Biology and Appearance

They have fur covering their bodies that work just as well as clothes. Though they can wear clothes, then don't usually like to. Their ears are similar to cats ears, but often are 'hidden' in the fur on their heads. They can move their ears a little bit, but not as well as cats do. Their eyes have round pupils like humans, though the eyes tend more often to be green, blue, yellow, or brown than any other color. They do not have whiskers to help them sense things. Jellicles have two short "fangs" on the upper half of their teeth. Their hands are like human hands, except they can extend small claws where the fingernails would normally be and their fingertips usually in more like a point than rounded like human fingertips. The claws look nearly like fingernails, except that they are thicker and much stronger and can be extended a little.  Their feet look like human feet, but are different the same way the fingers are different. They have tails that starts off with having bone from the tailbone out about a little less than a foot, then it turns into cartiledge that allows them to control the tail with the muscles that surround the cartiledge.
(see art by Michaela or Ahdeya, or see art in the "art" section of this site for a better idea of what they look like.)

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The Jellicles 5 Senses

Sight -The Jellicles can see better in darker places, than humans, though not exactly as well as regular cats can.
Sound -Their hearing is better than humans, but not as good as regular cats.
Smell -Their sense of smell is just a little bit better than humans.
Touch -The tips of their fingers is a little more sensitive to the elements than humans. Everything else is the sam as humans.
Taste -Not much different than humans. Though they can eat things raw, they do tend to like their food better cooked.

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The Sixth Sense

The mystic cats have a "Sixth Sense".

Who can have the Sixth Sense?

The "Mystic Cats" are Tantomile, Coricopat, Cassandra, Deuteronomy, and to a limited, small degree Demeter. No other character can have this ability.

What they know and don't know:

The Sixth Sense is having the ability to get a feeling that something is wrong, or occasionally they can sense when someone is approaching. The mystic cats do not get this all the time. They do not know what exactly is wrong, nor do they know who is involved, nor where the "problem" is. Sometimes, if they concentrate, they will get a feeling or a "nudge" as to waht direction the "problem" is coming from. However, they will have to concentrate before they get a nudge...if they get one.

How is do the players know if the mystic cats can detect trouble?

To figure out if they detect something is wrong, then we'll go on the "honor system" and have the player roll a die or pick a card out of a deck. If it's an even number, then they can detect trouble. If it's an odd number, then they don't. Simple as that.

How to RP out the Sixth Sense

If the character senses that something is wrong then s/he will just get a feeling...nothing else. The character can choose to ignore the feeling, or s/he can concentrate and try to focus on trying to get a 'nudge' as to what direction the problem is coming from.
The Sixth Sense is a natural ability. It is not a magical power or a "special gift" in the sense that it is a power of some kind. It's not something the character can draw on or really control all that much except by focusing his/her mind. It is an extention of hisself/herself. For example, if someone trained all their life to sing, they still may not have a good singing voice. However, there are people out there who have never trained and have absolutely beautiful singing voices. It's one of their "special abilities" that is a natural extension of themselves. Some people have the ability to run very fast, others have the ability to add up sums in their head and never need a calculator.
The Sixth Sense doesn't hurt nor are there any repurcusions from use... with a couple of exceptions. If, for example, there are two or more "troubles" going on, and the character happens to sense more than one, the the character is going to be confused...especially if they get a "nudge" in more than one direction (This can be amusing and frustrating to rp out). Unless they are able to really focus their mind almost to the point of meditation, they won't figure it out (However, the more the character has this happen to them, the easier it would be to recognize what is happening). If the character is extrememly tired, s/he will not get a nudge because it is not possible to concentrate. If the character is very tense and/or worried in the first place, the character will get a minor headache. If the character is distracted, s/he may miss the 'feeling'. If it is the first time the character has ever gotten the feeling of the sixth sense, then they may be confused and get a little headache until they learn to focus their mind.

They can also detect when someone approaches, but not very often (especially since it's hard to rp that out unless arranged beforehand.) Basically with this, they get the feeling that someone is behind them or about to round a corner so that they stop before the two run into each other. Again, it's just a simple feeling...nothing more.

When do they not get the "Sixth Sense"?

If they are in a deep sleep or are unconcious by unnatural means (i.e.~ if they are drugged or knocked out by someone) then they will get no 'feeling'. If the 'trouble' is more than a block away, then they do not get any 'feeling'. If, however, trouble comes closer from a distance, they will get the very faintest of 'feeling' so faint they may not be aware of it. And as it comes closer, then the 'feeling' grows a little bit stronger. The 'feeling' is never alarming unless danger is right on top of them...and this depends again on if they rolled the even or odd number.

How is Demeter different?

Demeter's Sixth Sense is limited in that she rarely can detect if something is wrong. And she can detect only if Deuteronomy approaches. For Demeter, a player must choose only 1 or 2 numbers on the die. If that number is rolled, then she can sense a 'problem'. Otherwise, she cannot. If it is Macavity's presence, then go with the even/odd numbers chance. The rest of the descriptions for the Sixth Sense are the same.

What about kittens of those who have this ability?

Kittens may or may not get this ability from thier parents. At least one parent must have this ability in order to pass it on. To determine if the kitten gets this ability, then roll a dice. If it's an even number, the kitten gets the ability. If it's an odd number, then the kitten doesn't. The ability does not appear until the kitten has reached pueberty. Only one kitten per litter may get the Sixth Sense. Even then, it may be the full format, or the limited format (such as what Demeter has).

