#largest cat domestic

[favesblog]

it... it is a cat.

Imagine hearing this behind the bush and you thought its a cat 💀💀

[lockea]

I've been seeing a lot of Discourse around outdoor cats that talks past one of the biggest problems addressing community cats/outdoor working cats so I thought I'd chime in with my two cents.

Many arguments I see just... don't think about the cats at all? Or don't consider the logistics of actually addressing the feral cat problem in a humane way. It's always about how outdoor cats shouldn't be outdoors, which is neither realistic nor helpful.

I used to volunteer at an municipal animal shelter in the USA that had a TNR program (Trap, Neuter, Return) and also adopted out community cats to local farms and businesses. Here's my side of the story.

"Your cat doesn't need to be outside" -- Yes, correct. Your domesticated (non-feral) house cat does not need to go outside at all. They can have a fully actualized life safely indoors. When I see this argument, proponents of indoor only cats are correct in most or all their arguments regarding this.

"Outdoor cats are the largest invasive species in the world, and decimate bird populations." -- This is also correct, and part of the reason why you can help by bringing your house cat indoors. Cats are the largest invasive species. Spay and Neuter your cats, bring them inside, and socialize them so they don't become feral.

"TNR doesn't work." -- False. Whether we like it or not, feral cats exist. We have two methods by which we can address the feral cat population -- decimating them (humanely euthanizing the whole colony) or TNR. For a long time, euthanasia was the preferred way to address the feral cat problem. Afterall, if the cats aren't there, doesn't that save the local wildlife population?

Except that we found, studying these colonies, that when a colony is wiped out, the cats of another colony will spread into their territory and continue to have kittens and the population of feral cats is neither controlled nor diminished.

Hence, TNR. What we found performing TNR on cat colonies was that this controlled the population of the colonies, allowing them to stay in their territory, which kept other colonies from spreading (especially colonies we hadn't performed TNR on yet). We at the shelter felt this was the most humane way to control the feral cat population and safely deflate their existence without dealing with the population blooms that euthanasia caused.

"What about kittens?" -- Kittens from these colonies were brought into the shelter, socialized, and fostered out until they could be adopted. Some of these semi-feral kittens needed special homes to be adopted into, but this was the best quality of life for these cats.

"What about cats that get missed during TNR?" -- We would return to the colony several times over a period of several years to perform TNR on the same colony. We mark cats that have been neutered by clipping their ear (this is done humanely, but is the most reliable way to tell if a cat has been neutered so the poor thing doesn't have to have surgery 3-4 times in their life). Also, during the TNR process the cats would be vaccinated to ensure disease did not spread from the colony (i.e. rabies). Still, even getting 60% of the colony TNR'd would dramatically reduce the number of kittens being added to the colony each year. This controlled the population by allowing the territory to naturally deflate in size over time, buying us time to address the larger feral cat problem.

"What if the colony was in an unsafe location?" -- There were two ways we addressed unsafe colony locations -- remember, we know that when the colony is removed, a new colony will move into its place, so we tried not to move the colony unless we really felt the cats or the public was unsafe -- one was to move the whole colony to a new location. Preferably someplace like a warehouse where we have an agreement with the owners of the warehouse. Some of the cats were even relocated to shelter grounds as our community cats. If the colony was small enough we would bring them into our Feral Cats room and adopt them out as community cats.

"What is a community cat?" -- The way the program worked, was that anyone who needed a working cat could apply to the program. These were often rural farmers or businesses with warehouses that needed rodent protection. We trained the farmers and businesses on how to acclimatize the cats to their new home, and as part of the agreement, they had to care for the cats (veterinary care, vaccinations, food and water). This gave businesses and farms an alternative to expensive and environmentally unfriendly rodent control, and also gave these feral cats good places to live out their natural lives.

"Can't you just adopt out feral cats?" -- No. Cats that have not been socialized around humans as kittens, or who have several generations of feral cat in them could not interact with humans in a way that did not cause them undue stress. This was not a humane way to handle feral cats. However, when a cat was brought into the feral cat room, they would be monitored for up to a week. If the cat displayed signs of being semi-social or fully social (hanging out outside of their den, allowing staff to pet them, showing interest in staff in the room), then we would either move the cat into the adoption room or place them in foster to be socialized before adoption. Feral cats who displayed signs of being able to live full and healthy lives with human companions were NOT adopted out as community cats. We also observed this behavior during TNRs and would do the same for those cats too.

"But aren't cats bad hunters?" -- Compared to other species, cats are not the most effective form of rodent control. This is true. However, you have to understand that feral cats exist. There is no "undo" button we can push to stop them from existing. We have to deal with the problem we have right now, which is to safely and humanely decrease the number of feral cats in our communities. And yes, we do that by using cats as rodent control in the community.

"What can I do?" -- Stop saying community cats shouldn't exist. That's not helpful and doesn't solve the problem we have. Bring your cat indoors. Spay and neuter your cats. Adopt from shelters. Volunteer with a TNR team. Support TNR efforts in your community. Recognize that those of us actively dealing with the community/feral problem are trying to do what is in the best interest of our communities and the animals we love. We aren't sitting over here saying these cats should exist -- a feral cat will not have the same quality of life as one that is indoors with a family -- but we have to address the problem in practical terms. We don't have the moral high ground to just do nothing while pontificating solutions that have no basis in actuality.

And yes, it's okay to celebrate community cats. If your local farm has a couple of working cats, that means that farm is helping participate in the safe deflation of the feral cat population. Don't shame a farm or business for using community cats. We're all doing the best we can to solve the problem that we have.

[rjzimmerman]

Excerpt from this story from National Geographic. All photographs byJoel Sartore:

CARACAL | CARACAL CARACAL Consummate predators, some small wildcats can take down larger prey. The caracal of Asia and Africa is less than two feet tall but has been filmed leaping over nine-foot fences to prey on sheep. PHOTOGRAPHED AT COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, OHIO

PALLAS'S | CATOTOCOLOBUS MANUL A famously grumpy expression made this Central Asian species an Internet star. Conservationists hope the cat’s celebrity will help save its habitat from encroaching farms and other threats. PHOTOGRAPHED AT COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, OHIO

IBERIAN LYNX | LYNX PARDINUS One of the world’s rarest cats, the Iberian lynx is slowly increasing in number as scientists release captive-raised cats and boost populations of rabbits, the lynx’s staple food. PHOTOGRAPHED AT MADRID ZOO AND AQUARIUM, SPAIN

FISHING CAT | PRIONAILURUS VIVERRINUS The cat may look peculiar, but it’s perfectly adapted to its lifestyle: Big eyes help snare prey underwater, double-coated fur keeps out the wet, and partially webbed feet and a muscular, rudderlike tail aid in swimming. PHOTOGRAPHED AT POINT DEFIANCE ZOO AND AQUARIUM IN TACOMA, WASHINGTON

EURASIAN LYNX | LYNX LYNX The largest of the four lynx species, the Eurasian lynx also has a huge range, including most of Europe and parts of Central Asia and Russia. Unlike many other small cats, its population is stable and threats are relatively low—although some isolated subgroups are critically endangered. PHOTOGRAPHED AT COLUMBUS ZOO AND AQUARIUM, OHIO

JAGUARUNDI | SHERPAILURUS YAGOUAROUNDI With long, squat bodies and tiny ears, jaguarundis are otterlike in appearance. Thanks to their huge range—parts of Mexico, Central America, and South America—and lack of widespread hunting, the cat is considered a species of least concern. PHOTOGRAPHED AT BEAR CREEK FELINE CENTER, FLORIDA

LEOPARD CAT | PRIONAILURUS BENGALENSIS. PHOTOGRAPHED AT ANDERSON, INDIANA

RUSTY-SPOTTED CAT | PRIONAILURUS RUBIGINOSUS The smallest of the small cats, the rusty-spotted cat, a native of India and Sri Lanka, can weigh as little as two pounds. Not much is known about the speckled feline, but destruction of habitat, hunting, and hybridizing with domestic cats are threats. PHOTOGRAPHED AT EXMOOR ZOO, ENGLAND

AFRICAN GOLDEN CAT | CARACAL AURATA Inhabiting the rain forests of West and Central Africa, this species is threatened by forest loss and bush-meat hunters. This seven-year-old male, Tigri, is likely the only cat of its kind in captivity. PHOTOGRAPHED AT PARC ASSANGO, LIBREVILLE, GABON

SAND CAT | FELIS MARGARITA. PHOTOGRAPHED AT CHATTANOOGA ZOO, TENNESSEE

CANADA LYNX | LYNX CANADENSIS Like the Iberian lynx, the Canada lynx is a specialist hunter, preying almost exclusively on snowshoe hare. The North American species has giant paws that help it run through deep snow after prey. PHOTOGRAPHED AT POINT DEFIANCE ZOO AND AQUARIUM, WASHINGTON

MARGAY | LEOPARDUS WIEDII. PHOTOGRAPHED AT CINCINNATI ZOO AND BOTANICAL GARDEN, OHIO

SERVAL | LEPTAILURUS SERVAL. PHOTOGRAPHED AT FORT WORTH ZOO, TEXAS

[demonic0angel]

Animal AU (click for clarity)

CW: blood and creepy stuff in the description

If I have to color Dani one more time, I’m going to riot 😭

Notes below: (very long and detailed)

+ Jazz is a melanistic gray wolf, Danny is an albino mule deer, Dan is a king cobra, Dani is a peregrine falcon. Some of these ideas are taken from my dp royal court ideas.

