Caitian

Related terms:	Ferasa, Regulans
See also:	Andorian, Borg, Cardassian, Edosian, Ferengi, Gorn, Klingon, Medusan, Orion, Romulan, Tellarite, Vulcan
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A Caitian is an intelligent felinoid species first appearing in Filmation's Star Trek: The Animated Series, and represented by the character of Lieutenant M'Ress, voiced by Majel Barrett. The character has been included in numerous licensed Star Trek novels and comics over the years. Alan Dean Foster's Star Trek Logs adaptations of the episodes often included extra scenes and backstory featuring M'Ress and her family. The Logs also suggest that Caitians share distant ancestry with the kzin.

While two live-action Caitians were glimpsed as members of the Federation Council in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, it wasn't until the 2020 launch of the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks that another Caitian, Chief Medical Officer T'Ana (voice of Gillian Vigman), made regular appearances. The shortness of Dr. T'Ana's tail is yet to be explained. Other Caitians have been seen in this series.

An unnamed juvenile Caitian slave appeared in the first few episodes of Star Trek: Prodigy.

Canon Information

More information about Caitians can be found at Memory Alpha. For a time (1989-1991), the canonicity of the animated series was put into limbo, while Filmation was being wound down and the rights issues for all of the company's back catalogue of productions were being clarified.

Fanon

Additional information about Caitians in licensed tie-in media can be found at Memory Beta. Lincoln Enterprises used to sell a short biography of M'Ress (from the 1974 mail order catalog). The licensed book Worlds of the Federation (1989) suggests that Caitians call themselves "Ferasa". Decipher's licensed roleplay gaming materials referred to the Caitians as "Regulans" by request of then-Paramount/Viacom Licensing.

Kearstin Nicholson as the Caitian, Lieutenant M'Ress, in the Walking Bear, Running Wolf fanfilm, 2018

In the absence of consistent official information, fans have been quite imaginative when building backstories for Caitians. For example, a 1976 fan article by Theresa Holmes, in Sehlat's Roar #1, named the race "Mrraneti" and used references from the piece in her "The 'Les Mesdamoiselles Federation' Affair" serial in issues of Sehlat's Roar. The author said, "In presenting these thoughts on the physical, social and cultural aspects of the Mrraneti of Cait, I hope I have succeeded in conveying some of the essence of this mysterious people. If I have, that is enough for me."

Curt Danhauser has been creating and uploading his own animated episodes in the distinctive style of Filmation. Several of these feature Caitians. Go to Curt Danhauser's Guide to Animated Trek: New Episodes.

There is also keen interest in the Caitian species from various Furry fan groups and Star Trek cosplayers.

Kearstin Nicholson played a live-action M'Ress (right), opposite Wayne W. Johnson as Dawson Walking Bear, in a fanfilm by Glen L. Wolfe, Walking Bear, Running Wolf - A Star Trek Fan Production (Uploaded 5 January, 2018.) Both of these characters originated in Star Trek: The Animated Series.

Example Fanworks

• "Some Thoughts on the Mrraneti of Cait" article by Theresa Holmes in Sehlat's Roar #1.
• "Alien Cultures: The Caitians" in Atavachron issue V.2 N.1.
• "Make Way for M'Ress" article by Jordan Hoffman in One Trek Mind #61 (Uploaded 1 February, 2013).

