History

Therianthropy refers to the metamorphosis from human to animal. Such as werwolves, werecats, etc.


Lycanthropy (ONLY applies to Werewolves)
Most werewolves are made, not born. The most frequent method in most contemporary literature is by infection - when a victim is bitten (or sometimes scratched) by a werewolf at the full moon, he or she also becomes a werewolf. In traditional legends, however, werewolves were more commonly created through magical means. Some evil people use spells or curses to turn themselves or others into werewolves. Common magical and supernatural means include donning the pelt of a wolf, using special potions or ointments, drinking from the footprint of a wolf, or making a pact with the Devil. People can also be born werewolves, though this is rare in most versions of werewolf lore. Often, a family curse is involved in these cases.

Although the best-known way to kill werewolves is by silver bullets or other silver weapons, this method is not a common feature in werewolf folklore and was actually popularized by Hollywood's Wolf Man films. Unlike vampires, werewolves are not harmed by religious artifacts like crosses or holy water. However, in many versions of the lore, they can be repelled, injured, or killed by the plant wolfsbane (Aconitum), though in other versions, wolfsbane could be used to cause the transformation.

Because the transformation to wolf form is often considered painful and difficult, werewolves are often attributed with unusually high pain tolerance and accelerated healing powers. Injuries experienced in one form may or may not remain in the other, and a frequent compnent of werewolf legends is that the corpse of a werewolf killed in wolf form will revert to human form soon after death. Werewolves are also often credited with unusual strength and/or speed. These traits may or may not transfer to the werewolf's human form. In some lore, the human form of a werewolf may experience enhanced senses or exhibit other animal traits, especially when stressed or angered.

Although most people believe that a werwolf only transforms at the full moon, they can also transform at will, save for the full moon. The full moon is the only time that it is not at will.


Werecats
werecats are shapeshifters who are similar to werewolves, except that they turn into some species of feline instead of a wolf. The species involved can be a domestic cat, a tiger, a lion, a leopard, a lynx, or any other type, including some that are purely fantastical felines.

The word "werecat" was not coined until the late 19th century, so it was not directly used in legends from earlier eras, only by later folklorists' commentary.



(Under construction, will add more as soon as I get mroe information)