Stage 0: Human

We all start here. I don’t know what initiates one on the Path of the Cat. However, I do know that it is difficult to stop. The effects of the first stage of the Path of the Cat occur in two main areas: social and physical.
The social aspect of one who travels the path are drastically altered. One becomes mistrustful to an extreme degree. There are few who are trusted, but these few are trusted to the extent one trusts oneself. It is extremely difficult to become one of these few, and if one betrays this trust they are guaranteed a permenant enemy. One also finds a wide variety of moods. Some days this is exhibted with a playful and happy manner, other days one eats and sleeps away, and even others one becomes violent, attacking without provecation both physically and mentally.
The physical changes are also as extreme. One who follows the Path of the Cat becomes extremely agile. They recieve a near perfect sense of balance and can perform amazing feats requiring quick and precise movements. There are move obvious physical changes such as modifications of the ears and hand, and some even grow tails.
The time frame of all these changes vary from person to person. The order in which the changes take place is also erratic. After these changes have all occured on reaches:

Stage 1: Cat

This is often where the Path ends. However, for some, it is only the beginning. Approximately one quarter of those who develop tails continue down the Path. The first sign is a slight darkening of hair on the tail. They eventually develop into the well known ring pattern. As the rings darken, one gains the ability to jump amazingly high and amazingly far. It is not a result of increased strength in the legs, but something causes one to smoothly flow through the air. Another effect is that one tends to blend into their surroundings becoming nearly impossible to spot undesired.
Somewhere around a third will grow a “mask”. This “mask” is only visible to those who have reached Stage 1 on the Path of the Cat. This mask appears as a darkness surrounding the eyes. Although all who have reached Stage 1 have the skill for it, only those who are masked develop a tendency towards cleptomania. The results of these changes are:

Stage 2: Raccoon

There are rumors of those who have progressed beyond Stage 2, however these cases are so few, and the subjects become so powerful, that it is nearly impossible to get information. However, I shall continue my research as I progress along the Path of the Cat, and report back to you. If anyone else out there has any information on the Path of the Cat, please e-mail me. Remember: there is a difference between knowing the path, and taking the path.