I associate Jazz with wolves and canines. She is very loyal and protective, which I think would be best associated with canines. I usually give her the largest animals possible (because of her height), and gray wolves are the largest of all wolves. She is melanistic due to the fact that I like her color palette of black and turquoise. It also gives her a special connection to Danny that I do on purpose where they are black and white.

Dan is associated with cold blooded animals in my mind, cold in demeanor, vicious, and slippery. He is a king cobra because king cobras are the largest of all venomous snakes. They are also not true cobras, which adds a nice connection to Dan as being the most different out of all of the halfas. Surprisingly, king cobras are rather friendly to humans, which might be because of how smart they are.

I associate Dani with fast and speedy animals, so I often give her the fastest animals I can find lmao. Peregrine falcons are the fastest birds in the world, due to their diving speeds. I like how Dani is considered a bird because she is very free-spirited and flighty in my mind. I love it because I think she’d be really independent and would love the sky. Peregrine falcons also mostly eat birds, just like how king cobras eat other snakes, so that’s pretty cool too.

Danny is both kingly and creepy, which describes deer very well. Mule deer are very common in the US, and you might recognize them due to the fact that the Great Prince of the Forest (in Bambi) is inspired by a mule deer. Deer are fascinating creatures because there have been many, many folklores and myths about them, but none can compare to the real facts. Deer are very heavily affected by diseases such as chronic wasting disease, which can cause very strange behaviors. They get up after death, they walk off after being shot at or run over, they kill themselves repeatedly, they eat other animals, and they walk on their hind legs. All in all, while deer are very majestic and beautiful, they are also very, very freaky. There is a sense of poetry in how they’re hunted, which also applies to Danny. I think deer describes him very well :)

+ Meanwhile, the Batkids are a wild assortment of animals. Dick is a white throated needletail, Jason is an argali sheep, Cass is a black footed cat, Tim is a red fox, Stephanie is a dingo, Duke is an African lion, and Damian is a domestic cat (specifically a tuxedo cat).

Dick was always meant to be a bird. However, I wanted him to be fast, but not a bird of prey (which are usually the top 5 fastest birds). So I chose a white throated needletail for him, who are believed to be the fastest (while flying straight). They’re very elusive and photos are rare :( they are, however, very round and cute, and they even have a patch of shiny blue feathers on their wings, as well as v-shaped white spots, similar to his Nightwing suit!

Jason is an argali sheep because I associate him with lambs and rams. Mostly because sheep and lambs are associated with God and religious sacrifices (*cough cough* Jason dying), as well as innocence, docility, and obedience. Jason, as Red Hood, defies the meaning and memories of his past life as Robin, so I like the idea of him being a “black sheep” and defying those expectations of him as well. Argali sheep are known to have beautiful horns, are a species of wild sheep that live in mountains, and are also the largest of wild sheep.

Cass is a black footed cat because I feel like she’s very feline in demeanor, and black footed cats are one of the best hunters in the animal kingdom, with an over 60% chance of having a successful kill. (I think African wild dogs are the highest with 75-85%. It’s hard in the animal kingdom.) I also think it’s very cute of her to be so small but so deadly.

Tim is a red fox because of his cleverness and smarts. Red foxes are common in America and are usually hunted because people thought that foxes killed their livestock and dug up corpses. Tim is either really loved or really hated, so I feel like a red fox both symbolizes his irl status and his intelligence in the comics.

Stephanie is a dingo for no particular reason. However, they are social creatures and loved due to the fact that they have a history with humans. They’re golden colored and Stephanie gave off the vibes of an Australian, I literally cannot explain myself.

Duke is a lion for the same reasons: none in particular. However, lions are noble and considered very powerful. In my drawing of him, he is still a young adult, so his mane isn’t fully grown yet :3 he is 100% a normal lion tho!

Damian is a domestic cat for a few reasons. He is meant to be cute while the others are considerably scarier. There would also be a sense of irony bc I imagine that Talia is a big cat like a tiger or panther. However, cats are known as good hunters for a reason, and they have good instincts and can be just as loyal as dogs. As such, I think that he would be a regular kitty :3 other choices included him being a leopard cub, but it would be more funny if he was so small while everyone else is so big.

+ Something something, the two people who have had their deaths impact them the most and are often considered their parents’ greatest failures are prey animals that are usually hunted for sport….

+ Other small relationships between animal forms: the assassins are small cat forms. Dan being an animal not from the Americas, which also symbolizes him being out of place in the timeline. The Phantom family are purposefully made very different but also connected, examples being: a predator, a prey, a flying animal, and a cold blooded animal, etc. The Batfam being more random/less connected than the Phantom family due to their different backgrounds/lack of blood relation.

+ Their animal forms are also hint at the couples that I like, which is most obvious with Jason and Jazz lmaoooo. However, it is also a little noticeable in Tim and Dani (bird and fox), and definitely a little more obvious in Dan and Dick (snake and bird; please refer to my first piece of work with them tee hee). Danny’s is vague because I’m a multi-shipper with him, so he’s prey while most of everyone else are predator animals 💀

+ There are a few ideas in this (not counting the Pet AU): 1) Danny, Jazz, Dan, and Dani become companions and helpers to the Batfam, able to transform when necessary but also like spending time in their animal forms. In exchange, the Batfam help them with whatever problems they have and also give them sanctuary, 2) A regular animal-characteristics AU where everyone (or most of everyone, if humans exist) are some sort of animal hybrid creatures in the regular modern world, 3) The same as idea 2 but more Warrior Cats-esque where they’re way more animalistic, form packs, and live in less urban settings.

+ Yes, in his more humanoid form, Dan would have his legs replaced with a snake’s tail. I can’t decide between Dick and Dani having wings attached to their backs, or them having wings that connect to their arms.

+ Extras: Sam is a thoroughbred horse, Tucker is an American alligator, Valerie is a wolverine, and Wes is a swan. Bruce is a giant golden crowned flying fox, Alfred is an emperor penguin, and Barbara is a pony (but tbh, I’m open to suggestions).

[weirdtaxonomy]

The Olympic Cougar Project (a collaborative effort between feline conservation group Panthera and almost everyone tribe on the peninsula) have confirmed the death of two wild cougars. One by Port Angeles and one by Blynn. These towns are 1-2 hours away from the Cat Sanctuary.

Please please please PLEASE keep your cats indoors right now. H5N1 (HPAI, highly pathogenic avian influenza) is zoonotic to cats, and it is just as deadly for them. Additionally, if you have a way to keep your shoes away from your cat(s), or sanitize them after being out in the world (bleach footbath for example), a little biosecurity wouldn't hurt.

A sanctuary in Washington just lost 20 of their rescue big cats to this virus. It is not getting less dangerous for your cats this year than it was last.

It has ALWAYS been dangerous to let house cats free roam without supervision, but it's becoming dangerous right now to be taking them on leashes if they will have access to ground birds have recently been on, or water they have accessed. Catios might be okay, if they're covered and well-screened, but I would take a moment to subscribe to your local state ag department's email or phone alerts for HPAI in your area, and react accordingly even for covered outdoor areas.

Keep the Kitties Safe!

[bonefall]

Do you know what the other animals that were trapped in cages are? I think there's a zebra, gray wolf and honey badger but I'm not sure

I caught five unique animals in the passage, lemmie share all of my guesses;

Easy; giraffe! Though I wouldn't really describe them as "yellow," WC has a habit of "cartoonifying" certain popular animals so this is definitely a giraffe (such as the tongue-slinging frogs in ShadowClan, real frogs do not have chameleon tongues)

The next one, the zebra, is also pretty apparent;

For those who didn't know, zebras are smaller than domestic horses! That's correct!

The one that stumps me the most is definitely this "weaselbadger" animal, but I'm fairly certain it's a honey badger yeah.

As opposed to a European badger like the cats are used to, a honey badger would look a lot thinner and more "weasel-like." They also have a solid white stripe that separates their black bottoms from their ticked top-fur, and I can't think of any other animal that has a separated fur color in that way.

There's also a very large snake of some kind, "coiled" around a branch. So, something arboreal.

While it's definitely a constricting snake, there isn't enough description about its color or behavior to tell if it's a boa or a python, nor what species it is. Since the largest reptile Ivypool naturally encounters would be adders, I also can't say if the "snake bigger than she could ever imagine" is actually that big.

