Editing Catgirl (section)

==Description==
{{multiple image
 | total_width = 320
 | align = right
 | image1 = Toronto 2015 cosplay (16931212845).jpg
 | alt1   = A young woman is wearing a maid outfit and cat ears and presenting a bottle of soda on a tray. 
 | image2 = Cosplay of Azusa Nakano 2024 FF43.jpg
 | alt2   = A young woman is cosplaying wearing cat ears and a school girl outfit and is posing for a photograph.
 | footer = Catgirl [[cosplay]]ers at fan conventions
}}

The term ''catgirl'' is applied broadly to characters with some (often minor or superficial) cat physiology, and usually with at least one of either cat ears or a cat tail. Depending on the narrative, a catgirl may have cat-like mannerisms or [[verbal tic]]s, or the ability to become a cat.<ref name="Planty-2020" /> A character who wears a cat ear headband, or who is momentarily depicted with cat ears to convey emotion, might also be called a catgirl within that context.

Whether a catgirl is correctly categorized as a "[[furry fandom|furry]]", or whether a person who appreciates catgirls is considered ''[[kemonā]]'', is hotly controversial to fans who do not wish to be associated with both furry and catgirl cultures. This is further complicated by the loose definition of a catgirl as a character who may or may not possess certain cat traits, raising the question of which or how many such traits can be added before a character is better sorted as a furry.<ref>{{Cite web |date=17 February 2017 |title=『けものフレンズ』大ヒットの理由とは？ ガチケモナーな東大研究者が語るケモナーの歴史とその深淵 |trans-title=What is the reason for the huge success of "Kemono Friends"? A hardcore furry researcher from Tokyo University talks about the history and depths of furries |url=https://news.denfaminicogamer.jp/kikakuthetower/kemono_friends |access-date=4 March 2025 |website=Denfaminicogamer |language=Japanese}}</ref>