Neidr Cat (Ni-der cat)

Sometimes a guest, never a pet, the Neidr Cat decides where and if it will spend time among the people. Wherever it appears the inhabitant of home or village, the workers in the fields, or the traveler in hot and dusty lands knows they have a reliable protection from the hidden things.
A Neider Cat hunts venomous snakes and will keep its territory free from them. It hunts rats as well, else the loss of the snakes would be a boon to the rats. 
Those who know the value of these beasts will ensure, if they receive one as a guest, that there is a dry place to sleep, water to drink and the freedom to come and go easily. A well-received Neidr Cat may choose to live in a place for years if its prey is sufficient and its treatment appropriate.
Generally quiet, this changes significantly during the breeding season, with both male and female loud in their signaling and their courting.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Short, forward facing ears, eyes usually surrounded by a mask-like darker hue. Their fur is composed of two layers, a long, somewhat spikey outer coat with a thick insulating under coat. The outer coat sheds rain, while the under layer is soft, and thick. It is both a good insulator and a protection against the bites of snakes or other creatures - it it hard for teeth or fangs to penetrate.
The four legs are strong, and from a short distance their attack speed is hard to avoid. They are not distance runners, but rather stalk their prey slowly, or wait in ambush with extreme patience.
A tail provides balance and communicates tension, eagerness, and anger to those who know the signs.
As the cat matures, they begin to develop a resistance to the venom of many snakes. This does not mean they can't be killed by a snake bite, but one bite during a battle will not do it.

Genetics and Reproduction

Reproduction is a matter of male-female mating. A female Neidr cat can successfully breed at one year. Litter size is commonly between three and six kits. The kits are dependent upon their mother for milk and protection, the father may be near, but is rarely involved in the protection or rearing of his offspring.

Growth Rate & Stages

At about two months the kits are learning to take prey, playing with dazed but living victims of their mother's hunting prowess.  At six months most of their time is spent honing their predator skills, returning to the vicinity of their mother rarely.  If they have not left on their own, at one year the mother will drive them away.
In the wild the cats live about six years or so. If they associated with people, they can live for ten or more years.

Ecology and Habitats

The cats favor warm places, with sufficient food resources for an abundance of rodents and the snakes that also prey on them.  These environments can be rocky deserts with enough rain for grasses to grow in places, fertile plains, and humid jungles.
They avoid the cold places and the wet, like swamps.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Mostly carnivorous, but will feed on grass and berries occasionally. This occurs mostly when their prey is scarce, or they are not able to eat the partially digested grasses of their prey.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Good hearing and excellent sight, this predator spots prey or danger using primarily these two senses. Smell comes into play but generally only at close range.

"This creature cannot be said to be domesticated, it comes and goes as it wishes. Honored is the household that includes the Neidr as a guest" -- Ontheway