If I'm making a shot in the dark though, the "small eyes" would make me guess it's a particularly old reticulated python. They're also common pet snakes, so it wouldn't be out of place at a skeevy ""Animal Sanctuary"" like this book is portraying.

(SIDE NOTE; I am satisfied with the portrayal of this particular zoo, which is clearly in someone's backyard and made from ramshackle planks and chainlink. I stand firmly against broad, untargeted "zoo slander" but I think the team did a good job in portraying this place as some crank's private collection.)

This next one, the "furry dog," is described with shaggy fur around its neck and shoulders, and then explicitly called gray when it attacks the human. Simple; that is a gray wolf.

While it's definitely a wolf, I'd need to see them describe the howl to tell you if it's Eurasian or American. American wolves lean harder on the first syllable and the call is more "shouty", while Eurasian wolves have a longer, more "melodious" songlike howl.

As for the "mane," that's a trait wolves can have. Some have larger neck ruffs than others-- usually influenced by climate. I don't know enough about wolves to tell you if that's purely genetic, or if it's influenced by the fact this individual lives in a place where it needs to develop a particularly thick winter coat.

(Also, funfact; the extinct British wolf was actually one of the largest gray wolf subspecies ever known. RIP British wolves)

And, lastly, of course, is the Scottish Wildcat.

Exactly as the book goes on to describe, they have blunt, bushy tails, green eyes, and tabby coats. They look like very large domestic cats!

[lila-lou]

✨Taking her in - Pt. 14✨

Summary: After Dean Winchester saves your life, he brings you into the safety of the bunker. As you grow older and stronger, Dean refuses to let you join the hunts, his overprotective behavior intensifying. But beneath his fierce protectiveness lies something darker—conflicted feelings he can’t face. As your 18th birthday approaches, Dean struggles to keep control, torn between his duty to protect you and emotions he’s buried for too long.

Pairing: Dean x Reader

Warnings: HUGE Age Gap, Immoral, Language, Angst, Fluff

Word Count: 5682

A/N: English isn’t my first language, please be lenient. 💜

As Dean walked toward the kitchen, his bag slung over his shoulder, he found Sam leaning against the counter, sipping from a mug. Cas and Jack were already in the garage, waiting, but Sam hadn’t moved yet. When Sam spotted Dean, he raised an eyebrow, clearly curious about how your conversation—or what he assumed was a conversation—had gone.

“So", Sam asked, his voice casual but laced with curiosity, “how’d she take it?”.

Dean’s expression shifted for a second, his usual cocky smirk slipping into place. He couldn’t help but think back to the moments you had just shared in your room, the intimacy between you, and how you had responded to him. His thoughts briefly wandered to how well you'd "taken it", and he almost chuckled at the double meaning that flashed in his mind.

"She… took it… well", Dean replied, smirking a little as he slung his bag onto the floor, leaning against the counter across from Sam.

Sam raised an eyebrow, noticing the smirk but not quite catching the full implication. "Really? So, no more arguments about the hunt?".

Dean shook his head, still grinning. "Nah, she's good. We worked it out". His tone remained casual, but his mind couldn’t help replaying what had happened between you two. He rubbed the back of his neck, trying to stay focused.

Sam gave Dean a knowing look, clearly suspecting there was more going on but not pressing the issue. "Good. I was worried you were gonna keep pushing her away".

Dean exhaled, his smirk softening as he grew more serious. "Yeah, I know. I can't keep treating her like she's fragile. She’s stronger than I give her credit for". He glanced at his brother, and there was a silent understanding between them.

"Glad you finally get that", Sam said with a small smile. "She’s part of the team".

Dean nodded. "Yeah, she is". But even as he said it, his mind still flickered back to the moments in your room. He knew you were more than just a teammate now, but that was a conversation for another time.

"Let’s get going", Dean said, pushing off from the counter and heading toward the garage. "Don’t want Cas and Jack thinking we’re dragging our feet".

Sam followed, and though the conversation had turned back to the hunt, Dean’s thoughts remained on you—on how this hunt was just the start of whatever was coming next for both of you.

A few minutes later, you found yourself in the backseat of the Impala, sandwiched between Cas and Jack. Dean and Sam were up front, with Dean driving, and you could see him glancing in the rearview mirror every so often, checking on you. Each time he looked, a little smile tugged at the corner of his lips, though he tried to hide it.

Jack, sitting to your right, was enthusiastically explaining the different cat breeds to you, his eyes wide with excitement as he described the characteristics of each one. "And did you know that Maine Coons are one of the largest domesticated cats? They can weigh up to 18 pounds!", Jack said, his voice filled with awe as he launched into more fun facts.

Dean, overhearing Jack's passionate explanation, couldn’t suppress the chuckle that escaped him. His eyes flicked back to you, amusement clear on his face. "Jack, I’m not sure she signed up for a full lesson on cat breeds", he said, his voice teasing but warm.

You smiled, half-listening to Jack’s enthusiastic commentary while feeling the steady presence of Cas on your left. Cas, for his part, seemed content to sit quietly, though he nodded along now and then as if he, too, was learning about cats for the first time.

"It's okay", you said with a grin, glancing at Dean through the rearview mirror. "I like learning new things". Your response made Dean’s smirk widen, and he shook his head slightly, his eyes crinkling at the edges in amusement.

Jack beamed at your response, continuing to explain more about cats. “And Siamese cats are really vocal. They’ll follow you around the house, meowing and making all kinds of sounds”.

Dean chuckled again, giving a playful roll of his eyes as he focused back on the road. "Well, I guess Jack’s got the backseat entertainment covered".

Sam, sitting in the passenger seat, glanced back with a small smile. "It's good to know Jack's well-versed in cat trivia. Could come in handy on a hunt, right?".

"Hey, you never know", Dean added, smirking. "Maybe we’ll run into some supernatural feline, and Jack’ll save the day".

Dean had done the impossible—driving the entire way without stopping for the night. The hours had passed with a mix of conversation, laughter, and the occasional silence as the weight of the upcoming hunt settled in. But now, as the Impala pulled into the parking lot of a small, rundown motel in the town where everything had been going crazy, you felt a deep sense of relief wash over you.

As soon as the car came to a stop, you exhaled a long breath, feeling the tension leave your body. You stretched your arms above your head, your muscles tight from sitting in the backseat for so long. Your feet touched solid ground for the first time in hours, and the stretch felt heavenly. You could hear a few satisfying pops in your back as you twisted your torso, working out the stiffness.

“Finally”, you muttered, glancing around the small, dimly lit parking lot. The air was cooler than it had been during the drive, and you inhaled deeply, letting the coolness wake you up.

Dean climbed out of the driver’s seat, stretching his arms above his head with a loud groan. “Man, I love driving, but that was a long haul”, he said, rolling his shoulders. He glanced over at you, a teasing grin on his face. “How you holding up?”.

“Better now that we’re not stuck in that backseat”, you replied, shooting him a playful glare as you reached back to grab your bag from the Impala.

Sam stretched too as he stepped out of the Impala, rolling his shoulders and looking toward the dimly lit motel office. “I’ll go get us checked in”, he said, already heading toward the entrance. “You guys hang tight for a minute.” His tone was all business, but there was a hint of relief on his face too. The long drive had worn on everyone.

As Sam disappeared into the office, Dean gave you a knowing look, his smirk still playing on his lips. “Guess that means we’ve got a few minutes to ourselves”. He grabbed his duffel bag from the trunk, slinging it over his shoulder.

You rolled your eyes at him, but couldn’t help the smile tugging at your lips. “A few minutes to stretch, maybe. I can still feel that backseat”.

Dean chuckled. “Hey, could’ve been worse. At least Jack kept things… educational with his cat trivia”.

Speaking of Jack, he and Cas were standing a few feet away. Jack looked curiously around the parking lot, as if every detail of this run-down place fascinated him. Cas stood stoically beside him, his usual expression unreadable, though there was a certain calmness about him.

Jack glanced over at you with a bright smile. “So, what’s the plan after we rest? Do we jump right into the hunt, or gather more information first?”.

Dean shrugged, glancing over his shoulder toward the office, waiting for Sam. “We’ll see what intel Sam’s got lined up. But yeah, we’ll probably get moving fast. This town’s got a lot going on”.

You shivered slightly at the mention of the hunt, but it wasn’t from fear—it was anticipation. There was something exciting about that work, even with the danger that came with it. Still, the motel’s worn-down exterior didn’t exactly inspire comfort. You hoped the beds inside were at least half decent after the long drive.

A few moments later, Sam reappeared from the office, holding two keycards. “Alright, we’re set”, he said, handing one card to Dean. “Two rooms. Cas, Jack, you’re with me”.

