View source for Hovercat

The '''hovercat''' (''Pardofelis caerulea'') was a small, agile felid formerly endemic to the eastern parts of the [[Benacia]]n continent until hunted to the edge of extinction during the 17th century [[AN]]. Its agility was well known, and the proclivities of the species led them to climb trees and remain underneath branches for extended periods of time. As such, it has become known as the "hovering cat", later "hovercat". In certain conditions the fur appeared blue to green. It is the national animal of [[Goldshire]].

In the Shirerithian feudal system, only nobles were allowed to consume the hovercat, leading to a taboo to its consumption in other parts of Shirerithian society. As such, actually eating the cat was rare although the [[Kaiser Aurangzeb]] once fed a banqueting hall of nine-hundred and ninety guests exclusively upon the flesh of the animal, prepared in a variety of ways according to the various and diverse culinary traditions of the vast realm he briefly oversaw. Babkhi hunting parties tended to be relentless in their pursuit of the animal and the taboo amongst the lower classes against the consumption of its flesh was greatly weakened during the brassicosis crisis of the early 1600's and the [[shire:Civil War in Goldshire|civil war in Goldshire]] during the 1640's when recurrent famines led to a more varied and imaginative diet. 

It was related to other felids, such as the [[fishing cat]] (also in Benacia), lion, tiger, [[Jingdaoese valleytiger]], [[Bijeko-Lisea-Nas]], and the ''[[Panthera napoleonis]]''.

[[Category:Shireroth]]
[[Category:Goldshire]]
[[Category:Chryse]]
[[Category:Ransenar]]
[[Category:Species]]