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Caitian

2023-02-19T22:39:31Z

2601:18D:4980:90:84BF:FF77:9ADF:CC2:

[[File:mress1.png|thumb|right|M'Ress, the Caitian communications officer of the USS ''Enterprise''.]]
'''Caitians''' (singular, '''Caitian''') are a fictional felinoid alien [[species]] featured in various ''[[Star Trek]]'' media, most prominently in ''[[w:Star Trek: The Animated Series|Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' and ''[[w:Star Trek: Lower Decks|Star Trek: Lower Decks]]''.

In-universe, Caitians are a spacefaring [[feline]] alien species hailing from the planet Cait, and are long-standing members of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet.

== Appearance history ==
Depictions of Caitians have varied throughout ''Star Trek'''s history. In all prime timeline depictions, Caitians exhibit several feline attributes, including short faces, triangular [[ear]]s, large yellow or green eyes with vertically slitted pupils, [[whiskers]], fangs, and a [[tail]]. Their bodies are covered in [[fur]], which can appear in a range of colours and patterns.

=== Introduction ===
Caitians were first seen in the sixth episode of ''The Animated Series'', "The Survivor" (first aired October 13, 1973), in which the Caitian Lieutenant [[wikia:memoryalpha:M'Ress|M'Ress]] is introduced as a communications officer aboard the USS ''Enterprise'', taking the position when [[wikia:memoryalpha:Uhura|Uhura]] is off-duty. She is depicted as a [[lion]]-like humanoid with [[digitigrade]] legs and a distinctive "purring" voice, supposedly caused by biological differences making it difficult for her to speak languages like English. M'Ress is the only Caitian depicted in ''The Animated Series'', appearing in six of the series' 22 episodes.

''The Animated Series'' also featured the [[Kzin|Kzinti]], an antagonistic race similar to Caitians. Materials released alongside the series (which are not necessarily canon), state that the Kzinti and Caitians share a common ancestry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://danhausertrek.com/AnimatedSeries/MRessBio.html |title=Lieutenant M'Ress Biography |work=Curt Danhauser's Guide to the Animated Star Trek |access-date=2022-01-31}}</ref> The status of ''The Animated Series'' to the wider franchise's canon has [[w:Star Trek canon|fluctuated over time]] and is nowadays generally considered to be non-canonical,<ref>"Do you think the Animated series should be considered canon? Or even more so, IS the Animated Series canon?" "We don't consider it canon, but it's kinda cool to throw in the odd reference here and there." - [[w:Ronald D. Moore|Ronald D. Moore]], AOL's "Ask Ron D. Moore" message board, October 1998.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/66895.html |title=''The Animated Series'' Gets Real |work=StarTrek.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706235350/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/66895.html |archive-date=2007-07-06}}</ref> however the Caitians, Kzinti, and M'Ress have all been referenced in canon ''Star Trek'' media in the years since.

=== Later appearances ===
[[File:Caitian-brown.jpg|right|thumb|A Caitian admiral from ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home''.]]
Two male Caitians appear as a background characters in ''[[w:Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home|Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'', a brown-furred admiral and a black-furred commodore who resemble a [[lynx]] and [[panther|black panther]] respectively. Both are both seen attending James T. Kirk's court martial.

The Caitian homeworld, Cait, is briefly referenced in the first episode of season two of ''[[w:Star Trek: Discovery|Star Trek: Discovery]]''.

[[File:T'Ana.png|left|thumb|Doctor T'Ana, the chief medical officer of the USS ''Cerritos''.]]
''Star Trek: Lower Decks'', which premiered in 2020, featured the first recurring Caitian character to the franchise: chief medical officer of the USS ''Cerritos'', Doctor T'Ana. Unlike M'Ress, T'Ana resembles a domestic house cat, has [[plantigrade]] feet and no difficulty speaking English. T'Ana appears in most episodes of ''Lower Decks''.

Several more Caitians, all resembling various domestic cats, appear in the second season ''Lower Decks'' episode "We'll Always Have Tom Paris" and a photograph of M'Ress appears in the background of the same episode. A Kzinti ensign also appears serving aboard the ''Cerritos'', marking their first appearance since ''The Animated Series'', and first as an ally to the Federation.

A Caitian child makes a recurring appearance as one of The Diviner's prisoners in ''[[w:Star Trek: Prodigy|Star Trek: Prodigy]]''. Unlike previous Caitian appearances, this character has white eyes with round pupils.

=== Other appearances ===
[[File:STO-Caitians.png|thumb|right|Caitian officers, as depicted in ''Star Trek Online''.]]
Caitians were added as a purchasable playable race in ''[[wikia:memoryalpha:Star Trek Online|Star Trek Online]]'' in June 2010. Their appearance was modelled after their appearance in ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home''.

