Bestiary
Woolcat Breeds
Lore written by MetaphysicalMonsters. Woolcat bases here!
Padwellan Swampy
This breed originated in Padwell, and for the most part that is the only place it is found. It is very popular there, though, so it is still one of the most common breeds.
AppearanceHeight: 20-25” (51-64 cm) at the shoulder Weight: 83-99 lbs (38-45 kg) Padwellan swampies (or just swampies) are a somewhat small breed when it comes to weight, being lean and agile to be able to move through the dense marshes of Padwell easily. They are rather tall, though, thanks to their long, thinly furred legs that allow them to easily stay above mud.
Swampies do not have horns to ensure they wouldn’t get stuck in dense foliage. They do, however, have extended canines. Their fur is white and mottled with grey-brown to help blend in somewhat, and their legs are black. Their fur needs to be sheared very often so they don’t overheat. |
A typical Padwellan Swampy woolcat.
Artwork by MetaphysicalMonsters. |
Use and Temperament
Padwellan swampies are used exclusively for their wool, which is waterproof. Most often their fur is woven into fabrics for clothing and even furniture, but is occasionally used as a lining in colder regions.
Swampies usually hunt for themselves. This makes them fairly independent and spend most of the day away from their owners, and wander back home at night. Because they have to avoid predators they can be very wary, and must be thoroughly socialized as kittens or else they will fear strangers and their owner’s steeds.
Their kittens have thoroughly earned the name “shitten”, since they spend much time practicing hunting, and only learn to go after small prey items when they’re older. Once they start venturing out to hunt they start to mellow out and become much less aggressive towards people.
Swampies usually hunt for themselves. This makes them fairly independent and spend most of the day away from their owners, and wander back home at night. Because they have to avoid predators they can be very wary, and must be thoroughly socialized as kittens or else they will fear strangers and their owner’s steeds.
Their kittens have thoroughly earned the name “shitten”, since they spend much time practicing hunting, and only learn to go after small prey items when they’re older. Once they start venturing out to hunt they start to mellow out and become much less aggressive towards people.
Sun Queen Woolcat
This breed is the rarest and newest of all woolcat breeds. It originated in the Sundrake kingdom around 480 A.E.D, when a Sundrake noble bought a rare off-colored Padwellian Swampy. After their death during the Great Plague one of their children inherited the animal and started to breed it at the dawn of the civil war. They bred them to be a gold color, in support of the Halcyon family.
The breed is so rare because it originated from a pet-project (no pun intended) so there were never very many to begin with, and supporting the Halcyon family after their execution was a rather dangerous venture. There could be a chance of the breed seeing a resurgence due to the recent unrest in the Sundrake kingdom, but keeping a pet in a time of war is a difficult task. AppearanceHeight: 1’10”-2’4” (56-71 cm) at the shoulder Weight: 100-132 lbs (45-60 kg) Because sun queen woolcats are such a new breed, they look very similar to padwellian swampies aside from their small antlers and larger builds.
Their fur is a distinct gold color, often with brown legs and faces. |
A typical Sun Queen woolcat.
Artwork by MetaphysicalMonsters. |
Use and Temperament
Sun queen woolcats were kept exclusively as house pets, so they are not independent at all and are very calm animals. According to a sun queen woolcat, the best way to spend a lay is to be petted for 12 straight hours. Typically they are very low-energy, but can become agitated when not given enough attention. Kittens especially love to climb onto dragons and sleep between their wings.
Sun queen woolcats were originally bred to be able to be sheared, but aren’t anymore, because wearing their wool might incur King Tigerlily’s wrath.
Sun queen woolcats were originally bred to be able to be sheared, but aren’t anymore, because wearing their wool might incur King Tigerlily’s wrath.
Mater Felis Ovis
This breed originated in the Land of Rivers. It is debated whether the mater felis ovis originated from the baucent’s woolcat, or if the baucent’s woolcat originated from the mater felis ovis.
AppearanceHeight: 2’-2’4” (61-71 cm) at the shoulder Weight: 123-188 lbs (56-85 kg) not including antlers The mater felis ovis is a very stocky, densely-furred breed suited well to swimming to the point that they even have webbed paws. Their fur is so dense it acts like an otter’s fur, where the inside stays perfectly dry even when submerged. This has the added benefit that they’re incredibly soft.
This breed is typically white with colorpoint markings, but can also be light grey. Despite the color variation they always have stark white underbellies. This breed also sometimes has a star marking on their forehead. |
A typical Mater Felis Ovis woolcat.
Artwork by MetaphysicalMonsters. |
Use and Temperament
The mater felis ovis is primarily used for their waterproof wool, which is very useful in the Land of Rivers. Their fur is most commonly used as lining (especially for boots) to keep clothing items warm while still being waterproof. Due to how soft they are, their fur also makes for good blankets.
