Scientific Name: Ursus Felix
Common name: Bearcat
Appearance: The Bearcat is a small, robust animal, with adults reaching 80lbs and standing at 2 feet tall on their hind legs. In the wild, their coats are a mottled brown for camoflauge. However, domestic Bearcats tend to have a mix of yellow and brown striped fur, though there are breeds that specialize in white, black, tabby, tortoiseshell, calico, and tuxedo colorations. Their fur is very coarse and thick, and makes them seem larger than they really are. They have incredibly sharp, retractable claws on each paw that can easily cut through flesh, and are hooked to help them latch on to larger prey.
Biology: The Bearcat is a small predator, hardly larger than a human toddler. What it lacks in size, however, it makes up for in sheer ferocity. Grumpy, angry little creatures, their faces seem frozen in a permanent glare, and once they have been threatened, they become a berzerker ball of fur and claws. Wild Bearcats are often seen as pests, due to their habits of killing chickens, rabbits, and even attacking larger animals like sheep and cattle. Farmers, however, have a unique solution to this problem. Because if there's one thing a Bearcat hates more then anything else, it's another Bearcat.
Domestic Bearcats are larger and stockier than their wild brethren, with more pleasant dispositions and voracious appetites. Since time immemorial, Bearcats have been used as guards, repelling any invading wild Bearcats and driving them away from their territory. Because Bearcats are mostly solitary creatures, it is inadvisable to house more than two Bearcats together unless they are well bred for manners. Bearcats mate in the fall and litter in the winter during hibernation, and mating and taking care of young is the only time they are social. Mother Bearcats protect their young fiercely, and usually have 3-5 in a litter. The young stay with their mother for one year, before leaving for parts unknown.
Bearcats are carnivorous predators with a great appetite, and some have been known to wipe out entire chicken coops in a single night. They eat until their stomachs are swollen and round, and sometimes can't escape through tight entrances. Domestic Bearcats have a similar appetite, and owners must be careful not to let them become too fat, as obesity is among the greatest health threats to Bearcats. Because of their unpredictable temperaments, it is inadvisable to allow even Domestic Bearcats near young children unsupervised, as accidents and clawing can easily happen even with family pets. Bearcats generally live between 10-20 years, with the longest known Bearcat surviving until 32.
Diurnal or Nocturnal: Primarily Nocturnal
Habitat: Bearcats live in a variety of habitats all over Prydain, from the forest, prairie, and even the alpines. Their coats vary by their habitat, and Alpine Bearcats are known to turn completely white in the winter.
Strengths:-Stocky. Bearcats have a great deal of stamina, and because of their solid yet small bodies, they're rather hard to kill.
-Agility. Despite their squarish frames, Bearcats are surprisingly fast and agile, and can reach speeds of 25mph in a sprint.
-Adrenaline Rush. When a Bearcat has been threatened or perceives a threat, they go berserk, attacking anything and everything in their vicinity until the threat is gone or the Bearcat is exhausted.
-Yowling. Bearcats are known for their high-pitched scream that can startle would-be hunters and inexperienced adventurers.
Weaknesses:-Water. Bearcats cannot swim, due to their heavy bodies and thick fur, and they hate and fear water more than anything else. A quick splash is all a hunter needs to get them out of berserker mode, and the cat will flee, screaming all the way.
-Intelligence. Bearcats are not smart creatures by any means, and have terrible memory. Because of this, they are easily trapped and tricked, and quickly lose interest in prey they can't catch. On the upside, this means that despite their demeanor, they never hold a grudge, because they can never remember why they were angry in the first place.
-Fire. Bearcats are terrified of fire, as their instinctual aversion to water means that they are completely vulnerable to it. Merely waving a torch at a Bearcat is enough to send it running, but be warned! If trapped between water and fire, the Bearcat will never willingly enter water, and will attack the fire holder.
Misc: Bearcat fur is often used in winter clothing, and because they are pests, Bearcats are allowed to be hunted for private and commercial purposes. Domestic Bearcats are common pets, and adapt easily to new environments. Though it is now illegal, Bearcat fights were a common sport in the past, with the caged animals being forced into berserker mode to attack each other for onlookers amusement. It is a common idiom to refer to a hostile, temperamental person as a "wild Bearcat".
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