It's her 'fursona'. Image: CatsSource:BodyAndSoul

There is a new wave of people who are choosing to not identify as a part of the human race, in favour of aligning themselves with animals. Now, a Melbourne school is navigating this new territory.

A Melbourne private school is allegedly supporting one of their Year 8 students as they begin their journey of identifying as a ‘cat’.

The non-verbal student is supposedly very bright and identifies with what is now known as the ‘furries’ subculture online.

While it is a relatively new phenomenon, researcher Kathleen Gerbasi (PhD in Social Psychology, out of the University of Rochester, New York) was the lead author on a paper on it way back in 2008. The paper defines the ‘furry identity’ as someone who feels a deep connection, or even assumes the characteristics of a particular species of animal. This is commonly known as their ‘fursona’.

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Furries exist at an intersection between anthropomorphism (giving human attributes to animals) and zoomorphism (giving animal attributes to humans). The fandom online is interested in anthropomorphic animal characters in literature and art – examples of animals showcasing human-like intelligence, clothing and movement (think a talking cat walking on two legs).

While the school in question was unable to confirm that the young girl attended their premises, they did say that the mental health of their students is always dealt with ‘uniquely’.

The Cat in a Hat is a good example. Image: The Cat in a HatSource:BodyAndSoul

A source told the publication, “No one seems to have a protocol for students identifying as animals, but the approach has been that if it doesn’t disrupt the school, everyone is being supportive.”

Adding, “The behaviour is being normalised. Now more and more people are identifying as whatever they want to identify with, including ‘furries’.”

It comes after a Michigan school in the US fiercely denied that they had put a litter box in the bathroom for students who identified as cats.

Previous studies have found that there are certain indicators of people who are more likely to identify with the furry community. In general they tended to be male, like cartoons as a child and enjoy science fiction. Some choose to wear fursuits, although the ABC reports this is only between 20-25 per cent.

"They might have ears or tails or wear a dog collar, but a lot of furries don't wear anything like that at all," Sharon Roberts, an associate professor of social development studies at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada told the publication.

While the reason why some people identify as other than human is not fully known, there are some suggestions that it offers an alternative way to fit into a society that doesn’t always make room for everyone.

“It definitely draws an alternative type of person but, having said that, when you put a group of people together who have the same interest, no-one's strange or different," self-professed furry Ella Collins told the ABC.

Dr Roberts said that her research shows between 12 and 17 per cent of furries identify as trans and between 5 and 15 are autistic. Some data has even shown as much as 70 per cent of furries identify with the LGBTQIA+ community.

While these are early and long bows to draw, it’s obvious there is much more understanding that needs to take place to fully realise how to support the people in this community.

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