The Ximax Cat is believed to be one of the most intelligent out of all the breeds of the Domestic Cat family existing in the world. Though unable to speak in more than meows, purrs, etc., they seem to be able to pick up words in the language that they have grown up with (such as Tharian and Styrásh). They tend to know and understand the Styrásh language with more fluency than any other. They also have an affinity for magic and are known for their striking violet eyes.

Image description, A Ximax Cat with its typical cerubell eyes below a table in a mage's study. Picture drawn by Quellion.

Appearance. Ximax Cats are more commonly found with long coats as many owners find it more grand and beautiful. However, short coats are sometimes preferred to reduce the amount of hair shed as some magi may be allergic to these hairs and suffer symptoms such as dry eyes and a runny nose. The coats of this breed come in all styles and may be found most popularly in ash, blacks, cream, and white, but are also seen in rose, gold, silver, cerubell and allia. They are found in all styles and patterns, sometimes altered or influenced by spells gone haywire. The first lavender and cerubell coats were reported being seen in Ximax and thus a few people believe that these colours were engendered by a student’s experiment gone wrong.

The eyes of a Ximax Cat are always violet or some shade of violet. This color is hypothesized to be the result of an unusually strong magical cár’áll, which is more apparent in this cat than most any other beast in the world. This conclusion of the origin of violet eyes takes root in several mating pairs observed between the Ximax Cat and other breeds. In every case the mating of a Ximax Cat and another breed of cat resulted in unmagical kittens with eyes existing in no shade of violet. Only in a Ximax Cat–Ximax Cat pair were magical, violet-eyed kittens born. For this reason, mating pairs containing these cats and a foreign breed are highly discouraged among breeders.

Special Abilities. The Ximax Cat is known for having an affinity towards magic and has the ability to cast minor spells dealing with mentalism. The cat's ability for magic is increased with a deep connection between them and their owner. The cat’s most commonly used power is that of telepathy. However, because these felines can’t speak or think in language, they send mental pictures back to their owner. Though the cat doesn’t think in terms of language as their owners may, they are still able to understand language with minor fluency, though fluency usually depends on how much exposure the cat has had with the language and the individual abilities of the cat.

Territory. Ximax Cats are found in Ximax, concentrated around the Academy of Magic. No matter where a Ximax Cat is born, they always seem to journey toward the Magical Academy, for whatever special reason that is. These felines don’t seem to last very long outside Ximax unless they are accompanied by an owner who possesses magial abilities. Most researchers have come to the conclusion that this special breed of Domestic Cat requires the magic cár’áll of a person or an area of high magic concentration in order to survive.

Image description. One of the most interesting domestic cats: The Ximax Cat. Pic by Viresse.

Habitat/Behaviour. This feline is one of the more silent breeds. They have the ability to communicate through telepathy and thus find little or no reason to make verbal noise, though they have the capability for it. Their senses are a bit dulled than other breeds. They can’t hear, see, or smell as well as other breeds, and simply don’t have the same wild instincts as other cats. Because of this, they are almost primarily a house-cat. They tend to dislike being out in unfamiliar places and enjoy simply being in their own cozy homes in Ximax.

Diet. Like most cats, this magic feline hunts rats and mice in its territory. However, Ximax Cats with owners are always fed and aren’t forced to live on only what they hunt. This creates a dependency and a loyalty that helps deepen the connection between owner and cat, which is usually an important part in Ximax Cat care.

Mating. See Domestic Cats Entry.

Usages. Ximax Cats are extremely popular in the Magical Academy. Some students keep one as a companion. Many come to the Academy of Magic from far away places and enjoy talking to an animal with high intelligence, an animal that seems to understand their words. Professors will often also keep them as companions, but also to run small errands for them. Archmagi have been known to keep as many as 36 Ximax Cats that patrol their tower, using the Cats’ telepathic ability to make sure all students are behaving as they should and that none are practicing spells that they shouldn’t. Archmagi are thus often portrayed in paintings with a violet-eyed cat sitting loyally at their side.

Origins. It is popularly believed that the Ximax Cat is simply a common cat endowed with magic. Because of this, breeders sometimes disregard this breed as not really being a breed at all. Many think a powerful magi or Archmagi took in a cat that, over time, somehow absorbed and became dependent on some of the magi’s cár’áll. Cat-keeping became more and more popular among magi and more and more of these sorts of cats came to be.