A kit is a cat under the age of six moons[1] who is still living in the nursery with their mother and littermates.[2] Kits are usually very mischievous and energetic and are known to bother warriors and elders.[3] However, they tend to be interested in the stories the elders tell.[4] Most kits are eager to begin their apprenticeship before they reach six moons of age and very curious about what happens outside their camp.[1] A kit's name generally ends with the suffix '-kit', for example, Bluekit,[5] Snowkit,[6] or Dovekit.[7]
Description[]
- When a kit is born, their mother or father names them, usually after its appearance,[8] or sometimes to honor another cat of the same name (ex. Cinderkit after Cinderpelt).[8] Sometimes, though, kits have names that only have to do with the natural products on their territory, including animals, whether prey or enemies like foxes (ex. Owlkit). Some kits are named for something significant that happened before or when they were born (ex. Crookedkit[9]). When kits are not named because they die before their parents have a chance to name them, they are named by other StarClan members.[10] Kits stay in the nursery together with their mother who nurses them and takes care of them for six moons.[11]
- All Clan cats, and especially the queens and the mother, are very protective of kits.[12] They are fed first and are not expected to catch their own food or do chores. It is said in the warrior code that: "No warrior may neglect a kit in danger, even if it is from a different Clan."[13] However, half-Clan kits or those of non-Clan origins are usually frowned upon by pure-blood Clan cats, as their commitment to their foster Clan can be questioned.[14] Half-Clan kits are usually taken in by the Clan of the mother, for example, Featherkit and Stormkit went to live with RiverClan even though their mother, Silverstream, had died and their father, Graystripe, was still alive in ThunderClan.[15] Kits are not allowed out of the nursery until their mother feels the time is right. After that, they can go around the camp, though never far from their mother. A kit cannot leave the Clan camp without being escorted by a warrior;[16] however, sometimes they get away and get in trouble.[17]
- Kits tend to have soft and fluffy fur.[2] They are usually curious, mischievous, and playful, trying to get the Clan warriors to play with them.[18] Most of them are too young to fully understand the Clan traditions or the warrior code, but if they break a rule, they are not punished and sometimes very lightly scolded depending on the severity of their deed.[18] They tend to accidentally annoy warriors,[3] but are fascinated by the stories the elders tell. Kits often want to start training or become warriors immediately, and have to be reminded that they must wait until they are six moons old.[1]
Education[]
- While in the nursery, kits gradually learn about their Clanmates, Clan ways, traditions, rivals, and about the warrior code as they age.[19] Their mother, the other queens in the nursery, and the elders will tell them stories of great battles, journeys, and cats. The care of the kits is shared by all of the queens.[11]
- Once reaching the age of six moons, they become apprentices,[20] and the last part of their name is changed from "kit" to "paw"[21] (for example, Frostkit becomes Frostpaw, Nightkit becomes Nightpaw, Crowkit becomes Crowpaw, Honeykit becomes Honeypaw, etc.). They will either go on the path of a medicine cat or a warrior, and their mentor will teach them the ways of the path they choose.[22]
Trivia[]
Interesting facts[]
- Kits are sometimes called "kittens" in the first two books of The Prophecies Begin arc,[23][24][25][26] in Secrets of the Clans,[27][28][29][30] The Rise of Scourge,[31] and Dark River,[32] but not in other books.
- Although it has rarely happened in canon, kits have been apprenticed late. This is often due to misbehavior[33] or as the result of an injury due to an accident or incident.[34][35] At the same time, kits have also been apprenticed early[36][37][38] or without warning[39][21] due to battle,[40][41] or other circumstances.[42][43] Typically, the latter is highly frowned upon[41] as the kits can get hurt or killed during training if they are too young.[44][45]
See also[]
External links[]
Notes and references[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Revealed in Sign of the Moon, page 35
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 10
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 15
- ↑ Revealed in A Dangerous Path (Bramblekit, Tawnykit)
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 4
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 5
- ↑ Revealed in The Fourth Apprentice, page 5
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Revealed in Sunset, page 27
- ↑ Revealed in Crookedstar's Promise, page 8
- ↑ Revealed on Kate's Facebook
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Revealed in Into the Wild, page 32
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 30
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans
- ↑ Revealed in The Darkest Hour, page 158
- ↑ Revealed in Forest of Secrets, chapter 30
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 49
- ↑ Such as when Cloudkit or Berrykit tried to hunt, Dawnflower's kits getting away and finding Twoleg poison, or Jaykit, Hollykit and Lionkit trying to track down a fox.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Revealed in Midnight, page 84
- ↑ Revealed in Cats of the Clans, page 3
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 60
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 61
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 55
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 15
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 103
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 260
- ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 254
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 21
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 43
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 70
- ↑ Revealed in Secrets of the Clans, page 150
- ↑ Revealed in The Rise of Scourge, page 38
- ↑ Revealed in Dark River, page 31
- ↑ Revealed in The Sight, page Chapter 3
- ↑ Stormkit, or Crookedkit, had his apprenticeship delayed due to an accident which left his jaw twisted.
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, page 159
- ↑ Cinderpaw and Brackenpaw were apprenticed early.
- ↑ Revealed in Fire and Ice, page 93
- ↑ Revealed in Goosefeather's Curse, chapter 4
- ↑ Bluekit and Snowkit were apprenticed suddenly and without warning, as noted by Moonflower.
- ↑ Brokenstar apprenticed several apprentices early to fight in battles in Yellowfang's Secret, such as Badgerkit.
- ↑ 41.0 41.1 Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 469
- ↑ Revealed in Bluestar's Prophecy, pages 63-63
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 451
- ↑ Revealed in Yellowfang's Secret, page 464
- ↑ Revealed in Into the Wild, page 249
Hierarchy and positions in the Warriors world | |
---|---|
Clan hierarchy | Kits • Apprentices • Warriors • Deputies • Leaders • Queens • Elders • Medicine cats • Mediators |
Ceremonies | Vigil • Apprentice • Warrior • Deputy • Leader • Elder • Medicine cat • Name changing |
Tribe hierarchy | To-bes • Cave-guards • Prey hunters • Kit mothers • Healer/Stoneteller |
Miscellaneous | General Clan information • General Tribe information • Cat names |
Other groups | Loners • Rogues • Kittypets |