''[[w:Star Trek Into Darkness|Star Trek Into Darkness]]'', which is set in an alternate timeline to most ''Star Trek'' media, features a radically different Caitian appearance. They are much more human in appearance, lacking the fur and facial features of typical Caitians, whilst maintaining furred tails and gaining ridged ear and neck markings. Although not identified by name in the film, producer [[w:Damon Lindelof|Damon Lindelof]] confirmed this was their interpretation of Caitians in an interview following the film's release.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://intl.startrek.com/article/exclusive-interview-damon-lindelof |title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Damon Lindelof |work=StarTrek.com |first=Jordan |last=Hoffman |date=2013-05-16 |access-date=2022-01-31}}</ref>

== Caitians and furry ==
[[File:Caitians.jpg|thumb|left|A pair of ''Animated Series'' Caitians on the 'prowl'. Illustrated by [[Neverwench]].]]
M'Ress remained popular for years after the end of ''The Animated Series'', and was the unofficial inspiration of ''[[Freighter Tails]]'' and stories by [[Paul S. Gibbs]]. M'Ress, with her cat-like voice patterns and her [[anthropomorphic]] features, represents one of the first "furry" [[character]]s shown on TV, one that was neither a human with cat ears nor a talking cat.{{cn}}

An alien feline race called "Caitians," inspired by but not intended to be identical with the ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' version, is featured in the [[Chakona Space]] setting.

== References ==
<references />

== See also ==
* [[wikia:memoryalpha:Caitian|Caitians]] on [[wikia:memoryalpha:|Memory Alpha]], a ''Star Trek'' wiki for canon works
* [[wikia:memorybeta:Caitian|Caitians]] on [[wikia:memorybeta:|Memory Beta]], a ''Star Trek'' wiki for licensed, non-canon works

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Feline species]]

{{Featured article}}
[[it:Caitian]]

Caitian

2023-02-19T22:39:03Z

2601:18D:4980:90:84BF:FF77:9ADF:CC2:

[[File:mress1.png|thumb|right|M'Ress, the Caitian communications officer of the USS ''Enterprise''.]]
'''Caitians''' (singular, '''Caitian''') are a fictional felinoid [[species]] featured in various ''[[Star Trek]]'' media, most prominently in ''[[w:Star Trek: The Animated Series|Star Trek: The Animated Series]]'' and ''[[w:Star Trek: Lower Decks|Star Trek: Lower Decks]]''.

In-universe, Caitians are a spacefaring [[feline]] alien species hailing from the planet Cait, and are long-standing members of the United Federation of Planets and Starfleet.

== Appearance history ==
Depictions of Caitians have varied throughout ''Star Trek'''s history. In all prime timeline depictions, Caitians exhibit several feline attributes, including short faces, triangular [[ear]]s, large yellow or green eyes with vertically slitted pupils, [[whiskers]], fangs, and a [[tail]]. Their bodies are covered in [[fur]], which can appear in a range of colours and patterns.

=== Introduction ===
Caitians were first seen in the sixth episode of ''The Animated Series'', "The Survivor" (first aired October 13, 1973), in which the Caitian Lieutenant [[wikia:memoryalpha:M'Ress|M'Ress]] is introduced as a communications officer aboard the USS ''Enterprise'', taking the position when [[wikia:memoryalpha:Uhura|Uhura]] is off-duty. She is depicted as a [[lion]]-like humanoid with [[digitigrade]] legs and a distinctive "purring" voice, supposedly caused by biological differences making it difficult for her to speak languages like English. M'Ress is the only Caitian depicted in ''The Animated Series'', appearing in six of the series' 22 episodes.

''The Animated Series'' also featured the [[Kzin|Kzinti]], an antagonistic race similar to Caitians. Materials released alongside the series (which are not necessarily canon), state that the Kzinti and Caitians share a common ancestry.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://danhausertrek.com/AnimatedSeries/MRessBio.html |title=Lieutenant M'Ress Biography |work=Curt Danhauser's Guide to the Animated Star Trek |access-date=2022-01-31}}</ref> The status of ''The Animated Series'' to the wider franchise's canon has [[w:Star Trek canon|fluctuated over time]] and is nowadays generally considered to be non-canonical,<ref>"Do you think the Animated series should be considered canon? Or even more so, IS the Animated Series canon?" "We don't consider it canon, but it's kinda cool to throw in the odd reference here and there." - [[w:Ronald D. Moore|Ronald D. Moore]], AOL's "Ask Ron D. Moore" message board, October 1998.</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/66895.html |title=''The Animated Series'' Gets Real |work=StarTrek.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706235350/http://www.startrek.com/startrek/view/features/specials/article/66895.html |archive-date=2007-07-06}}</ref> however the Caitians, Kzinti, and M'Ress have all been referenced in canon ''Star Trek'' media in the years since.

=== Later appearances ===
[[File:Caitian-brown.jpg|right|thumb|A Caitian admiral from ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home''.]]
Two male Caitians appear as a background characters in ''[[w:Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home|Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home]]'', a brown-furred admiral and a black-furred commodore who resemble a [[lynx]] and [[panther|black panther]] respectively. Both are both seen attending James T. Kirk's court martial.

The Caitian homeworld, Cait, is briefly referenced in the first episode of season two of ''[[w:Star Trek: Discovery|Star Trek: Discovery]]''.

