Nal-Myo
| Nal-Myo | |
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| Felis catus praepes | |
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飛猫 - Korea Ecosystem Promotion Agency, 1967 | |
Nal-Myo (Felis catus praepes), commonly referred to as the flying cat, is a small domesticated carnivorous mammal. Nal-Myo is believed to have existed in the Haeseo region and other surrounding areas since about 8500 years ago, and is a species whose appearance and genetic information are very similar to cats. Nal-Myo has been domesticated by Indigenous peoples since a long time ago, when it was not presumed, and since the Haeseo pioneering, it has spread as a pet throughout Haeseo and the mainland of Joseon.
Description
Nal-Myo's genetic information and behavior are very similar to those of ordinary cats. Like ordinary cats, Nal-Myo mainly hunts for small animals, acts around its domain, and prefers high places. Nal-Myo's unique feature is its wings. It can use its wings to ascend high places, where ordinary cats or ground animals cannot climb. Using these features, Nal-Myo can turn high places into hiding places, or hunt animals that live high up there.
Behaviour
Nal-Myo, like birds of prey, can dive from the sky and hunt animals on the ground. However, the Nal-Myo is considered less capable of hunting flying animals, such as birds. This is because the Nal-Myo, which makes no difference in physical characteristics from ordinary cats except for its wings, has to spend a lot of energy maintaining stability in its posture during flight.
Like many cats, Nal-Myo does not live in groups, as they are also territorial animals. In environments where food is abundant but fierce hunting competition, Nal-Myo sometimes appears to collaborate in groups, but this is far from a permanent group.
Lifespan and health
Growing up in the wild, the average lifespan of a Nal-Myo is about 10 years. However, the average lifespan of a Nal-Myo under human periodic care is about 20-25 years.
Interaction with humans
Nal-Myo can interact with humans like other cats. Nal-Myo was domesticated by humans for at least 1,000 years and is now preferred as a pet in many places, including Joseon. Since cats, including Nal-Myo, are more independent than dogs, they are considered to be less friendly to humans and less expressive through behavior. However, this is a common perception, and most cats, including Nal-Myo, tend to follow their owners, recognizing them as high individuals. Raised by humans, Nal-Myo often provides humans with the outcome of their successful hunting or expresses familiarity by acting cutely to humans.