Post by Silentstar on Jan 5, 2011 5:44:37 GMT -7
Note: Every cat is different, so keep in mind that all of the following are generalizations.
The Basics
Clan Cats - are a part of a community of cats with a particular culture. They claim a large territory for their group, hunt for their food, fight very well, and have as little to do with Twolegs as possible.
Kittypets - are cats who are cared for by Twolegs and usually, but not always, don't know how to hunt or fight. They usually consider the territory claimed by their Twolegs to be theirs, but often don't defend it.
Loners - are cats who live by themselves or in a very tiny group and have a small territory, usually in close proximity to Twolegs, that they may or may not defend. They know how to hunt and usually know how to fight.
Rogues - are cats without a territory who tend to wander, sometimes in groups. They virtually always hunt and fight well.
Clan Cats vs. Kittypets
Difference:
This hardly needs explaining, as these two types of cats are nearly polar opposites. But in short: kittypets allow Twolegs to care for them, while Clan cats make it a point to never have anything to do with Twolegs.
How Clan Cats Feel About Kittypets:
Clan cats generally see kittypets as hopelessly soft, weak, lazy, and practically traitors to their own kind for accepting the help of Twolegs. "You hunt like a kittypet" and "You fight like a kittypet" are considered extremely offensive insults (much like telling a 10 year old boy that he throws like a girl). And some Clan cats would even argue that a cat who was born in the Clan but had a parent who was a kittypet is somehow inferior to a cat with only Clan blood - not only in body but in character. When a kittypet wanders into Clan territory the Clan cats usually just frighten them off, which is pretty easy to do.
How Kittypets Feel About Clan Cats:
Kittypets view Clan cats as wild, barbaric savages that are probably just as dangerous as wild animals if not more so. They tend to have a lot of myths about them (for example, that they grow to the size of badgers when they're angry and eat bones), so they tend to avoid them and warn each other not to go anywhere near them.
Why Clan Cats Become Kittypets:
Life as a Clan cat is difficult and often dangerous, so when things get rough the idea of a cushy lifestyle becomes more appealing to some cats, even to those in a Clan. For the vast majority of cats their belief in the warrior way wins out, but not for absolutely every cat.
Why Kittypets Become Clan Cats:
For kittypets, especially the younger ones, the idea of joining a Clan sounds like an exciting adventure. Older cats are usually a bit harder to convince, but some of them find the idea of living in a community of cats and having a real purpose to their life appealing. Queens who are concerned about the way their housefolk are treating their kits may see a Clan as a good option, especially if they can't hunt or fight, since the Clan can help them care for their kits.
Clan Cats vs. Loners
Difference:
A Clan cat lives in a large community of cats while a loner lives by themself or usually at most in pairs. And while some loners fend for themselves just like Clan cats, some loners are nearly kittypets in their habits. Loners also usually live in closer proximity to Twolegs, taking advantage of those areas where there isn't enough food and shelter for a larger group of cats.
How Clan Cats Feel About Loners:
As long as the loner keeps out of Clan territory unless they have permission, Clan cats tend to get along with loners. Especially those who keep themselves more independent from Twolegs and treat them politely. Clan cats usually respect a loner's territory (though often it's with the thought that the loner's territory doesn't have enough prey or is too close to Twolegs to be desirable), keeping out of it, hunting there only with permission, etc. depending on the preference of the loner.
How Loners Feel About Clan Cats:
This varies, depending on the loner, and especially why the loner is a loner and not at Clan cat. Some loners, true to their name, just don't like large groups of cats, while others don't agree with the ways of the Clan cats. But regardless, they can be anywhere from hostile to friendly toward Clan cats, but those with any sense keep off of Clan territory unless invited since the Clans have numbers on their side.
Why Clan Cats Become Loners:
Generally this would happen when the Clan life no longer suits a Clan cat for whatever reason, but the break off is amicable. Could be for any number of reasons, and it usually involves some sort of break in their belief in the Clan way of life, if not the warrior code.
