I think I found my answer thanks to Beast Boy. The power to copy, change into, or mimic a animal is tied to the DC lore called The Red. That contains all living things that is not plant life. BB's and Maxine's (including the original) powers are tied to this. And BB has been able to transform into a Gordanian, a sentient humanoid from another world. So from that is is a matter of preference and maybe the rules here. What do you say knight?