[[File:T'Ana.png|left|thumb|Doctor T'Ana, the chief medical officer of the USS ''Cerritos''.]]
''Star Trek: Lower Decks'', which premiered in 2020, featured the first recurring Caitian character to the franchise: chief medical officer of the USS ''Cerritos'', Doctor T'Ana. Unlike M'Ress, T'Ana resembles a domestic house cat, has [[plantigrade]] feet and no difficulty speaking English. T'Ana appears in most episodes of ''Lower Decks''.

Several more Caitians, all resembling various domestic cats, appear in the second season ''Lower Decks'' episode "We'll Always Have Tom Paris" and a photograph of M'Ress appears in the background of the same episode. A Kzinti ensign also appears serving aboard the ''Cerritos'', marking their first appearance since ''The Animated Series'', and first as an ally to the Federation.

A Caitian child makes a recurring appearance as one of The Diviner's prisoners in ''[[w:Star Trek: Prodigy|Star Trek: Prodigy]]''. Unlike previous Caitian appearances, this character has white eyes with round pupils.

=== Other appearances ===
[[File:STO-Caitians.png|thumb|right|Caitian officers, as depicted in ''Star Trek Online''.]]
Caitians were added as a purchasable playable race in ''[[wikia:memoryalpha:Star Trek Online|Star Trek Online]]'' in June 2010. Their appearance was modelled after their appearance in ''Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home''.

''[[w:Star Trek Into Darkness|Star Trek Into Darkness]]'', which is set in an alternate timeline to most ''Star Trek'' media, features a radically different Caitian appearance. They are much more human in appearance, lacking the fur and facial features of typical Caitians, whilst maintaining furred tails and gaining ridged ear and neck markings. Although not identified by name in the film, producer [[w:Damon Lindelof|Damon Lindelof]] confirmed this was their interpretation of Caitians in an interview following the film's release.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://intl.startrek.com/article/exclusive-interview-damon-lindelof |title=EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Damon Lindelof |work=StarTrek.com |first=Jordan |last=Hoffman |date=2013-05-16 |access-date=2022-01-31}}</ref>

== Caitians and furry ==
[[File:Caitians.jpg|thumb|left|A pair of ''Animated Series'' Caitians on the 'prowl'. Illustrated by [[Neverwench]].]]
M'Ress remained popular for years after the end of ''The Animated Series'', and was the unofficial inspiration of ''[[Freighter Tails]]'' and stories by [[Paul S. Gibbs]]. M'Ress, with her cat-like voice patterns and her [[anthropomorphic]] features, represents one of the first "furry" [[character]]s shown on TV, one that was neither a human with cat ears nor a talking cat.{{cn}}

An alien feline race called "Caitians," inspired by but not intended to be identical with the ''Star Trek: The Animated Series'' version, is featured in the [[Chakona Space]] setting.

== References ==
<references />

== See also ==
* [[wikia:memoryalpha:Caitian|Caitians]] on [[wikia:memoryalpha:|Memory Alpha]], a ''Star Trek'' wiki for canon works
* [[wikia:memorybeta:Caitian|Caitians]] on [[wikia:memorybeta:|Memory Beta]], a ''Star Trek'' wiki for licensed, non-canon works

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Feline species]]

{{Featured article}}
[[it:Caitian]]

Lombax

2023-02-19T22:38:29Z

2601:18D:4980:90:84BF:FF77:9ADF:CC2:

{{context}}
A '''lombax''' is a felinoid alien [[species]] from [[W:Insomniac Games|Insomniac Games]]' [[Ratchet & Clank]] [[video game]] series.

== History ==

Initially, the only Lombaxes in the series included [[Ratchet (Ratchet & Clank)|Ratchet]], [[Angela Cros]]s, and [[Alister Azimuth]]. According to a news broadcast in ''[[Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Time|A Crack in Time]]'', Angela Cross is a Lombax who has been missing for three years. She does not have a tail, as it is revealed [[female]] Lombaxes lack one. Ratchet and Angela are the last known lombaxes in Ratchet's dimension after ''A Crack in Time'' when Azimuth dies.

A female Lombax named [[Rivet (Ratchet & Clank)|Rivet]] is a main character in the newest game in the franchise, ''[[Rift Apart]]''. Notably, Rivet has a tail, though it is considerably thicker and fluffier than other lombaxes previously seen. As Rivet is from an alternate universe, it is possible that female lombaxes in that universe feature slightly different anatomy to those featured in earlier games.

== Derscription ==

Lombaxes, originally from the planet '''Fastoon''', appear similar to [[bipedal]] [[anthropomorphic]] [[cat]]s with a [[tail]] similar to that of a [[lion]]. Unlike most other organic species in the games' universe which have two fingers and a thumb on each hand, lombaxes possess four fingers and a thumb. The species has an instinctive affinity towards gadgetry and machines.

== See also ==

* [[W:Ratchet_&_Clank#Lombaxes|Lombaxes]] on [[Wikipedia]]
* [[:Category:Lombax characters]]

{{species-stub}}

[[Category:Alien species]]
[[Category:Fictional species]]
[[Category:Feline species]]
[[it:Lombax]]