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During Yoda’s long career as a Jedi, there has been much speculation concerning his species. As few members of his species are known to us, and Yoda seldom speaks of himself, information is hard to come by. However, the evidence we do have leads to a singular candidate: the cat.
Several species around the galaxy are described with the term cat; the loth-cat and tooka being perhaps the best known. The origin of the name, the archetypal cat, is lost to us. However, it was a popular subject in ancient media, so many sources are available in the Archives. From these, we may draw the following comparisons.
Cats were predators of small prey; a behaviour we can observe most clearly in Yoda’s young compatriot Grogu, with his enthusiastic pursuit of amphibians. Furthermore, cats hunted by stealth and ambush, a trait best embodied by Yaddle, the long-serving chief of the Jedi Shadows. Although there is a slight difference in biome, with cats preferring dry climates while Yoda’s species favors humid ones, we may infer that the two occupy the same ecological niche. Both species share physical adaptations for the role, such as short stature, large eyes, and large, mobile ears – as well as a willingness to use their supposed cuteness to their advantage.
Cats also had a reputation for attacking shins and ankles, a behaviour which Yoda shares, as many of us can attest from personal experience. Other behavioural parallels include spending large portions of time at rest, combined with bursts of speed and large leaps; basking in warm places; the aforementioned hunting, and the ability to survive high falls. This last, of course, is a skill of all Jedi, and as cats were also reputed to see spirits, we may include a strong connection to the Force sensitivity in the list.
Another shared trait is a penchant for mischief. In cats this manifested in such acts as stealing food or knocking cups off tables; Yoda displays it in cryptic statements, pranking his students, and also knocking cups off tables (such as the one my sister gifted to me). Such behavior is typical of species without hierarchical social structures, and thus no instinct for manners. As a predatory species, cats were also known to have different hormonal paths from humans, causing them to experience anger and fear differently on the physiological level. Such differences may underlie the ongoing debates about interpretation of the Jedi Code.
Through these many points of evidence, large and small, the similarity between these two species is apparent. It is therefore demonstrated: Master Yoda, you are a cat.
With respect,
Your padawan,
Yan Dooku
I can’t believe you used my Archives for this. – Jo