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Kittens, Pregnancy, and Ageing

Pregnancy:

The Jellicles gestation period is approximately 4 months.

Weaning:

Jellicle kittens can be weaned by 8 months.

 

Talking:

Jellicle kittens can begin to talk at one year of age and become much more fluent by age two.

 

Walking:

Jellicle kittens can begin to walk at 9 months and become efficient at it by 12 months.

 

Growth:

Jellicle kittens grow twice as fast as humans until they reach age 10/20. By their second year, they are equivalent to approximately a 4 year old human. By year 5 they are equivalent to a 10 year old human. By year 7 they are equivalent to a 14 year old human. By year 10, they are equivalent to a 20 year old human.

Jellicles grow twice as fast as humans until they are 20. This means that it takes them 10 years to mature instead of 18-20 like humans do. After age 20, their growth rate is the same as humans but their age will essentially remain 10 years older. They can live up to approximately 70 years though some may grow older if given the right situations in life.

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Heat and Mates

Just as human females have their menstruation period once a month, Jellicle queens go into heat once a month. However, it is not nearly as strong as a normal cats "heat". It merely heightens the queens sexual drive a little bit and may make the queens a little moody sometimes. Toms don't always detect a queens heat, and if they do, they need to be practically standing right next to the queen. Also, it is only during this week of 'heat' that queens can conceive. Teen queens go into their first heat by around the age of 18 or so (Jellicle years). It is highly unlikely that they would get pregnant with their very first heat as their bodies are still going through some changes. Elder queens go through 'menopause' by around the age of 50 or so. After that, they no longer go into heat and can no longer have kittens.

Kittens and Couples:
It's been mentioned that for real cats, it doesn't matter the age, but for humans it does matter when it comes to couples. The general acceptance for couples at a young age for humans is 18...at least in the US it is and since that is what I'm familiar with, I'll use that. Many teens usually aren't allowed to date until age 15 or 16, and most of the time not allowed to marry until they are 18.

Real kittens are able to mate after they get their first heat which is about 7 or 8 months of age...and vets usually indicate that it wouldn't be healthy for young cats to mate until at least one year of age.

Considering the Jellicles are part cat and part human, and they grow twice as fast as humans until they reach age 10 Human years (20 Jellicle years), I tried to make a compromise between the two differences. The Jellicles are not to date or be in relationships if one or both of them are considered kittens. (There can be crushes though.) If one or both are teens, then they can start to have romantic relationships. They cannot officially date, however, until age 15 in Jellicle years (that would only be age 7 1/2 in human years). And they cannot marry until they are age 20 Jellicle years (age 10 in human years). Thus, it doesn't take as long in human years to mature, but it's about right in Jellicle years.

Jellicle/Human Couples:
Humans and Jellicles can have feelings for each other. They may be able to mate as well, though if they conceive, the birthing process may have problems. Due to this being an interesting storyline, I ask that only one or maybe two couples can be Jellicle/Human. If there are any more than that, it lessens the 'novelty idea' and loses the interest in it.

Same Sex Jellicle Couples:
You can RP a gay/lesbian relationship/feelings if you want. Just be aware that as far as the Jellicles are aware, they are the only ones around. Thus, there will be many Jellicles who feel that despite feelings that pull towards a homosexual (felinesexual?) tendancy, they well want male/female couples to procreate and have the Jellicles survive. Again, I ask that there be only one or maybe two gay/lesbian couples and no more.

Marriage/Mates/Lifemates:
When two Jellicles decide to "Marry" they commit themselves to be Lifemates to each other. "Mates" is when two Jellicles are boyfriend/girlfriend or engaged. "Lifemates" is when they commit themselves to be together for the rest of their lives. To become lifemates, the couple must openly commit themselves to each other in front of others as witnesses. Deuteronomy usually leads them through this. This is not the same as a big wedding ceremony. The focus is on the two committing themselves to each other, not on Deuteronomy committing them together. This mateship can be done at the Jellicle Ball or at anytime they want. If the need arises, the two Jellicles can commit themselves to each other in privacy. But it is a good idea to let Deuteronomy or some other elder know of their commitment to each other.

Mating:
Some of the more conservative Jellicles think mating should not be done until a commitment of lifemateship is done. But most of the Jellicles are of the opinion that as long as both parties are consenting, it is fine. Another thing most Jellicles agree on is that both Jellicles must be adults (age 20 Jellicles years and over). Each player needs to decide where their character stands. Obviously, Tugger is more open and about it, and Jennyanydots is much more conservative about it all. Remember, this is a mixed society of 'human' and 'cat' characteristics.

Please do not get too graphic when rping mating scenes. If both players want to get more graphic, you can play it out over pm. Thank you. Thank you.

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Relationships:

This shows who we know is related to whom at the time of the fanfic. Those not listed as related, then the players can decide later on to reveal somehow a relation to another...perhaps by having a "sense" or "feeling" that they are related.

-Bombalurina and Demeter are sisters
-Coricopat and Tantomile are twins
-Mungojerrie and Rumpleteazer are best friends at the time of the fanfic
-Victor and Victoria are brother and sister
-Carbucketty, Pouncival, and Tumblebrutus are brothers
-Sillabub and Jemima are sisters
-Mistoffelees and Quaxo are brothers
-Munkustrap and Tugger are brothers

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Language:

The Jellicles have a language of their own (called Jellicese) which is much more difficult to speak than English, which is the other primary language they know. The only human who has come close to being able to speak Jellicese is Lloyd.