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| Art by: Samanta-dragon | Ciy-chan | Brissinge |
Rarity: Uncommon mount
CLASSIFICATION
Species: mikia (feline)Subspecies: Mountain cat
Breeds: Ika (jumper), Alaka (hunter)
Visual reference
DESCRIBTION AND ABILITIES (General for both cat breeds)
Habitat: Rocky mountains of western Sindirrana
Lifespan: 15-20yo
Life cycle: newborn to 8 weeks, nursing cub till 6 months, at 3-4years
adult, senior 18+
Breeding details: Chance for twins 90+, no more than two cubs at once.
Mother will be agressive towards anyone during first 6 weeks, after birth of cubs.
Extra pictures for propper offspring growth: Cub's first playtime, cub with one of parents, cub hunting something.
Extra pictures for propper offspring growth: Cub's first playtime, cub with one of parents, cub hunting something.
History:
Both breeds have same ancestor, which was (a bit smaller) feline called
Shaiman mountain cat. Felkens, race who first domesticated these creatures,
started to breed them. Becuase of the smilarity of felken people and felines,
felkens were great at handling big cats and training them.
In roughly 500 years were two distinct breeds established with stable genetic
pool. Those were deprived of some feral feline instinct and became much more
social, obedient and accomodated to hummanoids. It could be said, that felkens
created largest breed of regular domestic cats.
Species gained popularity when some nomadic felken tribes started to travel.
They've spreaded knowledge about mountain cats and a lot of other races found
fondness in them. Felkens, as good merchants they are, saw opportunity and
exported mountain cats as exotic rarity (and they still do).
Wild behavior:
Ridable cats have a lot left from Shaiman mountain cats, so it's okay to put
origin's behavior as reference to domestic kind behavior. 'Street' (neglected
cats without home, that often end up back in the wilderness) non trained cats
display same behavior patterns.
Adult shaiman cat were a apex predators of Shaiman mountains and no other
species preyd on it, only scavengers visit their kills. Solitary cats compete
directly with wolf packs for prey. On the other hand cat pride is so powerfull
that no wolf is match for them.
Cats can kill other smaller cat species, cattle, deer, smaller bears,
sometimes hunt fish from streams... safe to say that cat will eat any animal
they can catch, from insect to large ungulates.
Shaiman kittens are far more vulnarable, and need protection of a pride.
Coyotes, wolves and other predators hunt kittens, since it's ways easier than
taking down an adult.
Mountain cat prides have territories (20-100km2 depending of abundance of
prey), which are marked by dominant tomcat. Mark is done by rubbing up againts
rocks.
Pride consists of 5-15 related individuals - one tomcat with his cats and
their cubs of both sex.
On social structure tomcats role is's distincted from cat. Both patrol around
pride territory and scares away predators by powerful roar very similar to
tiger roar.
Patroling patters depends on size of a pride. It's 2-4 individuals (tomcats
and cats without kittnes) that change shifts. There's day and night shift and
individual that was patroling during day usually doesn't patrol at night.
Breeding season take place at late winter and cubs are born at beggining of
summer. Expecting female find den winthin pride territory. Den is rocky cavern
or crevis lined with shed fur from mothers underside. 1-2 cubs are born, and
are helpless at birth. At seven days their eyes open, at 4-6 months are cubs
fully weaned. In age of 2-4months cubs are ready to leave the den, but remain
with mother untill age of 1,5-2,5 years. Before cubs reach independance, they
are protected not only by their own mother, but by whole pride. Independant
adults disconnect from home pride and find place in new pride, establish new
prides with new territory or become solitares. Soliter tomcats sneak during
beeding season to prides and try to steal females. Established member of pride
can befome solitare and vice versa.
Young adult males challenge older males established in prides and sometimes
they take over leadership of pride.
Domestic behavior:
As cats are hunters and predators, you cannot expect them to drop such
behavior completly. Even domesticated, they still find joy in hunting games.
They do bring dead animals to their keeper as sight of graditute, they do like
to push stuff ower edge of things... in general everything you would expect
regular domestic cats to do.
There's a few differences though. Most of ridable cats are very cuddly and do
not mind physical contact at all. It's side trait of instilling ability to
bear rider. Also temper and patience of ridable cats is way higher. Not in all
circumstances, but generally they are very chill and can edure even high
ammounts of annoyance. Last differemce is obedience. Well trained cat can be
as obedient as well trained dog.
