Furry fandom and kitten play, these terms sound quite abnormal and intriguing which is completely fine. Hence why I decided to dig a little bit deeper into this subject and found the answers that I thought are important for us.

It is important to know the differences between Furry Fandom and Kitten-Play and also to understand them without any prejudice.

Are Furry Fandom & Kitten-Play Related?

Furry Fandom is a term used to describe people who are fans of a media that features animal characters doing human things. It is a fan community where furries talk about art, movies and they also generate for themselves an anthropomorphized animal character “Fursona”.

Kitten Play is a term used to describe people who are into BDSM, relate, and enjoy behaving like animals all at once.

It is understandable to confuse between kitten play and furry fandom since there is certainly a crossover between the two worlds. However, kitten play is not linked to furry fandom; some furries are into BDSM and some are not. And kitten play can only happen in the BDSM context. People tend to muddle kitten play with furry fandom, but what we should all remember is that the two arts have different aesthetics, norms, and visions.  

What Makes You a Furry?

Being a furry is beyond costuming; in fact, costuming only emphasizes the identity of the furry.  So, in other words, a furry is any person who believes they have common traits with animals and mythical creatures.  “Only when they choose to identify as one”

Not all furries display their fursonas in the same way. Some see being a furry as a hobby and engage their fursona in online role-playing and chat, while others embrace being a furry as a lifestyle and behave their fursonas in full costume “Fursuit”.

If you want to dress up as Brian Griffin the famous dog in Family Guy that will make you a furry.

What Makes You a Kitten?

Being a kitten is to be involved in a pet play that focuses on a power exchange between the kitten and the master. Kitten play happens in the BDSM context and is not essentially sexual; some kittens will mix sex with their play and some will not.

The usual expression of kitten play revolves around a Dominant Owner and a Kitten, the Owner’s duty is to take care of the kitten and teach their kitten and the Kitten’s duty is to be obedient and submissive to their owner.

If you want to be treated as a pet, wearing collar/leashes, eating from a cat bowl, crawling like a pet that will make you a kitten.

Can You Be Both a Furry and a Kitten?

Anyone who identifies as an anthropomorphic character and enjoys kitten play is basically both a furry and a kitten. For example, a person who sexually plays with furry fandom generally behaves like an animal character that shares the same personality traits.  While a person who enjoys kitten play is more interested in including animal characteristics into their conduct.

In other words, a kinky furry who wants to incorporate animal characters into their conduct is a kitten.

Is It Embarrassing to be a Kitten or a Furry?

We should not forget that anything that stands out of the crowd can be seen as odd, and people who do not grasp the idea of these terms tend to be judgmental and critical about them.  People take time to warm up to new ideas, while doing my research I found parents questioning the behavior of their children who are in the furry fandom. I was moved by the furries who tried to reassure these parents and help them realize that furries were basically influenced by cartoons and that as any fandom, the furry fandom is a community where relating to an animal character is one of the keys that unites everyone.

We should not also be ashamed of being a kitten; we only need a partner with whom we feel completely comfortable and can trust with our kinks. Since kitten play falls under the BDSM category, it is essential to be in a trustworthy relationship, to feel safe around the Master, and relieve the stress. If you want to be a kitten, remember to set boundaries and keep in mind a safe word or color, depending on what you and your partner have decided, because one of the main concepts of kitten play is to exchange power, whether you are completely committed to the kitten play culture or identify with the lifestyle. You should feel empowered and your own meaning of being a kitten.

Is Therianthropy Included in Kitten Play and the Furry Fandom?

The furry fandom draws a few resemblances to the Therian community because some furries identify spiritually with anthropomorphic characters, however, the fine line between these two is that Therianthropy is only about spirituality and a psychological connection. While being a furry is about the aesthetic and visual identity.

Kitten play too is not a Therianthropy, since a Therian can associate themselves as an animal spiritually and might want to express their spirituality as a kitten, but kitten play is fundamentally a game of exchanged power, with different degrees of intensity that both the submissive kitten and the owner decide about to pep things up.

Conclusion

Now that we know the difference between the furry fandom and kitten play, we can agree that these two terms have nothing to do with bestiality and that the only similarity between these two worlds is identity.

To identify as furry and join a furry fandom is about breaking taboos and stereotypes without any shame. To identify as a kitten is about exchanging powers, and behaving like a kitten, and if you are a control freak you might want to relieve your stress and be taken care of by a master who will spoil you and gives you treats.

It is important to escape the tensions that we feel in our daily basis life, and if being a part of the furry fandom or being a kitten and enjoying BDSM can help then there is nothing wrong with it.

I can also say that being a furry is simply brave because it is a way to embrace your personality and own yourself; while being a kitten is more intimate and vulnerable which is also brave. This is where these two worlds clash.