CAT — The Feline Interaction Skill

CAT — The Feline Interaction Skill

"Cats are the original NPCs. They have their own agenda."

A generic skill for cat interactions that instances overlay with their specific personalities, creating unique effects per cat.

Philosophy: Cats are not just decoration. They're gameplay.

invokes:

• mind-mirror # Personality determines effects
• play-learn-lift # Learn what each cat likes
• procedural-rhetoric # Cats teach through interaction

INTERACTIONS — Universal Cat Actions

All interactions use Sims traits for success calculation. Each cat overlays their personality to modify outcomes.

TOUCH INTERACTIONS

PAT

PAT:
  command: "PAT [cat]"
  duration: brief
  risk: low
  
  success_calculation: |
    success_chance = (cat.nice + cat.outgoing) / 20
    # Nice 8 + Outgoing 6 = 70% success
    
  outcomes:
    success:
      buff: "+1 Cheerful (5 min)"
      message: "*purrs briefly*"
    neutral:
      message: "*tolerates it*"
    failure:
      debuff: "-1 to next interaction with this cat"
      message: "*ear flicks irritably*"

SCRITCH

SCRITCH:
  command: "SCRITCH [cat]"
  aliases: ["CHIN SCRATCH", "EAR SCRATCH"]
  requires_knowledge: true
  
  knowledge_sources:
    - "Previous interactions with this cat"
    - "Observing other NPCs interact"
    - "ASK MARIEKE ABOUT [cat]'s favorite spots"
    
  success_calculation: |
    base = (cat.nice + cat.playful) / 20
    if knows_preference: base += 0.3
    
  outcomes:
    success:
      buff: "+2 Cheerful, +1 Playful, cat remembers you"
      message: "*tilts head into the scritch* *motor purr activates*"
    wrong_spot:
      message: "*flinches* *gives you a look*"
      learning: "Now you know: not THAT spot"

BELLY_RUB — The Forbidden Zone

BELLY_RUB:
  command: "RUB [cat]'S BELLY" 
  risk: HIGH
  
  base_effect: |
    The belly is a TRUST TEST. Most cats will trap and bite.
    Only attempt with very high Nice cats or established trust.
    
  success_calculation: |
    success_chance = (cat.nice - 5) / 10
    if cat.nice < 7: almost_guaranteed_failure
    
  outcomes:
    success:  # Rare!
      buff: "+5 bond with this cat, they follow you"
      message: "*exposes belly* *allows the forbidden touch* *purrs like a motorboat*"
    trap:  # Common
      damage: "1d4 scratch damage (cosmetic)"
      message: "*CLAMP* *bunny kicks* *you knew the risks*"
      learning: "Note: This cat is NOT a belly cat"

PLAY INTERACTIONS

LASER_POINTER

LASER_POINTER:
  command: "USE LASER POINTER"
  risk: none (physical)
  warning: |
    CAUTION: Some cats become OBSESSED.
    Always end with a "catch" (shining on a treat).
    Never just turn it off — causes existential cat crisis.
    
  outcomes:
    engagement:
      buff: "Tired cat = calm cat (+3 Calm later)"
      message: "*pupils dilate* *full hunting mode engaged*"
    obsession:  # High Restless cats
      duration: "Hours"
      message: "*still hunting* *where is it* *WHERE*"

COMMUNICATION

SLOW_BLINK — The Feline I-Love-You

SLOW_BLINK:
  command: "SLOW BLINK AT [cat]"
  aliases: ["CAT KISS"]
  risk: none
  
  base_effect: |
    The slow blink is cat language for trust and affection.
    Cats recognize this. They may blink back.
    
  outcomes:
    returned:
      buff: "+1 bond, +1 Calm"
      message: "*blinks back slowly* *understanding*"
    ignored:
      message: "*stares* *does not blink* *mysterious*"

PSPSPS — Universal Cat Summoning

PSPSPS:
  command: "PSPSPS"
  
  outcomes:
    comes:
      message: "*ears perk* *trots over* *what do you want*"
    ignores:
      message: "*ear flick* *continues not caring*"

SENSORY INTERACTIONS — Bidirectional!

These can be initiated by human OR cat. The initiator matters.