You bit your lip, trying to suppress the rush of excitement that fluttered in your chest when Sam handed Dean the key. The knowledge that you and Dean would have a room to yourselves for the night sent your mind racing, especially after everything that had happened between you two lately. Dean caught the shift in your expression, his green eyes glinting with amusement as if he could read your thoughts.

“Something on your mind?”, Dean teased, raising an eyebrow as he swung his duffel bag over his shoulder.

You quickly composed yourself, rolling your eyes playfully to deflect the heat rising to your cheeks. “Just hoping the bed’s not as lumpy as this parking lot looks”, you retorted, but the smile tugging at your lips gave away your true thoughts.

Dean chuckled softly, clearly enjoying your reaction. “Guess we’ll find out soon enough”, he said with a wink before turning to lead the way toward your room.

Cas and Jack nodded their goodnights as they followed Sam toward their room, Jack still peppering Cas with questions about the town and the hunt. You trailed behind Dean, your thoughts bouncing between the anticipation of the hunt tomorrow and the more immediate prospect of having some time alone with him tonight.

Dean unlocked the door and pushed it open. The room was simple—typical motel fare with an old, faded bedspread, a small TV mounted on the wall, and a worn-out chair in the corner. But it was clean enough, and the bed, while not luxurious, looked inviting after hours spent in the Impala.

Dean dropped his bag by the door and surveyed the room with a satisfied nod. “Not bad”, he said. “Could be worse. At least it doesn’t smell like old socks”.

You let out a small laugh, tossing your own bag onto the chair.

Dean stretched his arms over his head again, his muscles flexing beneath his shirt as he let out a groan of relief. His eyes caught yours, and the playful smirk returned to his lips. “So… you still worried about that bed, or you think it’ll do?”.

You shot him a teasing glance, walking past him toward the bed. “Guess we’ll see”, you said, sitting down and testing the mattress with a bounce. “Not bad,” you murmured, your voice laced with suggestion as you met his gaze again.

Dean’s smirk widened as he stepped closer. “Good to know”, he muttered, his voice dropping slightly.

As he approached, you felt your heartbeat quicken, the energy between you two unmistakable. You and Dean had been dancing around this tension for what felt like forever, and now, with no distractions or interruptions, the air was charged with possibility.

Dean stopped just in front of you, his fingers brushing your knee lightly, the contact sending a spark through you. His voice was soft, teasing but with an edge of seriousness. “You good?”, he asked, his eyes searching yours for a moment of reassurance.

You nodded, biting your lip again, this time unable to hide the smile that crept onto your face. “Yeah”, you whispered, your voice breathy with anticipation. “I’m good”.

Dean grinned and, without breaking eye contact, leaned down, capturing your lips in a slow, tender kiss.

Eventually, Dean pulled back from the kiss, the warmth of his lips leaving you longing for more. You could feel the charge between you, but instead of deepening the moment, he exhaled and let himself sink down beside you on the bed. He stretched out, his hand running over his face as he let out a tired groan. You watched him in silence for a moment, feeling a flicker of disappointment.

He hadn’t even undressed, still fully in his jeans and boots, and you knew why. Dean was always on edge during hunts, constantly prepared for whatever might come his way. He wouldn’t let his guard down, not even for a night in a safe motel room.

You sat there for a moment, glancing at him, a slight frown tugging at the corners of your mouth. He must have sensed your gaze because, without moving much, he cracked one eye open and smirked.

“Sweetheart”, Dean muttered, his voice soft and amused but laced with exhaustion. “I just drove about 11 hours straight to get us to this shithole. My back hurts, and I’m tired as hell. I’m not twenty anymore”.

You couldn’t help but laugh softly, knowing he was right. His words were playful, but you could see the fatigue etched into his features. The trip had worn him down, and as much as he’d probably like to indulge you, he just didn’t have it in him tonight.

“Yeah, yeah”, you said, teasing but with a fond smile. “I guess you’re not as invincible as you think”.

Dean’s smirk widened just a bit, and he closed his eyes again, relaxing into the mattress. “Never said I was”, he mumbled. “But trust me, there’ll be time for… other things later”.

His promise hung in the air, and despite the weariness in his voice, it sent a shiver down your spine. You smiled to yourself, the tension easing as you lay back beside him. Even if tonight wasn’t what you had hoped, there was still a sense of comfort in just being near him.

Dean shifted slightly, draping his arm lazily over your waist, his thumb tracing small circles on your hip. "Get some rest, okay? Tomorrow's gonna be a hell of a day", he murmured, his voice already fading as sleep started to claim him.

You nodded, settling more into the bed beside him. You lay there for a while, listening to Dean’s breathing grow steady and slow as he drifted off to sleep. The room was quiet, save for the occasional hum of cars passing by outside and the rustle of fabric as you adjusted under the covers. The soft weight of Dean’s arm around your waist grounded you, a reminder of the closeness you shared, even in the stillness of the moment.

Despite the long drive, your mind was still buzzing, replaying the events of the past few days. Between the tension of the hunt and the growing connection between you and Dean, it was hard to quiet your thoughts. You glanced over at him, his face now relaxed and peaceful in sleep. The hard lines of his worry had softened, and for a moment, he looked younger—like the weight of the world had been lifted from his shoulders, if only for a few hours.

You smiled to yourself, feeling a sense of warmth and security just being beside him. Even though he was tired, his presence was always steady.

Eventually, the weariness from the long drive began to settle into your bones, and you let out a quiet sigh, finally allowing yourself to relax. You shifted slightly to get more comfortable, careful not to wake Dean, and closed your eyes.

The night passed in a blur of soft dreams and the comforting heat of Dean’s body next to yours. When you woke up, the faint light of dawn was just starting to creep through the thin curtains, casting a gentle glow over the room.

Dean was still asleep, his arm still resting around you, though a bit looser now. You stayed still for a moment, not wanting to disturb him, but eventually, the call of the day ahead began to pull you from the comfort of the bed.

Carefully, you slipped out from under Dean’s arm, his body shifting slightly but not waking. You grabbed some clothes from your bag and quietly headed toward the bathroom to freshen up. The cool water on your face helped clear the last remnants of sleep, and as you looked at yourself in the mirror, you felt a sense of resolve wash over you. The hunt ahead would be tough.

When you stepped back into the room, Dean was awake, sitting up in bed and rubbing his eyes. He gave you a groggy smile, his voice still thick with sleep as he muttered, “Mornin’, sunshine”.

You chuckled softly, walking over to the bed. “Morning. How’d you sleep?”.

Dean stretched, wincing slightly as his back cracked. “Like a rock. But man, I’m getting too old for these all-nighters”, he joked, though there was truth behind his words.

Dean’s smile faltered ever so slightly as he took in your appearance, his eyes tracing your features with a tenderness he rarely showed so openly. Your skin was glowing in the soft morning light, flawless and fresh without the need for makeup. Your hair, long and healthy, framed your face perfectly, and your lips, still slightly curved in a smile, were full and rosy. Even your voice, clear and steady so early in the morning, held a vibrancy that made you seem effortlessly full of life.

You didn’t even need coffee to function at this hour, the energy still buzzing inside. It was a quiet contrast to his own grogginess and the dull ache in his back that reminded him he´s getting old.

He could feel the shift in his mood, the weight of the years between you suddenly pressing on him.

The aches in his body that never quite went away, the lines etched into his face from years of battles fought and lost, and the exhaustion that came with a life lived in the shadows—they were all things he had learned to live with. But now, as he looked at you, glowing with energy and youth, that weight felt heavier than usual.

He couldn’t help but wonder what you saw in him. What could a woman like you—so full of life, with a future ahead of you—possibly want with someone like him, who’d already seen and lived more than most should in a lifetime? He wanted to push those thoughts away, but they gnawed at him, making his chest feel tight.

Dean’s smile faded slightly, though he tried to keep up the usual bravado. He leaned back against the headboard, running a hand through his tousled hair. His eyes, usually so full of mischief and confidence, were clouded with something else now—doubt, insecurity.

You, however, could sense something was off. Dean, always the one to hide his emotions behind jokes and smiles, wasn’t fooling you this time. The silence between you lingered just a little too long, and when you glanced at him again, you noticed the faraway look in his eyes.

“Dean?”, you asked softly, moving a little closer to him on the bed. “What’s going on?”.

Dean glanced at you, startled out of his thoughts, but he quickly masked it with a small, forced grin. “Nothin’, sweetheart. Just thinkin’”, he muttered, though the smile didn’t quite reach his eyes.

You frowned, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. “Come on, talk to me. What’s bothering you?”.

For a moment, he was quiet, as if weighing whether or not to share what was really on his mind. Finally, with a sigh, he spoke, his voice softer than usual, lacking its usual bravado.

“It’s just… look at you”, he said, his eyes searching yours. “You’re young, full of energy. You wake up like the world hasn’t knocked you down a dozen times. And me? I’m… I’m just tired. I feel like I’ve been through the wringer more times than I can count, and I’m starting to wonder what the hell you see in that”.

