Catmon

A catmon (informal) is a cat-like mammal, native to Kerelia. This species was first discovered and named by Alexa Costa who has been hunted by them several times.

Type
Mammalian, Feliformia.

Habitat
Catmon geographical distribution is quite widespread, though there are equatorial clusters, and they do seem to prefer jungle environs. They are most frequently encountered in humid forestland though are highly adaptable and will make their dens at elevation as well as coastal areas if pushed out due to overpopulation, predation or food scarcity.

Physiology
The catmon has been described as having a head like a mongoose, and the form of a cat. It is notably larger than a cat of the domestic variety, and perhaps closer in height and weight to Earth's leptailurus serval, with a length of approximately 140cm (inclusive of tail) and weighing on average in excess of 20lbs (male specimen). It has large, rounded ears and wide eyes with contracting slits as pupils. They are robust, rusty in colour and many of the catmon's physical features suggest early adaptation to climbing. Their claws are semi-retractable but with semiplantigrade feet, which allows the animal to switch easily from arboreal and terrestrial movement with ease.

Behaviour
Catmons are considered to be crepuscular, meaning they are most active during the periods of dusk and dawn. They are predominantly solitary animals but have been observed socialising in groups during certain seasons. Once mature, females will move away from their mother and littermates in search of a territory of their own, and a place to dig their own den. Once the perfect spot is selected, the process of creating the multi-chambered, underground shelter begins, and can take up to six weeks to complete. This is where the female will sleep, eat and birth her own litters for the rest of her life. Males tend to move further afield following maturity, and can travel hundreds of kilometers in their lifetimes. Gestation period for a catmon has been observed to be approximately 70 standard Kerelian days, litters will number anywhere between 1-4 "cubs", and young are fully weened within six months.

Hunting is a solitary event. Catmons are carnivorous, but are opportunistic feeders, and so they will sometimes supplement their diets with sweet nuts and the larger, winged insects that are so numerous in their jungle habitat. They have been known to pull their meals up trees and will aggressively respond to intrusion.

Other notes
They will show aggression when cornered, or when their food source or "cubs" are threatened. There is a potential for domestication, but at this juncture, even with their food opportunism and adaptability, it would be considered an unkindness to remove them from their natural habitat.