The various areas of the cat’s body that are extra vulnerable to damage should be learned by a young warrior, so that they may be protected or exploited as the case may be.
Eyes
The eyes are extremely delicate. Claws can easily destroy vision, ripping through the delicate tissue of the eyes.
Damage to a single eye can effect depth perception and force a warrior into a period of re-learning paw-eye coordination. Damage to both eyes results in a one-way trip to the Elder’s Den.
Ears
While little permanently damage results attacks against the ears (excluding aesthetic) they are extreamely sensitive and thus greatly painful when attacked.
Face
The face, in addition to being extremely close to both eyes are ears, is a thin-skinned area that bleeds profusely and is immensely painful when clawed. While damage is not generally permanent, the damage of a broken jaw should always be considered. A broken jaw can limit a cats communication ability, and force them off proper food while the bones knit. A poorly set jaw can even permanently restrict food intake for a cat without assistance.
Throat
The throat houses the wind-pipe in addition to several major blood vessels. Clawing or biting to either of these important organs can result in death of cat (from asphyxiation or asanguination). Damage to the throat should be tended carefully, for even if the damage is incomplete when the Medicine Cat treats, over-activity before healing could result in more sever injury.
Spine
The spine is extremely vulnerable. Bites to the parts closest to the head can cause complete paralysis or death, while lower bites can result in a cat without use of the rear legs. Damage to the spine cannot be reversed by even the most skilled medicine cat, and will result in elder status for the receiving warrior. Bites are most effective, for the spinal bones provide ample protection from claws.
Tail
Damage to the tail, in addition to being quite painful, can cause longterm problems with a cat’s balance. Immediate attention from a medicine cat is needed for severe bite wounds to the tail, particularly those that result in complete or partial amputation of the appendage or a cat might bleed to death.
Underside
The underside of a cat is vulnerable becuase of the proximity to many important internal organs. Extremely deep cuts can damage the organs, while blows that are hard enough can cause lethal damage. It should be noted that infection can easily set in to the underside due to the proximity of open wounds to contamination from the ground.
Paws
The paws, filled with small bones and one of the cats primary weapons (claws), are dehabilitating when damaged. And due to the short bones in the paws, when broken they are extremely difficult to manage to heal properly, potentially causing permanent damage to a warrior’s weapon. Flesh damage to the paws can also interfere with fighting skill and even something so mundane as walking.
Legs
Damage to a warrior’s legs, while more readily healed than paws, can still be dangerous. The long-bones are easier to set properly, but it is difficult to secure the limb for good healing and keep a warrior still that long. There are also major veins and arteries that run through the limbs that might be damaged. Severe breaks may never heal properly and cause damage within the leg that might result in death.
Legs that fail to heal properly can limit mobility and force a warrior to the Elder’s den.