Caitian: Difference between revisions

The Caitian government is based upon a system of clans, each led by its oldest member. The clans are dispersed across the homeworld. Meetings are held in chambers located in the major cities worldwide, and each clan leader attends debates that are held to decide the way forward in global or local matters.

==Description==

Caitians are [[MA:Felinoid|felinoid]] (feline [[MA:Humanoid|humanoid]]) species, and as such have cat-like features, including long manes and tails. Their bodies are covered in thick fur, which can vary in colour from dark brown to tan. Rarely, a Caitian is born with entirely black fur, and a black mane. This is considered to be highly attractive and exotic by other members of the species. On average they can reach heights of 1.6 meters, and weigh 76kg. Their life-span is approximately 115 years.

There are few notable Caitian legends, other than that of the White Caitian. No Caitians have been born with white fur in recorded history, and while it is possible the genetic likelihood is infinitessimally small. Stories and books about the White Caitian are now available within the Federation database, and are read to children on Cait as bedtime stories.

==Society==

In the pre-civilized stages of their development, Caitians were a hunting people who lived within the forests of their homeworld in small tribes. Their tribal nature remained even after their civilization was born, and grew into a system of ranches, which made use of domesticated wildlife. Eventually, tribes were amalgamated into clans, that spanned a number of ranches, and so were born early Caitian towns. The need for hunting was now gone, although families still engage in ritual hunts to remind them of their feral origins.

The Caitian people have a reputation [[MA:United Federation of Planets|Federation]]-wide for the co-operative approach to their relationships with other member worlds, and their service within [[MA:Starfleet|Starfleet]]. To a Caitian, loyalty is something to be highly prized, either in regard to an organisation or a particular individual. This has evolved from their clan-based society, in which loyalty plays a big part due to physical dispersion across the Caitian landscape.

===Art===

The most prominent form of art in Caitian culture is sculpture. Caitians are a sensual people who particularly enjoy the stimulation of their eyesight and sense of smell, and as such physical art is considered to be the pinnacle of aesthetic pleasure. Other forms of art are considered little more than a passtime. Dance, for instance, is considered to be more of a sport by Caitians, and music is a valuable distraction, but little more.

===Language===

The Caitian language is made up mainly of silky vowel sounds, which are pronounced with a resonance of the tongue that strongly resembles purring. When speaking Federation Standard as a second language, Caitians will notably extend and roll 'r' sounds, and elongate 's' sounds. This may sound like purring and hissing respectively.

==Customs==  

===Bonding===

Once every six months, and three months after shedding, a Caitian female is fertile and ready to reproduce. At this time many Caitians go through a process referred to as ''bonding''. This process entails a physical and psychological bond governed by [[MA:hormone|hormones]] that leads to selecting a mate for life.

* In 2370 a party of Caitains visited [[MA:Deep Space 9|Deep Space Nine]] to witness the illumination of [http://memory-beta.wikia.com/wiki/The_Prodigal The Prodigal], the outermost [[Bajoran]] moon.

===Contributions to Starfleet===

Caitian Officers are found throughout [[MA:Starfleet|Starfleet]], in each of the different branches. However, the Caitians have made many notable contributions to [[MA:Starfleet|Starfleet]], including: