Homebrew Cactus Cats Species Details
“We had a Cactus Cat drift through Dry Needle once, a few summers back. Name was Spur, I think. Spent half his time asleep on the saloon roof and the other half making a mess of every poker table in town. Claimed he was chasing a ghost train. Might’ve been lying. Might’ve been drunk. Might’ve been right.”
Born in the shadow of rusted billboards and howling winds, wandering Cactus Cats are thorn-furred, catlike humanoids driven by a deep love of stories, shiny objects, wild antics, and vanishing just before the consequences catch up.
These roguish drifters roam the Dust States and beyond, chasing legends, spreading tall tales, and collecting trinkets that no sane creature would think twice about. Every bootleg potion, bent coin, or broken revolver has a story, and a Cactus Cat wants to know all of them.
Wandering Wildcards
Most Cactus Cats are born in crumbling shantytowns, canyon hideouts, or nomad camps, where survival depends as much on charm as on skill. Raised on trickster tales and outlaw myths, they learn early to move fast, laugh often, and never bet on anything unless you are prepared to cheat.
But not all stay home. Some are born with a hitch in their paws, a kind of restless itch that no familiar wind can soothe. These Cats strike out alone, riding trains, tailing caravans, or following rumors like they are gospel. They make friends fast and enemies faster, and when things go south, they are gone like dust on the wind.
Story Traders
Cactus Cats love stories the way some folks love gold. A rusty gear from a fallen robot means nothing until you hear who it came from and what it did before the blast. That is value. That is lore.
They barter in tales, trade in secrets, and spin wild yarns for drink, shelter, or just the thrill of being heard. They will walk away with empty pockets and a grin, ears twitching from a fresh bit of legend whispered over poker chips or beside a campfire.
Cactus Cats will follow ghost trails, crash cult ceremonies, or sweet-talk Reclaimers just to see if a myth is real, or to make it real themselves.
Fleeting Fascinations
Cactus Cats are notoriously fickle. One week they are obsessed with a broken radio tower. The next it is a haunted truck stop or a bootlegger’s lost treasure. When they fixate, they go all in, plotting, climbing, eavesdropping, or charming their way into the truth.
But once the mystery is cracked, they are on to the next. They are not hoarders. They are connoisseurs of intrigue. A Cactus Cat may risk their neck to steal an engraved lighter, only to give it away for a good punchline or a free drink.
Drifters and Charmers
Though many become adventurers, not all Cactus Cats live dangerously. Some form traveling troupes, half performers and half hustlers, roaming the wasteland in patched-up trucks or colorful wagons. They tell stories, sell shiny junk, fix what they can, and steal what they cannot.
These Cats often perform in trade hubs and festival towns, putting on dusty shows for scraps of food, batteries, or just a good audience. They prefer silver tongues to silver coins, and they are more likely to barter with strange trinkets or strange truths than with straightforward gold.
Still, if they really want something, lock your doors. They will find a way
Cactus Cat Names
Cactus Cats usually go by nicknames they earn or make up on the road. Some change names frequently, others wear theirs like a badge. They do not use clan names, but they sometimes leave a calling card, such as a thorn-shaped sigil or a bottle cap marked with their initials.
Cactus Cat Names: Spur, Bramble, Ginny, Dustpaw, Cricket, Whiskey, Ringo, Sassy, Jinx, Pinto, Flick, Trouble, Latch, Blaze, Grit, Velvet, Skid, Buckle, Tumble, Tansy
Tabaxi Personality
A Cactus Cat might have goals, habits, and vices far stranger than most folk. Use the following tables to flavor your character beyond the usual traits, ideals, and bonds of their background.
Cactus Cat Obsessions
| d8 | My curiosity is currently fixed on … |
|---|---|
| 1 | A haunted landmark or ruin whispered about in ghost stories |
| 2 | A legendary outlaw or vanished gang |
| 3 | A rare bottle of pre-war booze |
| 4 | An old radio broadcast nobody else seems to hear. |
| 5 | A motorcycle said to ride itself |
| 6 | A lost stash of moonshine or vintage memorabilia |
| 7 | A cursed item passed around campfires |
| 8 | A traveling stranger who does not seem to age |
Cactus Cat Quirks
| d10 | Quirk |
|---|---|
| 1 | You hiss when surprised and laugh when lying |
| 2 | You hoard buttons, bottle caps, or bullets for no reason |
| 3 | You refuse to walk on paved roads, too obvious |
| 4 | You are constantly chewing something, like grass or a matchstick |
| 5 | You purr loudly when you are happy |
| 6 | You tell stories that may or may not be true, even in combat |
| 7 | You are always in debt, since you spend your money on lavish parties and gifts for friends |
| 8 | When talking about something you’re obsessed with, you speak quickly and never pause, and others can’t understand you |
| 9 | Your tail displays your emotions even when you don't want it to |
| 10 | You can’t help but pocket interesting objects you come across |
Cactus Cats Traits
Your Cactus Cat character has the following racial traits.Ability Score Increase
Your Dexterity score increases by 2, and your Charisma score increases by 1.
Age
Cactus Cats have lifespans equivalent to humans.
Size
Cactus Cats are shorter on average than humans and relatively slender. Your size is Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Darkvision
You have a cat’s keen senses, especially in the dark. You can see in dim light within 60 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can’t discern color in darkness, only shades of gray.
Feline Agility
Your reflexes and agility allow you to move with a burst of speed. When you move on your turn in combat, you can double your speed until the end of the turn. Once you use this trait, you can’t use it again until you move 0 feet on one of your turns.
Cat’s Claws
Because of your claws, you have a climbing speed of 20 feet. In addition, your claws are natural weapons, which you can use to make unarmed strikes. If you hit with them, you deal slashing damage equal to 1d4 + your Strength modifier, instead of the bludgeoning damage normal for an unarmed strike.
Cat’s Talent
You have proficiency in the Perception and Stealth skills.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common and one other language of your choice.
Comments