His words hung in the air, raw and vulnerable in a way Dean rarely allowed himself to be. He looked away again, not wanting to meet your eyes, as if expecting you to suddenly realize he was right.

Your heart clenched at hearing the doubt in his voice. You had always known Dean was hard on himself, that he carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, but hearing him express this kind of insecurity—especially about something as fundamental as your relationship—was new. And it hurt to think he didn’t see what you saw in him.

Without saying a word, you moved with a quiet determination. Gently, you pushed the blanket away from him and shifted to straddle his lap. Dean blinked, surprised by your sudden movement, but he didn’t protest. His hands instinctively rested on your hips as you settled onto him, but there was a hesitance in his touch, the vulnerability from his earlier words still lingering in the air.

You cupped his face in both of your hands, forcing him to look at you. His green eyes, usually so confident and steady, were searching yours for answers, for reassurance. You could see the doubt, the years of wear and tear etched into his soul, weighing him down more than any physical scars ever could.

For a moment, you didn’t speak. You simply held his face, your thumbs gently brushing along his stubbled jawline, grounding him in the present, in this moment. His hands tightened slightly on your hips, as if the warmth of your touch was the only thing anchoring him.

“Dean”, you whispered, your voice soft but filled with emotion. “You have no idea how much you mean to me, do you?”.

He opened his mouth to respond, but the words didn’t come. He wasn’t used to hearing this—wasn’t used to being the one who was taken care of, who was reassured. He’d spent so long being the protector, the one holding everything together, that he didn’t know how to let someone else carry the weight for him, even for a moment.

“You’re not just tired”, you continued, leaning in closer so that your foreheads were nearly touching. “You’ve been carrying the world on your shoulders for so long, and I know that. I see it. But you’re not alone anymore. You don’t have to do it all by yourself”.

Dean’s breath hitched, his eyes closing for a brief second as if your words were too much, too heavy for him to bear. He’d never been good at letting people in, at accepting help or love without feeling like it was temporary, like it could slip away at any moment.

“I’m here because I want to be”, you said, your voice steady and sure. “Not because I’m young or full of energy or any of that. I’m here because of who you are, Dean. You’ve been through hell, and you’re still standing. You’re strong, you’re caring, and you make me feel safe in a way no one else ever has. That’s what I see in you”.

His hands gripped your hips tighter, almost as if he was afraid to let go, afraid that you’d slip away if he didn’t hold on.

You held Dean’s face firmly between your hands, your voice soft but steady as you continued. “You are the most selfless and loving human being I’ve ever met, Dean. You’ve spent your entire life putting everyone else first, making sure the people you care about are safe—even when it meant sacrificing your own happiness, your own peace”.

His gaze remained locked on yours, but there was a vulnerability in his eyes now, a rawness that made your heart ache. He wasn’t used to hearing this. He wasn’t used to being seen in this light. For so long, Dean had carried the weight of the world on his shoulders, pushing his own needs aside for the sake of others. And now, it was clear he wasn’t sure how to accept the love and reassurance you were offering him.

You leaned in closer, pressing your forehead to his, your breaths mingling as you spoke softly. “You’re too hard on yourself, Dean. You always have been. You see the mistakes, the things you think you’ve done wrong, and you let them weigh you down. But that’s not what defines you”.

Dean’s jaw clenched, and you could see the battle going on inside him—the part of him that wanted to believe you, to let go of the self-doubt, and the part that had been conditioned to think he wasn’t enough.

“You’re more than the things you’ve done”, you whispered, your thumbs brushing along his jawline again, grounding him in the moment. “You’ve saved so many people, Dean. You’ve saved me. And you do it because you care. Because you love”.

His breath hitched again, and his eyes glistened slightly as he struggled to keep his emotions in check. Dean Winchester didn’t cry—he kept it all inside, locked up tight, where no one could see. But here, in this moment, you saw him. The real him. The man who had been through hell and back, but who still had so much love to give.

You took a deep breath, your thumbs still gently tracing the stubble along Dean’s jawline as you spoke again, your voice steady but filled with emotion. “Dean, I need you to stop focusing on that stupid age difference. That’s not what matters—not to me, not to anyone who knows you. There’s so much more that connects us, so much more between us that goes beyond something as simple as numbers”.

He swallowed hard, the vulnerability still palpable, but there was something else too—an understanding, a slow acceptance that maybe, just maybe, you were right.

“I know it’s hard”, you continued, your forehead still pressed lightly against his. “I know you’ve carried these doubts for a long time. But you’ve got to let them go. You’re not just some older guy, and I’m not just some young woman with her life ahead of her. We’re more than that. We’re more because we understand each other in a way most people never will”.

Dean closed his eyes briefly, his chest rising and falling with a heavy breath. He had never been one to easily let go of his doubts, of the fears that lingered deep inside him. But here, in this moment, with you sitting on his lap, your hands cupping his face and your words cutting through his defenses, he felt something shift.

“You make me feel… things I didn’t think I could feel anymore”, he admitted, his voice low and rough, as if the words were coming from a place deep inside him that he had long buried. “And that scares the hell outta me. Because you deserve… someone who can keep up with you".

“Dean, you are enough. Stop thinking like that. You don’t have to keep up with me—I’m not asking you to. We’re in this together, and I need you to see that. You’re exactly who I want, all of you”.

Years of self-doubt and carrying the weight of others had built walls around his heart, walls that were hard to tear down. He’d spent so long believing he wasn’t worthy of real happiness, of love, that it seemed almost impossible for him to truly accept it now.

“You don’t get it”, he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. “I’ve screwed up so many times, made so many mistakes. I’m not the guy who’s supposed to get the happy ending”.

You shook your head, refusing to let him retreat into those old doubts. “Everyone makes mistakes, Dean. You’ve been through more than anyone should have to go through, but that doesn’t define you. What defines you is how you keep fighting, how you keep protecting the people you love, no matter what. You’ve done that for everyone—especially for me”.

Dean swallowed hard, his grip on your hips tightening as if he was trying to hold on to the truth in your words. He didn’t speak, but the way he looked at you, with so much emotion, so much uncertainty, told you that he was listening.

“Let go of the idea that you don’t deserve this”, you urged, your voice gentle but filled with conviction. “You deserve happiness, Dean. You deserve love. And I’m here, right here, because I want to be. Not because you’re perfect or because you think you have to be something you’re not, but because I love you—exactly the way you are”.

Dean let out a shaky breath, his eyes closing for a moment as if he was trying to let your words sink in, trying to believe them. When he opened his eyes again, there was a flicker of something different—hope, maybe. Or at least the beginnings of it.

“I’m not used to this”, he muttered, his voice rough but honest. “I’m not used to… having someone like you. Someone who sees past all the crap and still—”. He stopped, as if he couldn’t quite bring himself to finish the sentence.

“Still loves you?”, you offered softly, a small smile tugging at your lips. “Because I do, Dean. I love you, and nothing you say is going to change that”.

Dean's breath hitched again, and for a moment, he just stared at you, his eyes wide with a mixture of surprise and disbelief. The weight of your words hung between you, thick and heavy with emotion, and you could see how deeply they were affecting him.

Before you could say anything else, Dean moved. His hands, which had been resting on your hips, slid up your back, pulling you close in one swift, almost desperate motion. The intensity in his eyes softened, and before you knew it, his lips were on yours.

The kiss was tender at first, almost hesitant, as if he was still testing the waters of allowing himself to be vulnerable with you. But it deepened quickly, the weight of everything unsaid and everything felt pouring into that moment. His lips moved against yours with a passion that was both gentle and overwhelming, his arms tightening around you as if he was afraid to let go.

You responded in kind, your fingers sliding into his hair as you kissed him back, the closeness between you feeling like the most natural thing in the world. There was no hesitation, no doubt in your mind—this was where you belonged, with him, no matter the struggles or the past.

Dean broke the kiss briefly, resting his forehead against yours, his breath ragged. "You don't know what you do to me", he whispered, his voice thick with emotion. "I don't deserve this—don't deserve you—but damn, I want it".

You smiled softly, your hand cupping his cheek as you looked into his eyes. "You deserve all of it, Dean. And I’m not going anywhere".

For the first time in a long time, Dean allowed himself to believe it—to believe that maybe, just maybe, he could have this. That he could be happy.

And with that thought, he kissed you again, his lips claiming yours with a new sense of purpose, as if he was finally letting himself fully feel what he had been holding back for so long. The kiss was filled with all the things he couldn't say out loud—the love, the fear, the hope—and you felt every bit of it in the way he held you close, the way he let his guard down just for you.

The kiss deepened, the weight of Dean’s arms around you grounding you completely. You felt safe, cherished, and for a moment, it was like the rest of the world didn’t exist. It was just the two of you, caught in this perfect, intimate bubble.

But the moment was short-lived.

A sharp knock at the door jolted you both out of your reverie, the sound cutting through the quiet like a knife. “Hey!”, Sam’s voice called from the other side, his tone firm but impatient. “If you guys want to eat before the mess starts, you’d better hurry up. Jack’s already poking at the waffles”.

Dean let out a frustrated groan, his forehead dropping against yours as he muttered, “Of course”. His voice was filled with both exasperation and amusement, but there was a flicker of reluctance in his eyes as he slowly pulled back from you.

You chuckled softly, brushing a hand over his stubbled jaw. “Duty calls”, you teased, though your voice carried a hint of regret.

Dean sighed, sitting back and running a hand through his hair as he glanced toward the door. “Yeah, yeah. Guess breakfast waits for no one—not even us”.

You slipped off his lap reluctantly, straightening your shirt as you turned toward your bag to grab your boots. Dean watched you for a moment, the warmth in his gaze lingering as if he wasn’t quite ready to let the moment go.

Sam knocked again, this time louder. “Seriously, you guys, let’s move! This case isn’t going to wait forever”.

Dean rolled his eyes, muttering under his breath as he stood and grabbed his jacket. “I swear, Sam’s got the timing of a damn drill sergeant”.

You laughed as you laced up your boots, glancing at him over your shoulder. “At least he’s consistent”.

———————————

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter, but I'm a bit stressed out about Christmas and I'm glad I was able to update something at all. I hope you like it anyway. <3

Please let me know what you think.🥰 

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Part 15

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Taglist: @blackcherrywhiskey @baby19sthings @suckitands33 @spnfamily-j2 @lyarr24 @deans-baby-momma @reignsboy19 @kawaii-arfid-memes @mekkencspony @lovziy @artemys-ackles @fitxgrld @libby99hb @lovelyvirtualperson @a-lil-pr1ncess @nancymcl @the-last-ry @spndeanwinchesterlvr @hobby27 @themarebarroww @kr804573 @impala67rollingthroughtown @deans-queen @deadlymistletoe @selfdestructionandrhum @utyblyn @winchesterwild78 @jackles010378 @chirazsstuff @foxyjwls007 @smoothdogsgirl @woooonau @whimsyfinny @freyabear @laaadygisbooornex3 @quietgirll75 @perpetualabsurdity @ladykitana90 @fullbelieverheart @chainsawsangel @zaratahir @rebecca-hvnstn @maackiimoo @mayafatimakhan @ladysparkles78 @lachelledavies-winchester @kamisobsessed @kr804573 @c1gs-coffee @fyegyall @lilbloggs @emily-winchester @star-yawnznn @noell666 @averagedenjienjoyer0290 @impala67rollingthroughtown

[ticktockmyclockworkhart]

my tarantula: is among the largest species of her family, has some of the most irritating urticating hairs of NW species, has fangs the size of a domestic cat’s claws, strong enough to drag around half the things in her enclosure with ease, has perfect camouflage on her cocofiber substrate, large enough to make audible intimidating hissing noises, very willing to give threat postures and lunge at anything that intrudes in her enclosure, engineered by mother nature to be an apex arachnid predator capable of taking down prey like lizards, mice, birds, frogs or even snakes

also my tarantula when a worm barely half the length of her shortest leg with a head that has been preemptively crushed wriggles slightly as it dies:

[xx0acidicorchid0xx]

some notes on wolverines (mustelidae) and Logan

cause new hyperfixation (its been goin on since a few weeks ago). gonna preface this by saying i have only seen the first x-men movie, and whatever else i found on tiktok n tumblr through my hyperfixation hoarding, so if anything is wrong or actually canon (or not canon) I'm sorry

notes under cut:

wolverines, while technically weasels, theyre the largest terrestrial weasel, and can weigh 26-50lbs.

Logan, is 5'3, but weighs at least 300lbs due to the admantium skeleton (195lbs without, meaning this small furry smelly man is just pure bulk)

wolverines are muscular n stocky and have thick fur (also waterproof n oily to prevent frost n such in them harsh canadian forests), are native to canada but can be found in similar environments, and are described as lil balls of violence and are extremely territorial around their food, family, and themselves (only out of necessity in order to survive the winter wastelands they live in). they also lack social skills and pack behavior like wolves

Logan, hairy beefy man, born in canada, described as an asshole, is violent n aggressive, but also severely traumatized. now with the fur, wolverines are nicknamed skunkcats because of how much they reek (they also mark whatever carcass they stole or found so nothing else can take it from em or where they buried it). if Logan (who canonically reeks) has waterproof n oily fur, it must be real difficult getting him to shower (not to mention he doesnt like getting wet) and also the water will not be able to get to his fucking skin because hes built to survive canadian woods.

wolverines are also commonly found in trees, as they use the height to locate prey and eventually pounce onto said prey

from some of the panel screenshots ive seen, Logan isnt unfamiliar with climbing onto trees

wolverines have been known to take on animals 3x their size, such as fuckin Moose, polar bears, elk n caribou, etc etc (only difference here between the mustelid and Logan is that there is no known attack on a human by a wolverine).

while wolverines have semi-retractable claws, Logan's claws are fully retractable. they (both the animal and Logan) have huge paws/hands, for the animal, its to prevent sinking into the snow

along with the thick waterproof fur and stocky build, theyre latin name gulo basically means glutton, so they have to eat a fuck load in order to maintain their body temp (usually they just eat their weight or very frequent small meals, but larger stuff is common), also theyre carnivorous but will eat anything they can find or kill, usually carcasses from avalanches n such, aka opportunity eaters

i have heard that Logan eats a shit ton, especially meat, but only large meals when alone, and small meals more frequently at the mansion. with the body heat thing, it must be super hard for him post-adamantium to keep his body temp at a normal range without literally sitting in the sun all day.

despite the aggressiveness they develop in the wild, when domesticated (which ive heard/read is super easy than you would think), they become very attached to one person, who usually is the trusted handler. they exhibit very cat-like behaviors, except wolverines actually like being picked up and wearing harnesses, they also like pets (but again, the trusted handler thing). they can become calm when hearing a high pitched obnoxious voice, and can go into a kind of trance when their gums are rubbed.

not sure about the cat behaviors n harnesses n other shit for Logan, but with the voice thing: Wade. thats all i really need to say about that

wolverines are naturally polygamous, but do come back to the female every so often to help raise the kits. theres a video of a wolverine male leaving out a moose leg near a female's den so she can have something for the kits to eat

this man gets passed around the x-men mansion like coleslaw at a southern get together dinner, aint no way hes monogamous. he does worry about the women he basically adopted and raised (rogue, laura, jubilee i think, yukio?,, i cant name any others but theres several)

wolverines also have the ability to smell a frozen carcass from over a mile away (and lemme tell ya, unless you have an excellent sense of smell, frozen anything doesnt have a smell except sharp)

this man can canonically smell emotions, and be able to tell the difference between Mystique and Storm just from smell Alone.

wolverines are very vocal, usually this kinda snarl/snort/growl/mumbling/chuff sound

not sure about comic Wolvie, but Hugh Jackman (and Logan, obviously) does snort n growl n roar n other shit like that

wolverines' mating rituals often include fighting multiple times, and mate Only after the female is confident in the male's fighting (males who return several times are more likely to mate than males who only fight once or twice) and that the female doesnt submit too easily. this is so the female and male can ensure the produced kits are strong enough to survive

self explanatory, minus the producing kits (that i know of)

also fun lil fact, wolverines' back molars are rotated at a 90 degree angle, so they can gnaw through bone easier (supposedly this is a common trait for mustelids)

not sure about sideways molars, but Logan does canonically have longer, more animalistic canines

most of my notes and how i worded some stuff is taken from wolverine expert Steve Kroschel, and tumblr user @/icarusredwings, as they have Amazing notes and headcanons on wolverines and Logan

[artisyone]

Surprise! I'm back working on this series once again! This time here are a few takes on domestic cats! 🐈

Extra Details on each breed are below:

Persian

- Long fluffy coats

- Often have round faces and short muzzles

- Short and/or stout in stature

Maine Coon

- largest cat breed

- dense thick fur

- often have fur tufts on the tips of ears

- long fur that looks like a mane across the neck and chest

Scottish Fold

-Can have floppy ears on one or both ears

-Small noses

Bobtail

-small stubby tails

-Can be smaller depending on the type of bobtail

Sphynx

-little to no hair on body

-Very wrinkly regardless of age

-Strangely bat-like ears

-still can develop patterns on skin

General Info

- Any species can have visible whiskers

- Can have standard nose or have cat noses

- Can have traditional eyes or stylized cat eyes

- Cats can unsheathe their claws

- All species can have different kinds of stripes and fur patterns, some depending on gender at birth

[that-one-i-think]

Time for Tu'la stuff:

In my fic I have Tu'la having the Meif'wa population be the largest, with it making up around 55% of the continent. This means that almost every person in some way or another part Meif'wa, which is very different to Ru'aun's human dominated continent. A place where cross breeding between humanoids is incredibly rare/was incredibly rare.

With the increase amount of Meif'wa's and different relationships comes with a large diversity of Meif'wa types as well. They can be separated into four different categories.

Big Cats - While rare now, big cat meif'wa's do exist and are perceived to be the strongest meif'wa. Menphia was a Lioness meif'wa and was an incredibly strong fighter, given the increase in strength compared to others. The current King of Tu'la is a descendant of tigers and is one as well, supposedly. The other big cat meif'wa that can be found are cheetahs and savanna cats in the south and jaguars and leopards in the north. (There are rumors about families if snow leopards and mountain lions living in the mountains of Ru'aun)

Domestic Cats - These take up the majority of meif'wa but much like humans, have a variety of types. These meif'wa are normally smaller than most humans but due to them commonly found, finding an average is difficult as they are adaptable. Michi is a Bengal cat and Nana is a Turkish Angora.

Hyenas - These are the product of werewolves and Meif'wa based on the fact that hyenas are more closely related to cats than dogs. These guys, unlike normal meif'wa's, do have the ability to turn into an animal form but it is a bit more canine. Hyenas are rather rare as mixes between werewolves and meif'wa's are really uncommon but these children are a good middle groud between their respective parents abilities.

Sphinx - These guys aren't actually considered mei'fwa but are the children of Meif'wa and a human who doesn't inherit the ears and the tail. Despite not having the ears and a tail, they do normally have fangs and are a bit slimmer and faster than the average human. They are actually rather common and make up a good portion of the human population of Tu'la. A fact about Sphinx is that if two Sphinx get together their is a 15% chance that their child comes out as a Meif'wa. A good example of a sphinx is my Liochant, a child of a human mother and a very watered-down cheetah father. (Watered down as in his parents were a human mei'fwa pair as well as the dads grandparents)

Population pie chart of Tu'la

[ask-postcrash-curly]

Hello again, dear! Kind Words.

Just a follow-up... since last, I keep finding myself thinking about what kinds of birds you all would be! (Sigh. I even thought of one for Jimmy, yes. That man.) I know, quite silly, isn't it? I suppose I just couldn't help myself. If you don't mind me musing to you for a bit...?

[ https://open.spotify.com/track/219YZeCWcs99zpB1pKoQy7?si=8S-dJn9FRNmvsBJw5P_-9g ]

Curly: Blue Jay. I am sure you are familiar with these. Blue jays are recognizable for their iconic blue-and-black plumage, and they are quite popular among bird lovers! They are known for their intelligence, boldness, and loyalty to their tightly-knit flocks. A blue jay may represent good fortune, and chances for new opportunities within our lives.

Jimmy: Mockingbird. Unassuming little bastards - oh, excuse me - with loud and noisy calls. Don't be fooled by their humble appearance, though; they are known to be highly aggressive and territorial over their nests. I have heard they may represent a need for self-reflection and change. I frequently spot them bullying the blue jays in my neighborhood... and the squirrels. And the crows. And the neighbor's cat. Seems quite fitting to me.

Anya: Pigeon. Ah, the noble pigeon. Unassuming to most, and shamefully discredited for their helpfulness. They once played an important role alongside people as message carriers, but were eventually phased out and abandoned to city streets. Due to their domestication, though, they are now quite docile and tolerant of humans. I hear they can make for fantastic and loyal companions. They are common symbols of peace, hope, and freedom.

Daisuke: Hummingbird. Yes, everyone's favorite flashy, hyperactive backyard pollinators. They are just too cute to dislike, aren't they? They are known for their love of flowers' sweet nectar, as well as their speed and curious personalities. They symbolize unabashed joy, courage, and strength, and remind us to enjoy life's pleasures as they come.

Swansea: Trumpeter Swan. I am sure this one was obvious... the trumpeter swan is the largest swan species in North America. They are quite the loudmouths, with their signature "trumpeting" calls... and, like all swans, are known to be rather fierce and aggressive, especially regarding their young. Swans typically symbolize grace, beauty, and love... though, uh, I'm not sure how much of that is applicable to Swansea. You know him better than I. But they can also be symbols of wisdom and inner-strength, too.

And... that's everyone! What do you think, blue jay? I'll admit I may be a bit biased in my selection - especially yours, but I just couldn't put another bird to your name! Who couldn't be happier seeing a blue jay among the feeders, yes? They are just so charming.

Oh, gosh, I do apologize if all of that was terribly boring, though. It seems I certainly know how to chatter your ear off one way or the other. Feel free to stop me next time, yeah? (Whoops! I did it again.)

Ever watching the birds, darling! Cheers! 🐦

Hello again!

Hah, really? Course I don't mind. Please do.

(This sounds much nicer than the effects by the lounge's window screen...)

Awww. I can't agree with you that this sounds like me. I mean, c'mon, boldness? Good fortune? Please. Still, I'm flattered. Heheh.

Pfft. Can't much argue there. I thought cats were supposed to chase birds, not the other way 'round?

Pigeon, huh? This I have to hear. Mm, yeah, sounds like her... Peace, hope, and freedom. I like that.

Hah! That sure fits him. Always flitting about making some sort of noise (before the crash, anyways) and bouncing off the walls. Here's hoping he gets back there again. Hummingbirds are resilient, yeah?

Of course, of course. He really leans into the swan thing, you know. Even his keys are swan-themed! A fierce, aggressive loudmouth? That's Swansea all right. And— Hah! Hey, he's loving in his own special Swansea way.

I think you've got my crew pretty much down. Definitely biased when it comes to me, but I'm not complaining.

Nope, not boring at all! I told you over and over how much I appreciate your talks, yeah? It's more of a comfort for me than I can tell you. Please continue! (Hah. Yep.)

Cheers! (Psst. You did it again!)

[mr-seamonster]

I love cat like Logan as much as the next guy but I feel like a lot of y'all are forgetting that wolverines are part of the weasel family

It's actually the largest weasel, native to northern/north eastern Canada (and some other countries but that's not important), especially the alpine areas. They're known for their ferocity and strength not proportional to their size.

Either way I think we need more people to start writing him with weasel-y characteristics like have you seen those videos of weasels (mainly domesticated ones) just turning into noodles? What if he did that?

[minibatson]

Billy as a cat breed: Maine Coon. The strongest and largest of the domesticated cat breeds. However, it is also very friendly and doesn't have much of a temper.

[bonefall]

i can’t help that feel like 350 calories per cat per day across 5 clans (150 some odd cats!!!) is more prey than there is! even with really generous cooking estimates you’d need to catch a rabbit or two or a large fish or something per clan every single day of the year. i feel like that would really mess up prey populations, wouldn’t it? i know animals have a lot of babies, but 3,650 rabbits’ worth of calories every year (not to mention what other predators like foxes, snakes, and hawks are eating) feels like too much for one territory. are we assuming that there’s more prey than there is or do i just not know how much offspring animals produce?

WELL, there's a lot of factors here, but you are actually organically figuring out something true and horrifying. BB!Cats are sapient, able to understand their impact on the environment and ergo manage it, but feral domestic cats are devastating to local ecosystems.

Not even because of caloric need btw just because of how much they hunt, and their odd behaviors.

The Bad

There is a reason why predator populations are so massively outnumbered by prey species. One rabbit would feed a single cat for days, but one colony is typically 3 - 15 cats. Most predators are solitary, or have "loose" social structures spread out over many partially overlapping territories covering miles (like alligators)! but something changed when cats were domesticated, and they now seek out dense social units unlike their wild ancestors.

That's why the only social wild cats are lions. Lion prides are extremely flexible, ranging from 3 to upwards of 30 members, and their populations are going to depend completely on how much prey they have access to. Even the shocking "infanticide" thing that male lions are notorious for serves an ecological purpose; less lions means more meat, so every cub that isn't yours is a future rival.

(tangent: the largest lion prides actually set up in major migration "hubs," where there is a constant influx of traveling animals. Not really an "ecosystem" where the pride can damage the population.)

But now domestic cats are doing this, in ecosystems that can't support them and never had predators that behave like them. They compete with the local mesopredators ("middle" hunters that hunt small game but are killed by larger predators. Ex: raptors, snakes, caniforms like foxes or raccoons, etc) and put extra pressure on prey populations.

But that's not the worst part.

In nature, there are Predator-Prey cycles. When there's too many predators, they decrease the prey population. When there's not enough prey, the predators starve and their population lowers. Here is a graph of this phenomenon;

In this way, starvation is required for an ecosystem to stay healthy. It's how nature regulates.

But human beings feed cat colonies.

So colonies end up hitting DOZENS of cats. Upwards of 30 in a tiny area. The sizes you see in canon WC and in BB are TWICE the size of what a feral cat colony typically reaches. In the real world, this is because humans feed them. They HAVE to starve to lower the population, and make no mistake, these are slow, painful deaths.

