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“Now Old Deuteronomy just before Dawn In a silence you feel you can cut with a knife Announces the Cat who can now be reborn And come back to a different Jellicle Life!” From the Musical – CATS |
The Setting
Last Updated: September 22, 2001
The Opening Scene:
WHEN:
Year One begins three “Months” after the Jellicle Ball (seen in CATS).
WHERE: A fictional Junkyard somewhere in Southern England
(AKA the “Yard”).
WHO: Jellicle Cats whose characters are based on the
English Cast of the Musical.
Moon Festivals:
Artistic License: Please grant me the permission to break out of the
Munkustrap edict of “Jellicle Cats meet once a year.” If we restricted
ourselves to that, then we have very few events to play with, and no chance to
see what happens the rest of the year. In this realm, the Jellicle Cat does
meet once a year to deal with the “Jellicle Choice.” The rest of the Year, they
meet during the Full Moons to have a “Festival.” A Festival can have any number
of things. One of which is the idea of telling stories. OR, they meet just to
meet. By allowing Jellicles to meet during a full moon, you can have 12-13
stories per year!
The Jellicle Cat:
“What’s a Jellicle
Cat?” – In my realm, the Jellicle Cat
is a truly mythical being that is “Cat-like” in nature. Around Humans, a Jellicle
Cat appears like an ordinary House Cat (Felis cattus). Outside the Human realm,
they become humanoid, or, should we say, “felinoid.”
The
Jellicle Cat has an average lifespan of twenty (20) Human Years (Old
Deuteronomy lasted 26), if they live out their lives without being
“chosen.”
Gestation
period of a Jellicle kitten is about five (5) months after conception, and the
average “litter” is usually 1-2 kittens. A rare instance would be triplets.
Until a kitten reaches two (2) months, they are considered “infants” in Human
terms. From two to six months, they are considered “toddlers.” The “Kitten”
stage lasts until the kitten is about age 3-1/2 years old. At that point, they
enter puberty (“Teenager”) and become Toms and Princesses. At age 5 years, a
Jellicle Cat has matured to become an adult. Females then are termed to be a
Queen. At about age 15 years, Jellicles are considered to become “Seniors” (or
Elders of the Tribe).
A
Kitten’s fur colors usually are a blend of the adult parents, with the dominance
determined by the kitten’s gender. However, in cases where the kitten is a
Jellicle soul returning to a different Jellicle Life, the colors can match (for
the most part) the returned soul’s previous colors. A rare birth will produce a kitten of a pattern or coloring that
is not characteristic of the parents.
Pairings
in the Jellicle Tribe are basically monogamist in nature, and usually last
“until death does us part.” Periodically, there are instances where a Tom can
have more than one Queen. A harem of two is the most a Tom usually takes. A
harem relationship of more than two Queens is very rare. Failures in pairing
are not uncommon.
Courting
is usually demonstrated by intimate contact around the muzzle and neck of a
Jellicle as well as the sexual areas of the body. Like its domestic cat cousin,
the Jellicle Cat has a certain personal space. Non-Mates are allowed to touch
areas of the face and neck with a paw, but face-to-face contact is tolerated
only with one’s Mate or Intended. To fully enter into a “Jellicle Marriage,” a
couple will usually announce their pairing publicly at a Festival or Ball. The
term “I am yours” usually indicates that a public declaration is being made. To
be fully considered Mates, the partner has to reply the same way. Very few
relationships reach this stage with one member being uncertain.
Although
sexual activity is usually considered as private, certain amounts of public
displays of affection are tolerated.
The Jellicle Tribe is basically heterosexual, but not necessarily
restricted to “marriage.” Sexual pairings sometimes preclude a Mating. At
times, Queens and Toms will change partners when the pairing does not seem to
be right. A homosexual pairing is extremely rare due to the instinctive nature
of the Jellicle society. Such relationships are not usually tolerated well.
Fertility
is not always assured. Females require a certain stimulus to ovulate. Intense
emotions, such as a deep love between Mates, is one such stimulus. The
population level of the Tribe is another factor. If the Tribe goes below 14
males and 11 females or both, Queens will become fertile until the balance is
maintained once again. Jellicles believe that the number coincides with the
History of the Jellicles. It is believed that the Ancient Jellicles came to the
Earth with that number, and the Life Force of the Tribe remembers it. If the
environment is openly hostile for survival, the Tribe usually will slow down
fertility. Serious injury or malnutrition will usually cause a female to absorb
a kitten.
Year One: The Jellicle Chronicles
The first story chronicled was the month of August after
the Jellicle Ball that sent Grizabella to the Heavyside Layer. In this realm,
the Jellicle Ball is the Full Moon closest to May 1st, the high
holiday of Beltane in the Celtic Calendar.
All further Chronicles begin on this month. Why? This is the month I
started writing the stories contained in this series. Ergo, August is Chapter
One.
All other Years are based on the relationship of that
book to this time period.
Interpretations:
The characters and their personalities and their
relationships are my personal interpretation and should be viewed that way.
Please, again, respect my viewpoints, and I will honor you with the same. I
realize that I may be incorrect in many areas, and you may contact me should you find the need to share your views, your opinions and your
corrections. However, I do caution you that this is my realm, and I can use my
artistic license here as well. If you need to be corrective, or feel that my
interpretation is incorrect, I ask you also to be respectful in your contact.
All
I really ask of you, the reader, is to read and enjoy the stories. Without you,
a storyteller cannot exist.
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IN MEMORIUM To the memory of my dear cat: Catherine (“Katie”) AKA – K. T. (“Kitty Trouble”) Born 1990 and hand raised by my wife, Sandra. Died September 22, 2001 of unknown causes. We will miss your love and affection. |
