FURRIES: The problem that never was

A topic has been brought up at the beginning of each school year for quite some time now, and local school administrators say it’s a “moot point:” Furries.

While the “scuttlebutt” on social media concerns students wearing cat ears and collars, being led about by leashes while snarling at others and using cat boxes at school, locally, it is not happening.

The general reply is, “We do not allow “Furries” in our schools.”

Staff members agree that the student handbooks do not address the topic of Furries in school head-on. However, the overall guidelines regarding acceptable behavior and dress code at both the elementary and secondary levels emphasize maintaining a respectful and non-disruptive learning environment.

According to the Clay Community School Corporation

Handbooks,

BEHAVIOR EXPECTATIONS:

The handbooks stress that students must refrain from any behavior that disrupts the educational environment or infringes on the rights of others. This includes behaviors like hissing, growling, or mimicking animals, which could be disruptive and lead to disciplinary action.

Engaging in any behavior that substantially disrupts or interferes with school operations could also result in disciplinary measures​.

HEALTH AND SAFETY:

Schools are expected to maintain a safe environment. Introducing non-standard items like litter boxes in bathrooms would disrupt this environment and raise health and safety concerns. Under existing policies, school administrators would swiftly address such actions.

The main point is that any behavior or attire that disrupts the learning environment at any school, whether it relates to “Furry” culture or otherwise, is unacceptable.

The administration confirmed that schools will enforce dress codes and behavior policies to ensure a respectful, safe, and focused educational atmosphere.

A FURRY HISTORY LESSON

Experts say whatever knowledge a person has about Furries usually comes from television or social media, which is probably wrong. This creates pervasive and broadly varied misunderstandings.

People who dress up as stormtroopers, elves, or superheroes and attend a comic book convention to have fun with friends might seem odd, but don’t have the misinformation floating around out there,

Furries doing similar things are interested in anthropomorphism, which refers to giving human characteristics to animals.

Experts who have studied “Furscience” for more than 15 years report that approximately 95 percent of furries develop their idealized, avatar-like characters inspired by positive characteristics like being sociable, funny, and less anxious. Being a “furry” is a way for some people to explore who they are, their gender identity, and sexual orientation, build social confidence and create like-minded friendships.

By identifying with animals, Furries are not different from those who attend costume-themed conventions.

WHAT ABOUT THE LITTER BOXES?

Furries’ fursonas usually involve wild, mythical animals, such as foxes, wolves, and unicorns, or hybrid species, such as unicorn-wolves; it is not always cats who are Furries.

These are not the kinds of species that would use litter boxes, anyway.

FURRY SEXCAPADES?

All kinds of people attend conferences for various reasons, sex included. Humans, including furries, can find “intimate connections” wherever they gather.

Experts conclude that sex could certainly be a part of the Furry Fandom, but even if the possibility was removed, the Fandom would survive.

Why? Most of the people participating in the Furry Community are well-meaning people looking for self-esteem, life satisfaction with relationship quality with others, and happiness; they are the same as everyone else in life.

THE HOAX THAT STARTED IT ALL

The beginning of the “cat boxes in school” debate is somewhat unclear.

However, the “litter box hoax” urban myth is believed to have started in late 2021 when a Michigan community began to share the rumor online. The school later debunked the rumor, but the rumor was shared on Facebook, where it spread and gained traction. By March 2022, the hoax picked up steam and gained attention during a debate on the floor of the Nebraska state legislature about a bill that would help school children with behavioral problems. Although the comments used during the debate were later retracted, by October, the Colorado Times Recorder quoted a Colorado representative talking about the ”litter box issue.’

Meanwhile, the rumor ended up on “The Joe Rogan Experience” podcast, a month later Rogan backtracked his claims during a later podcast, saying, “It doesn’t seem that there’s any proof that they put the litter box in there.”

However, the hoax continues each year, either at the beginning of school or sometime during the school year.

While the rumor/hoax continues to spread on various forms of social media, local school officials say if any specific concerns arise, they should be reported to school administrators for appropriate action​.

Northview Principal Chris Mauk weighed in on the topic.

“We have never seen anything like leashes or litter boxes in the bathrooms,” Mauk said. “That is not to say that a student could have something like a leash or ears in their possession, but if they are worn, we will address it.”