"But, if we feed the colony, then they're not hunting the local prey, right? Because they're not hungry?" INCORRECT. THEY ARE ANIMALS. Cats are not humans with our sense of morality and long-term consequences. Hunting is only partially driven by hunger, it's also driven by prey drive. Even an outdoor cat, who gets all their meals at home, is killing an average of 90 animals a year.

(note: you may hear the number "they kill 3.5 animals a day." That is a misreading of this study which says 3.5 animals a month based on owner reports; but better study shows they only bring about 18% of their kills home.)

I could get into why I'm actually not a big fan of TNR as a conservation strategy because of this, but in a nutshell, the best solution to feral cat population management overall is (expensive) high-intensity TNR (70% or more) PAIRED with (inexpensive) removal/euthanasia and other methods (like banning colony feeding). PURE high-intensity TNR takes up to 30 years to remove a cat colony in computer simulations. And they keep killing wild animals that whole time.

(tangent: you may come across articles that say that killing feral cats doesn't work. This is often based on this Tasmanian case study by Lazenby et all, where they trapped and removed cats, only to find an influx of subordinate "satellite" individuals that filled the vacuum that the previously established individuals left and increased the overall population. This is a well-documented phenomenon of predator control. They don't tell you that this is short-term and also happens with TNR, just over a longer timeline, as discussed in the above studies, and the solution is to mix methods and make sure that these programs are carried out systemically, NOT ONLY in one limited range.)

So... feral cat colonies with totally realistic needs are very harmful to local ecosystems. They are animals, and they are an invasive species. Keep your cats indoors please

The Good

But BB!Cats and Canon!Cats aren't just animals. These are cats with governments and religion. They do understand long-term consequences.

Even on the page in-canon, they show an understanding that prey comes from breeding (unlike, say, a medieval human who believed in spontaneous generation), WindClan doesn't disturb lapwings during their nesting season showing a basic understanding of ecology, and they even have a law against food waste. Like it or not, these aren't realistic cats. They are small humans with a fuzzy little kitty coat tossed over them.

So we can actually reasonably assume that Clan cats are modifying their behavior so they aren't the ecosystem-shredders that their real-world counterparts are, like;

Hunting over a wider area and having a large territory (so to address you directly anon, their territories are not as small as you might think they are)

Taking the pressure off specific areas by sending their hunting patrols to various parts of their territory

Avoiding hunting animals during their breeding and nesting seasons.

Not killing animals that are pregnant or nursing

Leaving baby animals alone so they grow into bigger food items

Not killing what they don't plan to eat

Intentionally varying their diet so they take a little from many populations.

Hunting animals that real cats don't usually target, like fawns, seagulls, and young boars.

Breeding their own prey, if you're willing to do a little domestication innovation

If you're VERY cool, give them fire. go on. do it. 20% to 50% caloric increase is prettyyy cooool~

But also, you may be underestimating just how many babies prey species produce. Let's use rabbits because these things are insane. They weren't lying, rabbits can breed like rabbits.

European rabbits (and all the domestic breeds they are descended from) have a double womb. That means that when they've given birth to their litter of 4 - 12 babies (usually 6), they can already be pregnant with the next. Gestation is a month. These babies are able to leave their mothers at 2 months and can breed by 4 months. They can have 10 litters a year.

So a SINGLE rabbit COULD have well over 100 bunnies a year... but rabbit warrens are usually 10 - 50, mostly females, plus a bunch of bucks who are more solitary and more likely to travel around. And you're gonna have multiple warrens on a territory.

Low litter estimate, small warren; 10 x 4 x 10 = 400 bunnies. Big litter estimate, big warren; 50 x 12 x 10 = 6,000 bunnies.

That said, most estimates say they functionally end up with 20 adult children a year, which then go on to breed at four months. That's still 200 rabbits a year coming out of that small warren ALONE, and isn't counting the fact that those children are also going to have children of their own.

(though, rabbits in particular are facing a massive crisis in england and even across europe because of two diseases that hit them one after another OTL but it's not related to predation.)

Don't forget that a territory also has more than just rabbits. This is also happening with mice, rats, ducks, sparrows, voles, etc. Like I said, if your cats just diversify the prey they hunt in response to population changes, they'll be golden. In BB I even have a role dedicated to this now; the Head of Hunting, who is tasked with assessing this sort of thing.

SO, to answer you directly;

Feral Cats Bad

WC characters have more in common with a small human than a cat

Pure carnivores are pretty demanding on their ecosystems

There is plenty an intelligent creature can do to reduce their impact on the ecosystem

Their territories could still support them along with the other predators

You did underestimate just how many babies prey animals have, though

Overall, they would be fine. You COULD overhunt a territory, but not with basic prey management practices.

[o-craven-canto]

A list of animal species that are likely to survive in a heavily urbanized and polluted Earth, from Successors of Mankind: The world after the sixth extinction (Pavel Volkov, 2018)

Mainly “weed” species have survived: fast-growing, early and intensively breeding, living not for long, easily adapting and unpretentious ones... One of the largest species on the Earth after the civilization epoch is human itself. The second-largest species is a goat. In some places of the Earth pigs also have survived... [as well as] rodents, bats, insectivores, hares and rabbits... In Asia macaques, and in Africa baboons have survived. In Americas from among local New World monkeys capuchins have survived. Among prosimians only African bushbabies still exist. From among carnivorans mustelids, smaller cats, dogs and raccoons were lucky to survive. In tropics mongooses also exist. Among birds the period of global ecological crisis was successfully gone through by dominant species of corvids... gulls, rock pigeons and various songbirds. Some widespread species of ducks, few species of herons, sandpipers and rails have escaped the extinction. At coasts of oceans of Northern hemisphere not numerous species of alcid birds, and in Southern hemisphere penguins persist. Among reptiles, adders, rattlesnakes, rather numerous colubrids, some widespread species of geckoes, lacertid lizards and monitor lizards (in Old World) and teiids (in New World) have survived. Sea turtles have died out completely, but in tropical rivers freshwater turtles, and in deserted areas tortoises still exist. Because of intensive hunting crocodiles have almost completely died out – only very degenerated caimans in tropics of America have remained. Among amphibians tropical forest species have almost completely disappeared. There are only widespread unspecialized species from temperate latitudes, and in tropics only species from drier habitats. Among freshwater fishes in epoch of biological crisis kinds which in human epoch could be named as “rough” ones dominate: these are small cyprinids, perches and ruffes, Chinese sleepers. It is possible to find worldwide in the appropriate climatic conditions feral populations of carps and tilapias. Among predatory fishes of temperate latitudes pikes have successfully survived. In tropics worldwide snakeheads (both native and introduced), and also live-bearing mosquitofish and [guppies?] prosper... The majority of survived sea fishes is represented by coastal inhabitants. Pelagic fishes have become extinct because of overfishing and the collapse of feed supplies. Pollution of ocean has caused disappearance of numerous planktonic invertebrates, and also of fishes, whose juvenile stages of development passed in plankton... [and] of abyssal fishes depending completely on organic matter sinking from the surface... Reef-building corals with firm skeleton have disappeared... smaller species of crustaceans prosper now: extinction of whales, sea birds and pelagic schooling fishes has resulted in fast restoration of their number. And an ecological role of fishes of open ocean had been taken by cephalopods... in oceans numerous squid schools swim. But there is nobody to catch them now – sperm whales, dolphins and large predatory fishes had become extinct. A diversity of insects and spiders at the genus and species level had been badly affected... But at the family level there were actually no losses... Many of them have been acclimatized in new places and have not died out even in epoch of biological crisis.

Following, on survival of domesticated species after the collapse of human civilization:

One of secrets of success of survived species was to keep closer to humans and to landscapes changed by people, but to depend on humans as little as possible... the most part of domesticated animals had died out in parallel with collapse of human civilization. The specialized breeds adapted to animal industry were gone for one generation. Decorative breeds have disappeared just as quickly. Only few primitive breeds of sheeps and goats, and also semi-feral rural chickens from tropical areas of the Earth have managed to survive. Cats managed to survive even easier: they have simply settled back to the wild... In the same way... many cultivated plants have quickly died out; descendants of only few of them, least changed by agriculture, have survived... they were in full dependence on humans and have simply died out without them. In due course of development of human civilization around of human buildings and in cultural landscapes there was a certain complex of animal and plant species which did not become domestic, but were capable to exist in the environment changed by people – these are so-called synanthropes... Those kinds, that were too dependent on humans, have died out very soon. Most well known of them are cockroaches. When there were no heated rooms, their area was reduced up to climatic zones with mild winter. Rats and mice have gone through only brief period of triumph, feasting on the rests of human provisions... in searches of prey owls, cats and small mustelid predators came to abandoned and collapsing cities. They have literally specified to rodents their place in ecosystem: they have turned to prey again, and their triumph was over as soon, as it started.