order to keep them from impeding the cat’s running ability. Hunting cats also have shorter snouts and smaller jaws and teeth than other big cats, and must exert more effort to bring down prey which is larger than they are.
Anatomy: A hunting cat’s anatomy is designed to give it speed and maximum endurance. A hunting cat’s lungs and heart are larger than a normal cat’s in order to maximize oxygen flow while running. A long spine and legs give the cat a longer stride. A hunting cat’s pads are also tougher than normal to allow for greater traction.
Development: A female hunting cat gives birth to a litter of 4 to 8 cubs after a gestation of about 90 days. Cubs are blind at birth and do not leave their den until they are at least eight weeks of age. Cubs are taught how to hunt by their mothers and live with her until they reach 1 to 1 ½ years of age. Hunting cats reach sexual maturity at 2 to 3 years of age, with females maturing more quickly than males. In the wild, hunting cats rarely live longer than 12 years, but those in captivity can live beyond 15 years of age if properly cared for.
Abilities: Hunting cats are renowned for their intelligence, tracking skill, speed, and ferocity.
Magic: Hunting cats do not have any magical abilities or properties.
Weaknesses: Hunting cats have no unusual weaknesses, though they may be more vulnerable than usual after a long sprint. Like most cats, they avoid immersion in water.
Habitat: Hunting cats are native to Srada, particularly the northern and eastern grasslands thereof. They prefer hot, arid climates to cold or humid ones and are most comfortable in savannahs or desert scrub.
Society: Hunting cats have little in the way of society. Most are solitary or live in small groups with no more than 7 to 10 members.
Outlook/ Alignment: Hunting cats are always neutral in alignment.
Lore: Hunting cats have no lore of their own.
Significance: Hunting cats have been domesticated and trained by Sradan nomads to aid in hunting large prey animals, thus giving them their name. Cubs are captured as young as possible (most are bred in captivity), preferably before they are eight weeks old, and nursed on goat’s milk until they are old enough to be sustained on meat. Then they are trained until around two years of age, at which time they are able to hunt independently. Hunting cats are often trained to hunt in pairs or even larger groups, depending upon the type of prey they are being trained to hunt. The breeding and training of hunting cats has become an art among the people of the desert, and extensive pedigrees of each pureblood line are kept and treasured. In some cases, the cats can be as valuable as racing horses, and a well bred cat is often worth its weight in gold. The owenership of such an animal is a mark of wealth and high social status among the nomads.
A note to readers: Please, feel free to PM me with any questions, suggestions, or objections you may have concerning any of my entries! I will attempt to read all comments with an open mind.
As always, your humble servant,
Andunare Selevarren Coranellyarien