Why Loners Become Clan Cats:
Being a loner can be even more difficult than being a Clan cat because there is no community to help a loner when things go wrong, so the idea of joining with others for strength appeals to some. And some would find their life more meaningful if they participated in a community rather than having to just look after themselves all the time. Queens often find caring for kits on their own to be very difficult and dangerous and would want to join a Clan for the help and protection for their kits.
Clan Cats vs. Rogues
Difference:
Clan cats live in a permanent community, while rogues don't have territories and often wander. Rogues sometimes form groups, but they're usually smaller than Clans and usually don't include queens, kits, elders, and other cats that need to be taken care of.
How Clan Cats Feel About Rogues:
Rogues are trouble. Those that are simple wanderers tend to cross the borders and steal prey while they wander through, but even more dangerous are any cats who become rogues because they were kicked out of a Clan or chose to leave themselves. Either way, as long as cats without a territory are around they're stealing prey and if there's enough of them they could also be a threat to the Clan.
How Rogues Feel About Clan Cats:
This varies. Your basic wanderer would see Clans as dangerous because accidentally running into a large group of possibly unfriendly cats on unfamiliar ground could turn deadly for them. On the other hand, a cat who is a rogue because they got kicked out of a Clan and finds the idea of revenge more appealing than becoming a loner would feel... do I even need to finish that?
Why Clan Cats Become Rogues:
This situation usually means that the Clan cat had a reason to leave or was kicked out of the Clan for reasons that are more extreme than those that would case a cat to become a loner. Sometimes this means that they wander off and are never heard from again, while the reason other cats in this situation don't choose to resettle somewhere else is because they're out for revenge.
Why Rogues Become Clan Cats:
Being a rogue is perhaps the most dangerous way of life a cat could have since they don't have a solid supply of food and have a very good chance of accidentally running into danger. So unless a cat is a rogue because they have an extremely serious case of wanderlust, they'd probably leap at the opportunity to join a Clan.
Kittypets vs. Loners
Difference:
This can be a tough one at times - a cat with a collar, who is allowed into a Twoleg's nest, or who only eats kittypet food is definitely a kittypet. A cat who hunts for all their food or doesn't have a Twoleg name is definitely a loner. There is a gray area in between the two - a cat who allows Twolegs to pet it is probably a kittypet and one who only occasionally eats kittypet food is more likely a loner, but that's not always the case. But generally, if it's more correct to say that the cat is looked after by Twolegs then they're a kittypet, and if it's more correct to say they take care of themselves then they're a loner.
How Kittypets Feel About Loners:
This isn't explored much in the books, but it probably depends on if the loner seems more like a fellow kittypet or a scary Clan cat to the kittypet. Likely if they're both pleasant cats they'd get along well, though a kittypet could probably be easily convinced that a loner is scary and dangerous if the loner is aggressive. A young kittypet would probably find a loner's lifestyle fascinating, but an older one would probably see a loner as just a cat who lives differently.
How Loners Feel About Kittypets:
This probably varies widely, but unless the loner doesn't like kittypets based on principle then the only real problem they might have with a kittypet is if the kittypet did anything to disrupt their prey.
Why Kittypets Become Loners:
This would probably happen if something happened to their Twolegs or if the Twolegs didn't care for the kittypet very well. Perhaps also if the kittypet got so lost they couldn't find their way home or something like that. Either way, if there was a small unclaimed territory or another loner willing to share theirs, the kittypet would probably wind up being a loner.
Why Loners Become Kittypets:
If a loner was a kittypet before and finds new Twolegs this could happen, or if the loner was getting older and was finding it difficult to care for themself then they might seek out some Twolegs to care for them. Or if anything happened that made things more difficult for the loner and the loner wasn't opposed to becoming a kittypet, for that matter.
Kittypets vs. Rogues
Difference:
Kittypets live in a particular place and have Twolegs to care for them, while rogues, at best may hang around an area for an extended period of time, get help from Twolegs by stealing food from kittypets. But in both cases it would be a temporary situation for the rogue, while it's a way of life for the kittypet.
