Feli

(FEH-lee)

Long revered as both royalty and gods, and once a pet for only the wealthiest and high-class, the feli is now one of the most popular pets found in Subetan households. Felis became domesticated hundreds upon hundreds of years ago, when rural areas of Subeta were first settled by farmers. Grain and crops attracted wyllops, which in turn attracted the ancient, flying relatives of the modern-day feli. Farmers soon learned keeping these felines around was extremely useful and began to leave out extra food. As they grew more used to their Subetan companions, the ancient felis became tamer as well as smaller. Soon, the large relatives were nowhere to be found, and the popularity of the small, domesticated feli had spread all over Subeta.

Felis, all sharing the same stocky farm cats as ancestors, have small but stocky builds themselves. They generally weigh between 10-12 lbs (4.5-5.4 kg), although selective breeding has produced felis as large as 20 lbs (9.1 kg) and as small as 5 lbs (2.3kg). The average feli stands only about 9 in (22.9 cm) tall, although differences in height are common just as with weight. Their wings, once used on their ancestors to achieve flight, have evolved too small for felis to achieve true flight - though they can often get a bit of lift during a jump with them. They are extremely easy to train as indoor house pets, though they do need a good scratching surface; both the claws on their front feet as well as the horns on their head are used to mark territory, and scratching is an essential part of healthy feli husbandry.

Most feli owners are content to have them only as pets, but feli breeding and showing has gained popularity over the years as people try to come up with the most vibrant sun color, or different stripe patterns on the tail, or a variety of wing shapes. Felis have anywhere from 3-6 kittens a litter, although the record is 12 born to a particularly chubby feli mother in Centropolis! Felis are quite able mothers, and rarely need their owners to help with the breeding or birthing process. Feli kittens can take anywhere from 2-3 years to reach full maturity - and they are quite the handful as youngsters. It is often advised to keep two felis instead of one so that they may provide each other with a playmate. They do occasionally butt their head horns against things for attention, whether it be a toy, another feli, or their owner!

Felis are obligate carnivores, so their owners should provide them with a high-quality, meat-based, protein-heavy diet. They are agile hunters and will often supplement their diets with catches of their own. Many an unsuspecting wyllop or lain have met their demise by the claws of a feli, who are only too happy to play with their meal before eating it.