There's no such a thing as pride among domestcated cats living within stable
enviroment. Neither there's specific breeding season, as oestrus is linked to
ammount and frequency of feeding. In domesticity are cats fed regular balance
diet, so their oestrus is more frequent.
Because of this cats and tomcats should be kept apart, unless gelded.
Cats are somewhat lloyal to the owner, and won't run away that easily.
Actually the can be kept 'loose' and they will always return home, unles tamed
by someone else. Though it's not recomanded to keep such a large carnivore
loose.
Stable requirements:
Domesticated cats don't do well kept with other animals, especially the
smaller ones (ponies), as they predatory, playful hunting instinct isn't fully
removed. They can do with same sized animals, but they will tease and taunt
and evoke play fights or real conflicts.
In sinlge species paddock/stable are cats fairly chill. There's social
hierarchy though, based on dominance. Dominance is established by
fights and defeated
cats will retreat to solitude for few days or weeks. Dominancy dynamicly
changes, as mountain cats challenge eachother often, with different
results.
In practice, domestic dominancy determines who get's to pet/cuddle with
hummanoid first, who get's to eat first and who has best scratching/chilling
posts.
It is important for owner or rider to pay good attention to the currently
dominant cat. Dominant cat will become angry, if owner gives attention first
to another cat. If owner wants to do such a thing, dominant cat musn't be
within range of vision.
Mountain cat can be kept all year long outside. Paddock should contain enough
of foliage for occasional need of solitude, there should be some rocks and
trees to allow climbing and chilling on them. If the paddock is set in
difficult rocky terrain, it's the best option.
In indoor stable, cats cannot be kept there for too long, as they need
movement. Indoor stable should be dim and enclosed, so cat feels like in it's
own den. Pregnant females will seek such dens and will agressivly fight off
everyone, if cubs are born. If cat allows anyone to see her den with cubs,
it's sign of highest affection and trust.
IKA - jumping breed
| SPE | END | JUM | GRA | AIA | WAA | STR | ELE | INT | DRE | OBE | COU | RES |
|
3 |
2 |
5 | 5 | -2 | 0 | 1 |
3 |
2 |
1 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
Height and build: 160-170cm, cougar-like build with strong hind legs to
support jumping
Character: Vigilant, spontaneous and playful. Fairly easy to trust
hummanoids and overall easier to be kept in conditions of smaller room
avaliable. Hovewer they need more movement and discharge, otherwise will get
very mischevous and hard to handle. Ikas very good in movement on steep rocky terrain with little manouver
space. Peak speed is 80km/h for sprint. Common long distance speed is 16km/h. Common
run speed for distance races is 25km/h. Length of jump is 16m without rider
and 10m with rider.
ALAKA - hunting breed
| SPE | END | JUM | GRA | AIA | WAA | STR | ELE | INT | DRE | OBE | COU | RES |
| 2 | 2 |
3 |
3 | -2 | 2 | 3 | 2 |
2 |
4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
Height and build: 165-180cm, tiger-like build
Character: Layd back, sligtly phlegmatic, chill unless provoked. If
provoked or in bad mood, better to get of their way. Alakas can be furious and
uncontrollable if not handled well. They tend to provoke others less thak ika
cats, their behavior appears more mature and reserved. They are less energetic
and like to conserve energy a little more than ikas.
They very much enjoy fights and is hard to scare them. They dare to attack
even much bigger opponent and will fight till last breath. They are very lloyajal to handler they like and will protect him/her as their
own kittens. Peak speed is 65km/h for short intervals, 13km/h for long ditance travel pace,
common long-distance run speed is 20km/h. They love water and are good swimmers, able to swim even 29km/day (without
rider).
TRIVIA
- I will not deny heavy inspiration by Warcraft universe (I spent there way too much time xD), where I've seen ridable cats for fist time in my life and loved it.
- I have soft spot for saber toothed creatures, basically only reason why this design option exists
- Similarity with Shedus is coincidental, as I never cared for that species, however I will not try to argue, that they are not similar. After all, there's not that high real-world variety to choose from.
- Mountain cats are based on cougars, tigers and partly snow leopards, but both breeds has as hallmark pointy ears and tufts of fur atop each ear.