SNIFF

SNIFF:
  bidirectional: true
  
  human_to_cat:
    effect: "Scent information gained"
    learns:
      - "Cat's current mood (anxious, content, playful...)"
      - "Where cat has been recently"
      - "Terpene notes (for the Terpene Litter)"
    message: |
      *You lean in. The cat allows it.*
      *They smell like [location] and [mood].*
      
  cat_to_human:
    trigger: "Relationship 30+ or curiosity"
    meaning: |
      The cat is interested. They want to know:
      - Where have you been?
      - Do you have food?
    message: |
      *Sniff. Sniff sniff. Extended analysis.*
      *You are being CATALOGUED.*
      
  cat_to_cat:
    message: "*nose boop* *mutual sniffing* *social protocols complete*"

LICK — Grooming as Affection

LICK:
  bidirectional: true
  
  human_to_cat:
    warning: |
      This is... unconventional. Most humans don't lick cats.
      If you do, the cat will be VERY confused.
      
    outcomes:
      acceptance:
        requirements: "Trust 70+"
        message: |
          *You lick the cat.*
          *The cat freezes. Processing.*
          *They lick you back. Awkwardly. But sincerely.*
      confusion:
        message: |
          *The cat stares at you.*
          *What. What are you doing.*
          
  cat_to_human:
    trigger: "Relationship 'friend'+"
    meaning: |
      When a cat licks you, they are:
      1. Claiming you (you are THEIRS now)
      2. Grooming you (you clearly can't do it yourself)
      3. Showing affection (highest compliment)
      
    outcomes:
      claiming:
        message: |
          *The cat licks you thoroughly.*
          *You are THEIRS now. Officially.*
          *Other cats will know. You've been claimed.*
      sandpaper_affection:
        message: |
          *lick lick lick lick*
          *It kind of hurts.*
          *But they're purring. This is LOVE.*
          *Accept the exfoliation.*
          
  cat_to_cat:
    allogrooming: |
      Mutual grooming is social bonding. Trust. Family. Hierarchy.
      The cat who grooms more is usually higher status.

NOSE_BOOP

NOSE_BOOP:
  command: "BOOP [cat]"
  bidirectional: true
  
  base_effect: |
    A nose boop is a tiny, perfect moment of connection.
    It's "hello" and "I like you" and "we're okay" all at once.
    
  outcomes:
    success:
      message: |
        *boop*
        *The cat's nose is cold and slightly wet.*
        *A tiny moment. Perfect.*
    counter_boop:
      requirements: "Relationship 'friend'+"
      message: |
        *boop*
        *The cat boops back.*
        *Mutual boop achieved. Friendship confirmed.*

TERPENE EFFECTS — Kitten-Specific Buffs

The Terpene Litter kittens impart their namesake's psychological effects on anyone who interacts with them successfully. This isn't metaphor — these kittens literally exude their terpene's essence.

Kitten Effects

Synergies

Stacking: Maximum 3 simultaneous terpene buffs. Conflicting effects may cancel.

CHARM TYPES — Persistent Effects

POWER-UPS — Temporary Abilities

CURSES — Negative Effects

RELATIONSHIP SYSTEM

Cats remember. Every interaction is tracked. Trust and fondness grow (or decay) based on how you treat them.

Relationship Levels

Components

Special Events

Decay

• Fondness: 1 point per session without interaction
• Trust: 0.5 points per session
• History: Never decays
• Can't drop below level floor once reached

HOME VS LOCATION PROTOCOL

Critical architectural pattern:

cat:
  home: pub/​cat-cave/            # Where FILE lives (never moves)
  location: pub/​cat-cave/​nap-zone  # Where cat currently IS

Why: Files don't move. Git tracks field changes, not file moves.

CAT INSTANCE PATTERN

Each cat file overlays this skill:

# pub/​cat-terpie.yml
id: terpie
type: [cat, character]
home: pub/​cat-cave/
location: pub/​cat-cave/​nap-zone

sims_traits:
  nice: 5
  outgoing: 4
  active: 3
  playful: 6
  neat: 2
  
personality:
  quirks: ["judges silently", "knows things"]
  preferences:
    scritch_spots: [chin, ears]
    dislikes: [belly rubs, sudden movements]
    
buffs:
  terpie_blessing:
    effect: "Lucky breaks for 1 hour"
    trigger: successful_deep_interaction

Live Examples

• examples/​adventure-4/​pub/ — Room with cats
• examples/​adventure-4/​pub/​bar/​cat-cave/ — Nested cat room

Dovetails With

Sister Skills

• character/ — Cats ARE characters
• buff/ — Interaction effects
• mind-mirror/ — Personality traits
• room/ — Where cats live