Chromatic Cat

A standard chromatic cat specimen, not accounting for disability or alteration, will be anthropoid and bipedal. They have one head with large, round, rotating ears reminiscent of various members of Panthura, one on either side.

They have one arm on each side of a torso with a loosely cylindrical ribcage, each with hands that have four fingers and an opposable thumb. Their fingers each have three joints and end with a short, curved claw connected to the distal phalanges. They have two digitigrade legs, each with feet that have five toes. Some display a dewclaw. They have one long, mobile tail, also reminiscent of those of Panthura.

Chromatic cats reproduce sexually via approximately 176 days (Eight universal months) of mammalian pregnancy. Their typical rate of reproduction is one cub per two universal years, with eight months of gestational time and an advised year of recovery. Multiples are possible with twins occurring at approx. one in every 345 births and larger groups of multiples becoming less likely with each individual.

Chromatic cats are capable of producing 'litters' with multiple fathers involved, but this is rare due to chromatic cats' general intolerance of each other.

Highly interestingly, the chroma and appearance of a chromatic cat's cubs is more complex than most animals. Notably, two chromatic cats of different colors breeding produces offspring with the chroma of one parent, usually influenced by the environmental chroma during gestation. Homogenous pairs will always produce cubs with a random chroma, which bizarrely seems entirely detached from environmental factors. (Ex. A chromatic cat pairing of a red male and blue female will produce a red or blue cub, but a pairing of a red male and red female could produce a yellow cub.)

Chromatic cats do not have distinct life stages, but rather physically mature slowly over the course of 20 years. They're born blind and deaf, as well as small, and reliant on frequent nursing. After approx. an universal year they reach the milestone of being able to walk at least somewhat consistently on their own, and speak at two years, though they are generally not mentally developed enough to no longer be reliant on their parents. From there, self sufficiency is extremely varied and some will never be able to live without assistance from their parent or parents.

The majority of chromatic cats are fairly introverted by nature, and will favor solitude. They'll gladly live in families until the age of 30, when they leave their parents for said solitude. They generally live alone, but mothers are willing to tolerate their kittens and siblings will often tolerate each other for brief periods.

Female-female pairs seem more willing to tolerate each other, however male-male pairs are likely to struggle.

Chromatic cats have relatively flat faces with two forward facing eyes, distinct, movable eyebrows, a triangular, cartilage based nose, and proper lips and cheeks. Their jaws have 32 teeth, with 8 incisors, 4 canines, 8 premolars, and 12 molars.

Their faces are characterized by prominent cheekbones and broad, flat noses. Their mouths are small.

Chromatic cats are impressively adept at strategic and tactical analysis, as well as memory and adaptability. They work extremely well in groups, as well as have impressive recollection of previous encounters.

Chromatic cats were discovered as a species in 28146 of the Third Era. They were widely known prior, but the wide variety of chromatic cats and their similarity to various feline faun kin made scientifically distinguishing them difficult.