How Kittypets Feel About Rogues:
While Clan cats are a vague, distant, and scary kind of cat, a rogue is an immeadiate threat. Smart kittypets make themselves scarce and simply wait for the rogue to leave, while the bolder ones may pick a fight if the rogue comes into their yard. Usually the rogue is a better fighter so this isn't the best idea, but then again the kittypets who pick fights generally become good fighters and has home field advantage.
How Rogues Feel About Kittypets:
It depends on the situation the rogue is in, but those who are traveling tend to try and avoid kittypets because they can't afford wasting energy and risking injury in a fight. Rogues that are staying in a particular area for awhile generally find most kittypets to be pushovers.
Why Kittypets Become Rogues:
Similar to why a kittypet would become a loner, but in a situation where there isn't a place for them to move to. This would be an extremely difficult transition for the cat involved, but it's been done.
Why Rogues Become Kittypets:
If the rogue was formerly a kittypet, then there's good odds that they'll go right back to being a kittypet if they find Twolegs to take care of them. Rogues in other situations may elect to do the same if they find Twolegs who want to care for them, given the difficult lifestyle of a rogue.
Loners vs. Rogues
Difference:
Loners have a permanent territory, while rogues do not. Clan cats sometimes describe the difference as "rogues cause trouble, while loners do not". But that's really all there is to it.
How Loners Feel About Rogues:
Rogues are an even bigger problem for loners than other cats because they don't have either a Clan or Twolegs to fall back on. And if the rogue is looking for a place to live, the rogue might try and take a loner's territory - and then they would be the rogue.
How Rogues Feel About Loners:
Loners can be a problem for traveling cats because most loners know how to fight and are quick to defend their territory from strangers.
Why Loners Become Rogues:
Usually because they lost their territory, either to another cat or because the Twolegs did something to it.
Why Rogues Become Loners:
If a rogue finds a territory (and ousts the current resident, if needed) then they become a loner, which is a safer position to be in than being a rogue.
The Basics
Clan Cats - are a part of a community of cats with a particular culture. They claim a large territory for their group, hunt for their food, fight very well, and have as little to do with Twolegs as possible.
Kittypets - are cats who are cared for by Twolegs and usually, but not always, don't know how to hunt or fight. They usually consider the territory claimed by their Twolegs to be theirs, but often don't defend it.
Loners - are cats who live by themselves or in a very tiny group and have a small territory, usually in close proximity to Twolegs, that they may or may not defend. They know how to hunt and usually know how to fight.
Rogues - are cats without a territory who tend to wander, sometimes in groups. They virtually always hunt and fight well.
Clan Cats vs. Kittypets
Difference:
This hardly needs explaining, as these two types of cats are nearly polar opposites. But in short: kittypets allow Twolegs to care for them, while Clan cats make it a point to never have anything to do with Twolegs.
How Clan Cats Feel About Kittypets:
Clan cats generally see kittypets as hopelessly soft, weak, lazy, and practically traitors to their own kind for accepting the help of Twolegs. "You hunt like a kittypet" and "You fight like a kittypet" are considered extremely offensive insults (much like telling a 10 year old boy that he throws like a girl). And some Clan cats would even argue that a cat who was born in the Clan but had a parent who was a kittypet is somehow inferior to a cat with only Clan blood - not only in body but in character. When a kittypet wanders into Clan territory the Clan cats usually just frighten them off, which is pretty easy to do.
How Kittypets Feel About Clan Cats:
Kittypets view Clan cats as wild, barbaric savages that are probably just as dangerous as wild animals if not more so. They tend to have a lot of myths about them (for example, that they grow to the size of badgers when they're angry and eat bones), so they tend to avoid them and warn each other not to go anywhere near them.
Why Clan Cats Become Kittypets:
Life as a Clan cat is difficult and often dangerous, so when things get rough the idea of a cushy lifestyle becomes more appealing to some cats, even to those in a Clan. For the vast majority of cats their belief in the warrior way wins out, but not for absolutely every cat.