Fanfic

• "Images of Flame: Cave of the Kzin" by Johanna T. Cantor in R & R #23. M'Ress has unique insights into the Kzinti which are crucial to the success of a mission.
• "Lt. M'Ress at the Federation Masquerade" by Mary Gress in Warped Space #5. Written in character as M'Ress, with the Caitian describing the Masquerade at the 1975 Star Trek Lives! convention.
• "... Not Quite a Love Story" by Damon Hill in Future Wings issue #2, Future Wings Flypast. A touching vignette about M'Ress and her views on human crewmates.
• "The 'Les Mesdamoiselles Federation' Affair (Part 1)" by Theresa Holmes in Sehlat's Roar #1 .
• "Star Trek: Ocelot" - stories by Tim Holtorf at Star Trek Fan Fiction blog. Concerning a completely Caitian crew on a starship captained by M’iaa T’Chall.
• "The Wrath of Ricardo Montalban" by Bill Hupe & Anne Hupe in Abode of Strife #3. A Caitian (sister of M'Ress) features in a serious Star Trek/Fantasy Island/The Price of the Phoenix fusion/crossover novel that asks, "What would have happened if the Enterprise returned to the Genesis Planet to find Khan reborn as Mr Rourke, and he has the staying power to raise Spock from the dead?"
• "Hoodwinked" by Ian McLean in Beyond Antares #18/19. In the weeks after Star Trek: The Motion Picture, several old friends return and a new Andorian first officer fills in for Spock on the USS Enterprise.
• "And Other Duties As Assigned: Special Delivery" by Mijan at The Introspective Geek blog. A Caitian Ambassador gives birth on the USS Enterprise.
• "The Sins of the Fathers" by Jim Price in The Clipper Trade Ship #39/40. A M'Ress love story.
• "Beyond the Barrier" by CatalenaMara (aka Kathy Resch) in California K/S #1 and Side by Side #23. The USS Enterprise and The Heart of Taenor, a Caitian ship, are on a joint mission to the galactic rim.
• "Within the Prism" by Kathy Resch in T'hy'la #1. The USS Enterprise crew explore an archaeological dig on a Caitian colony.
• "Samurai Kitty" by Paula Smith in Obsc'zine. A satirical vignette about M'Ress in heat on the Shore Leave planet.
• "You May Deny", a novel by Jean L. Stevenson. After the death of Stonn, botanical scientist T'Pring is assigned to a survey/scoutship with a tightly knit Caitian-Human crew.
• "For Enterprise" by Steve Wilson in Vault of Tomorrow #11. Arex and M'Ress do their bit to help Kirk steal the Enterprise.
• "First Contact" by Gerald Roberts (aka Anne Elizabeth Zeek) in Time Warp #1 and The Compleat Zeek. The story of the Federation's first encounter with the Caitians gives an insight into why James T. Kirk is the way he is. (Revised extensively and reprinted in Rising Star.)

Fanfic Archives

• Caitians - Archive of Our Own
• Caitian Stories - Wattpad
• "The Caitian's Paw" by RaceCloud - Fanfiction.net
• Shiboline M'Ress - Archive of Our Own
• "Surefoot" by Deggsy - adult-fanfiction.org

Fanart

• "Freighter Tales: The Misadventures of Mzzkiti" by Paul S. Gibbs & Bill Redfern. Starting out as an illustrated "Star Trek" parody in 1998, "Haul Trek: Misadventures of M'Iskiti" featured a Caitian and an Andorian as regulars. After Gibbs' death, Redfern voluntarily deemphasised the "Star Trek" elements and morphed their main character into Lieutenant Mzzkiti to avoid being ordered to Cease & Desist by Paramount.
• Kail Tescar's original TAS comics in the Filmation art style.
• M'Ress fan art - Deviantart
• M'Ress fan art - Tumblr
• Star Trek animated characters by drakefenwick - Deviantart
• T'Ana fan art - Deviantart

Gallery

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  M'ress the Caitian at the Masquerade, from Warped Space #5, 1975.

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  Caitian art from "The 'Les Mesdemoiselles Federation' Affair" by Theresa Holmes, Sehlat's Roar serial, 1976. (Thanks Randy Ash)

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  Inside page from Fleet #15, the "all art issue". Caitian by Mark Peters, 1977.

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  Caitian art by Jeff Sutton, from "The Wrath of Ricardo Montalban" in Abode of Strife issue #3, from, 1984.

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  Caitian featured on the front cover of Atavachron newsletter, issue V.2 N.1, 1986.

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  M'Ress cosplayer and Astrex members interviewed in Sydney, Australia, about The Firm's song, "Star Trekkin'", 1987.

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  Ian McLean's customized M'Ress the Caitian action figure meets Playmates Toys' Sulu, 1996.

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  M'Ress the Caitian appears in a fan-made Starship Exeter online comic, Home is Not a Place, 2004. (Thanks Kail Tescar)

Resources

• Lieutenant M'Ress Character Info page by Curt Danhauser at their Definitive Guide to ST: TAS
• Caitian - Memory Alpha
• Caitian - Memory Beta
• Caitian - Star Trek Online Wiki
• M'Ress - Star Trek Expanded Universe
• The Starfleet Handbook, Issue #11: Kzinti, Caitians, Tholians (1977)
• Toon Trek: References to Filmation's Star Trek: The Animated Series in latter day Star Trek tie-ins