Like all woolcats, mater felis ovis are non-aggressive and often very stoic and calm. They are more vocal than most other woolcats with a distinct warble-y meow. Because of their vocal personalities they are easy to find among the reeds of the banks of rivers, and also occasionally warned their owners of approaching Xocrian knights.
Like all woolcats, mater felis ovis are non-aggressive and often very stoic and calm. They are more vocal than most other woolcats with a distinct warble-y meow. Because of their vocal personalities they are easy to find among the reeds of the banks of rivers, and also occasionally warned their owners of approaching Xocrian knights.
Baucent’s Woolcat
This breed originated in Xocrium and is most different from all of the other woolcat breeds.
AppearanceHeight: 2’7”-3’1” (79-91 cm) at the shoulder Weight: 190-280 lbs (86-127 kg) not including antlers The baucent’s woolcat is the largest woolcat breed, its back being level with the average person’s hips. Their ears are also only half-folded, so they don’t lay flat on the cat’s head like other breeds.
The baucent’s woolcat is a light reddish-brown color with darker extremities and necks. They sometimes have small white markings on their faces and paws. Their antlers are very big and heavy, so they have bulkier builds to support them. They can be a hazard indoors. |
A typical Baucent’s woolcat.
Artwork by MetaphysicalMonsters. |
Use and Temperament
Baucent’s woolcat is the most aggressive species of woolcat, which is to say, hardly aggressive at all. They are often dual livestock and livestock guardians. They hardly ever outright attack anything, instead using intimidation to scare off predators. Their size alone usually makes most predators unwilling to tussle with them, but they also are known to yowl loudly at predators. When worse comes to worse they will bat at and swing their antlers at particularly stubborn predators.
When not actively protecting their wards, baucent’s woolcats are just as calm as any other woolcat and incredibly tolerant, since it takes a long time to shear them. Because of this and their protective natures, they make surprisingly good companions for children as well. It’s not rare for children to be accompanied by them while exploring, or to be herded back to the house instead of wandering.
When not actively protecting their wards, baucent’s woolcats are just as calm as any other woolcat and incredibly tolerant, since it takes a long time to shear them. Because of this and their protective natures, they make surprisingly good companions for children as well. It’s not rare for children to be accompanied by them while exploring, or to be herded back to the house instead of wandering.
Dutorian Snuggler
This breed originated in Dutoria, and was originally a hybrid between baucent’s woolcat and mater felis ovis before developing into its own breed.
AppearanceHeight: 2’5”-2’10” (74-112 cm) at the shoulder Weight: 200-300 lbs (91-136 kg) not including antlers Despite not being the tallest of the woolcat breeds, dutorian snugglers have the longest coats by far, and are also often heavier than any of the other breeds. They have incredibly thick coats and layers of fat that keep them warm in even the harshest of Dutorian winters.
Snugglers are dark brown to black in color, making them easy to find in the snow. Dutorian snugglers have to be sheared every year in mid-late spring so their fur is long enough to keep them warm when winter rolls around, but not too long to hinder their movement. Snugglers are unique in that their antlers are always covered in velvet, whereas other breeds eventually shed theirs. This makes them less likely to accidentally poke your eye out while cuddling. |
A typical Dutorian Snuggler woolcat.
Artwork by MetaphysicalMonsters. |
Use and Temperament
Snugglers are primarily kept for their wool, which makes the warmest of clothing that stays dry as it gets covered in snow, and as that snow melts.
Snugglers are also companion animals, and can often be seen accompanying anybody who works outside. True to their name, snugglers are incredibly affectionate and tolerant, and often need to be touching their owners at all times. This is because they were bred to keep hunters warm when they went out into the woods, and even those that aren’t specifically trained to do this will instinctually lay on top of their owners when they sleep.
Snugglers have incredible patience, having to sit still for an hour or more while they’re sheared. There’s many stories of loyal dutorian snugglers - some exaggerated, and even more completely true - who kept an owner trapped in the woods by a blizzard warm for days at a time.
Snugglers are also companion animals, and can often be seen accompanying anybody who works outside. True to their name, snugglers are incredibly affectionate and tolerant, and often need to be touching their owners at all times. This is because they were bred to keep hunters warm when they went out into the woods, and even those that aren’t specifically trained to do this will instinctually lay on top of their owners when they sleep.
Snugglers have incredible patience, having to sit still for an hour or more while they’re sheared. There’s many stories of loyal dutorian snugglers - some exaggerated, and even more completely true - who kept an owner trapped in the woods by a blizzard warm for days at a time.