Why Kittypets Become Clan Cats:
For kittypets, especially the younger ones, the idea of joining a Clan sounds like an exciting adventure. Older cats are usually a bit harder to convince, but some of them find the idea of living in a community of cats and having a real purpose to their life appealing. Queens who are concerned about the way their housefolk are treating their kits may see a Clan as a good option, especially if they can't hunt or fight, since the Clan can help them care for their kits.
Clan Cats vs. Loners
Difference:
A Clan cat lives in a large community of cats while a loner lives by themself or usually at most in pairs. And while some loners fend for themselves just like Clan cats, some loners are nearly kittypets in their habits. Loners also usually live in closer proximity to Twolegs, taking advantage of those areas where there isn't enough food and shelter for a larger group of cats.
How Clan Cats Feel About Loners:
As long as the loner keeps out of Clan territory unless they have permission, Clan cats tend to get along with loners. Especially those who keep themselves more independent from Twolegs and treat them politely. Clan cats usually respect a loner's territory (though often it's with the thought that the loner's territory doesn't have enough prey or is too close to Twolegs to be desirable), keeping out of it, hunting there only with permission, etc. depending on the preference of the loner.
How Loners Feel About Clan Cats:
This varies, depending on the loner, and especially why the loner is a loner and not at Clan cat. Some loners, true to their name, just don't like large groups of cats, while others don't agree with the ways of the Clan cats. But regardless, they can be anywhere from hostile to friendly toward Clan cats, but those with any sense keep off of Clan territory unless invited since the Clans have numbers on their side.
Why Clan Cats Become Loners:
Generally this would happen when the Clan life no longer suits a Clan cat for whatever reason, but the break off is amicable. Could be for any number of reasons, and it usually involves some sort of break in their belief in the Clan way of life, if not the warrior code.
Why Loners Become Clan Cats:
Being a loner can be even more difficult than being a Clan cat because there is no community to help a loner when things go wrong, so the idea of joining with others for strength appeals to some. And some would find their life more meaningful if they participated in a community rather than having to just look after themselves all the time. Queens often find caring for kits on their own to be very difficult and dangerous and would want to join a Clan for the help and protection for their kits.
Clan Cats vs. Rogues
Difference:
Clan cats live in a permanent community, while rogues don't have territories and often wander. Rogues sometimes form groups, but they're usually smaller than Clans and usually don't include queens, kits, elders, and other cats that need to be taken care of.
How Clan Cats Feel About Rogues:
Rogues are trouble. Those that are simple wanderers tend to cross the borders and steal prey while they wander through, but even more dangerous are any cats who become rogues because they were kicked out of a Clan or chose to leave themselves. Either way, as long as cats without a territory are around they're stealing prey and if there's enough of them they could also be a threat to the Clan.
How Rogues Feel About Clan Cats:
This varies. Your basic wanderer would see Clans as dangerous because accidentally running into a large group of possibly unfriendly cats on unfamiliar ground could turn deadly for them. On the other hand, a cat who is a rogue because they got kicked out of a Clan and finds the idea of revenge more appealing than becoming a loner would feel... do I even need to finish that?
Why Clan Cats Become Rogues:
This situation usually means that the Clan cat had a reason to leave or was kicked out of the Clan for reasons that are more extreme than those that would case a cat to become a loner. Sometimes this means that they wander off and are never heard from again, while the reason other cats in this situation don't choose to resettle somewhere else is because they're out for revenge.
Why Rogues Become Clan Cats:
Being a rogue is perhaps the most dangerous way of life a cat could have since they don't have a solid supply of food and have a very good chance of accidentally running into danger. So unless a cat is a rogue because they have an extremely serious case of wanderlust, they'd probably leap at the opportunity to join a Clan.
