Anime, cat-girls, and you. (PG)

**I.R Joey** · 06-25-2001, 12:47 PM

Why is it that so many anime have Cat girls of some kind? Explain.

**don Jaime** · 06-25-2001, 12:55 PM

Dunno. I did see something in a slang dictionary when I was trying to pick a Learn Japanese Without Thinking book yesterday: "cat" is a synonym for gay. So maybe their lesbians. May not explain Ryo-Ohki, but it does answer why I've seen so dang many fan drawings of feline Digiboys.

**DR. BELCH** · 06-25-2001, 01:02 PM

Cats are very sensual and sexy creatures. It's in their walk or in their eyes...a certain grace and dignified bearing that most other animals lack.

Also, "cat" is slang for

Spoiler:

"Cat" is also

Spoiler:

My mother's cat has taken to bawling her heart out when she sees me step out the front door, even if only for a minute. I think she's in love with me....

**RockItShipper** · 06-25-2001, 01:07 PM

Originally posted by I.R Joey
Why is it that so many anime have Cat girls of some kind? Explain.

There's some cultural fascination with cats in general. Have you ever seen a beckoning cat? Most Japanese stores have a statue of one- with the cat lifting up a paw.

But I think you're talking about the sexy factor of it, right? I think it's very very cute. And in the yaoi crowd, there's a bit of Neko-Shouen fanart. Obviously, if you think the Gundam boys or the Digiboyz are all straight- the sight of them as kitties is going to look very very odd to you.

You could say the same thing about America though. Catwoman, Josie and the Pussycats, etc. The '40s movie "Catpeople". The feline females on Gargoyles and the Flash Gordon 'toon from a few years back....

**I.R Joey** · 06-25-2001, 05:30 PM

I was just curious, I'm not anymore quite unfortunately. I wasn't even thinking of it in a sensual way.

**Calhoun07** · 06-25-2001, 05:39 PM

Well, this is almost like the disturbing dolphin sex thing that was discussed in a prior thread. There have been legends in the past of cats becoming human and having relations with their human owners. What is it about certain species of animals that make people come up with such stuff?

**Vigo Sprax** · 06-25-2001, 07:31 PM

I ah once saw this guy's website where he posted his artwork...which consisted of these types of "cat girls"(and bunnies, gazelles, etc...) having sex....It was obviously anime inspired.

I was doing a report on Rabbits...and it came up...

Peace Keeper · 06-25-2001, 10:00 PM

It seems like they put cat ears on girls when they are being curious or mischievous. I can remember a scene where Ryoko was trying to watch Tenchi go to the bathroom and she had a tail. But she might have always had a tail, so that isn't the best example. I can't remember if she had ears or not.

**DR. BELCH** · 06-26-2001, 11:53 AM

PEACE KEEPER:
I can remember a scene [in Tenchi Muyo ] where Ryoko was trying to watch Tenchi go to the bathroom and she had a tail. But she might have always had a tail, so that isn't the best example.

I've seen her caudal appendenge several times...although I wasn't sure if it was a tail or just a length of her belt dangling behind her. I wonder, if it is her tail, why Aiaka doesn't just grab it and yank when Ryoko gets a little too nasty for her own good...

Rocky's right, though--we Americans are just as mad about cats. My mother has cat paraphernalia--magnets, statues, puzzles, posters, sweaters--all over the house. There was even a webjoke she showed me that lists the behaviors of cats--jealous, demanding, needy, fickle--and concludes that they are little women in fur coats.

As for cat ears on women being naughty, that may be the anime variant of characters sprouting devil horns and pointed tails in old Tex Avery cartoons.