History

The Kzinti have a history of conflict with Earth, as the two planets fought a series of four wars between them. Collectively known as the Earth-Kzin Wars, Kzin was always the aggressor and Earth was always the victor. The first of which was fought sometime after 2063, and the last was concluded by the end of the 2060s.

Following the signing of the Treaty of Sirius, the Kzin Patriarchy, including all Kzinti territories, were essentially demilitarized. The Kzinti were forbid from possessing any sort of weapons or starships -- except police vessels, which were used solely for the purpose of peace keeping.

In 2269, Kzinti archaeologists discovered two Slaver stasis boxes on Kzin. They turned one over to Starfleet to have transferred to Starbase 25; the second they kept for themselves, only to discover that it was empty.

Based on various lucrative finds in previously discovered stasis boxes, the Kzinti hoped to find a potentially powerful weapon, which they could use to defeat the Federation. Secretly supported by the Highest of Kzin, the privateers acquired a "stolen" police vessel to conduct their mission. If they were successful in their theft of the other stasis box, they would be heroes; if they failed, they would be repudiated by the Patriarchy.

On stardate 4187.3, a group of Kzinti privateers lured the Long-range shuttle Copernicus into the Beta Lyrae system, using the empty stasis box. They then captured the crew of the Copernicus on the surface of a barren ice planet, placing them in a police web aboard their privateer vessel, the Traitor's Claw.

Upon inspection of the stolen stasis box, the Kzinti discovered a Slaver weapon, whose functions they immediately began to test. By the time they reached the last function, the device, a sort of "smart computer", interpreted the Kzinti as enemies and self-destructed, killing three of the Kzinti privateers and severely damaging their vessel. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

That same year, Dr. Keniclius 5 cited the Kzinti's ongoing rivalry with Earth as a reason for the the necessity of eugenics experiments to improve the Human breed. (TAS: "The Infinite Vulcan")

Physiology

The Kzinti are large, carnivorous, cat-like beings that stand over two meters tall. Their anatomy is extremely well reinforced, as they possess multiple hearts, and vertical bracings along their ribs.

Some male Kzinti are capable of reading minds, however, psychologically, they are often unhappy and neurotic. Although there are no sure ways to prevent a Kzinti telepath from reading someone’s mind, it has been found that mental imagery of eating vegetation does dissuade them from making such attempts. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

Culture

The Kzinti are a prejudiced, war-like species who often speak of pride and honor. Males have no respect for males of herbivorous species, such as Vulcans, or of females of any species. This lack of respect stems from the fact that on their homeworld, Kzinti females are simply "dumb animals".

If a Kzinti is defeated in battle but allowed to live, that action is considered the ultimate insult. In such a case, a Kzinti must seek revenge by challenging the attacker to duel combat to before the attacked Kzinti is allowed to seek either medical assistance or reinforcements. (TAS: "The Slaver Weapon")

Background

Unlike the other alien antagonists of "Star Trek", the Kzinti species were an original creation developed independently of the television production, well before their 1973 TAS appearance. Science-fiction author Larry Niven's Kzin were introduced as part of his "Known Space" universe in "The Warriors", a short-story published in 1966.

Although Kzinti naming conventions were not explicitly discussed in "The Slaver Weapon", the naming conventions of the characters in the episode correspond to creator Larry Niven's descriptions of this in various stories. According to Niven, the Kzinti are not named at birth; they must earn their names through valorous deeds, typically that advance the interests of the Patriarchy. Unnamed Kzinti have lower status, and are referred to by the name of their profession, as was Telepath. Single named Kzinti have distinguished themselves in some manner. They often follow their awarded name with the name of their profession, as did Chuft Captain. Kzinti can accumulate multiple names if they continue to perform valorously.

The Kzninti made no further appearance in Star Trek after TAS: "The Slaver Weapon", and a brief mention in "The Infinite Vulcan". A female felinoid seen in Star Trek V was referred to in backstage information as a "Kzinretti". Further, a star map seen in several TNG episodes has a planet on it named "Kzin", and an unseen species mentioned in DS9 "The Adversary" were called "Tzenkethi", a near-anagram of "The Kzinti."

Apocrypha

The Kzinti in the Star Fleet Universe - who have traits setting them apart (no bat ears, sentient females etc) from the Kzin of Niven's works - have fought wars with all of their neighbors, the Federation, the Klingon Empire and their perennial nemeses, the Lyran Star Empire, and are long-standing allies - or more accurately, co-belligerents - of the Hydran Kingdoms. The Hegemony eventually formed a tentative accord with the Federation and allied with them in the General War, but they have been involved in major wars with the Klingons and Lyrans, such as the Four Powers War and the General War itself, in which a substantial region of their territory was occupied by their Coalition enemies and two full-scale assaults were made on the Kzinti homeworld of Kzintai. Eventually with Federation assistance they forced the Coalition forces from their territory, but after the War ended they were involved in a Civil War as a disgruntled faction - which had been opposed to the Hegemony's ruling Patriarch and sought refuge and developed a power base in the WYN Cluster, launched an attempted coup of the Hegemony itself in the WYN War of Return.

In the fictional variant of the Star Fleet Universe as represented in the games Star Trek: Starfleet Command II: Empires at War and Star Trek: Starfleet Command: Orion Pirates from Taldren, the Kzinti were renamed as the Mirak.

In the series of games based on Star Fleet Battles the Kzinti are a major race and despite having fought two wars with the Federation, later become their allies in the 18-year long General War. In that game another race, the Lyran Star Empire, are the Klingons' principal ally and the Kzinti's arch-enemies. The animosity stems from the fact that the Lyrans are also felinoid, but smaller in stature.