Kittypets vs. Loners
Difference:
This can be a tough one at times - a cat with a collar, who is allowed into a Twoleg's nest, or who only eats kittypet food is definitely a kittypet. A cat who hunts for all their food or doesn't have a Twoleg name is definitely a loner. There is a gray area in between the two - a cat who allows Twolegs to pet it is probably a kittypet and one who only occasionally eats kittypet food is more likely a loner, but that's not always the case. But generally, if it's more correct to say that the cat is looked after by Twolegs then they're a kittypet, and if it's more correct to say they take care of themselves then they're a loner.
How Kittypets Feel About Loners:
This isn't explored much in the books, but it probably depends on if the loner seems more like a fellow kittypet or a scary Clan cat to the kittypet. Likely if they're both pleasant cats they'd get along well, though a kittypet could probably be easily convinced that a loner is scary and dangerous if the loner is aggressive. A young kittypet would probably find a loner's lifestyle fascinating, but an older one would probably see a loner as just a cat who lives differently.
How Loners Feel About Kittypets:
This probably varies widely, but unless the loner doesn't like kittypets based on principle then the only real problem they might have with a kittypet is if the kittypet did anything to disrupt their prey.
Why Kittypets Become Loners:
This would probably happen if something happened to their Twolegs or if the Twolegs didn't care for the kittypet very well. Perhaps also if the kittypet got so lost they couldn't find their way home or something like that. Either way, if there was a small unclaimed territory or another loner willing to share theirs, the kittypet would probably wind up being a loner.
Why Loners Become Kittypets:
If a loner was a kittypet before and finds new Twolegs this could happen, or if the loner was getting older and was finding it difficult to care for themself then they might seek out some Twolegs to care for them. Or if anything happened that made things more difficult for the loner and the loner wasn't opposed to becoming a kittypet, for that matter.
Kittypets vs. Rogues
Difference:
Kittypets live in a particular place and have Twolegs to care for them, while rogues, at best may hang around an area for an extended period of time, get help from Twolegs by stealing food from kittypets. But in both cases it would be a temporary situation for the rogue, while it's a way of life for the kittypet.
How Kittypets Feel About Rogues:
While Clan cats are a vague, distant, and scary kind of cat, a rogue is an immeadiate threat. Smart kittypets make themselves scarce and simply wait for the rogue to leave, while the bolder ones may pick a fight if the rogue comes into their yard. Usually the rogue is a better fighter so this isn't the best idea, but then again the kittypets who pick fights generally become good fighters and has home field advantage.
How Rogues Feel About Kittypets:
It depends on the situation the rogue is in, but those who are traveling tend to try and avoid kittypets because they can't afford wasting energy and risking injury in a fight. Rogues that are staying in a particular area for awhile generally find most kittypets to be pushovers.
Why Kittypets Become Rogues:
Similar to why a kittypet would become a loner, but in a situation where there isn't a place for them to move to. This would be an extremely difficult transition for the cat involved, but it's been done.
Why Rogues Become Kittypets:
If the rogue was formerly a kittypet, then there's good odds that they'll go right back to being a kittypet if they find Twolegs to take care of them. Rogues in other situations may elect to do the same if they find Twolegs who want to care for them, given the difficult lifestyle of a rogue.
Loners vs. Rogues
Difference:
Loners have a permanent territory, while rogues do not. Clan cats sometimes describe the difference as "rogues cause trouble, while loners do not". But that's really all there is to it.
How Loners Feel About Rogues:
Rogues are an even bigger problem for loners than other cats because they don't have either a Clan or Twolegs to fall back on. And if the rogue is looking for a place to live, the rogue might try and take a loner's territory - and then they would be the rogue.
How Rogues Feel About Loners:
Loners can be a problem for traveling cats because most loners know how to fight and are quick to defend their territory from strangers.
Why Loners Become Rogues:
Usually because they lost their territory, either to another cat or because the Twolegs did something to it.
Why Rogues Become Loners:
If a rogue finds a territory (and ousts the current resident, if needed) then they become a loner, which is a safer position to be in than being a rogue.