I know there’s some debate and confusion over whether otherkin or the like can transform into their kintypes. I know if you believe in shifting involving the internal form or personal identity you might feel it’s possible to shift into a kintype, but I disagree and I feel that otherkin cannot shift into what they identify as.

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(When I say otherkin, therian, etc. I’m referring to most who identify as non-physically nonhuman or “other”, including fictionkin and the like. It’s just easier to speak of one or two communities than every community that exists out there for these things. )

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I don’t feel that this is the case because shifters are “the lucky ones” or anything like that, but because otherkin and shifters exist along different lines. I don’t think otherkin can shift into their kintypes, for several reasons:

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• It’s a nonphysical identification, meaning that if you’re otherkin you identify nonphysically as nonhuman. However, identity is nor physical reality, and it has no bearing on what you should be able to physically accomplish. Basically, if you’re otherkin and are not also a shifter, you are a human genetically and are not going to be able to shift. 

• Not all kintypes are physically plausible. Shifting into a wolf is possible, yeah, but what about demons and angels? Dragons? Mice and bugs? Aliens, cryptids and fictional creatures? Shifting is a particular process that occurs in particular ways, and the way shifting works rules out many modern-day kin forms. If it didn’t work this way then everyone who identified as nonhuman or kin would be able to shift, and we know that’s not how this works.

 

Otherkin are not physical shapeshifters. Otherkin is an identity, not a physical condition that involves shapeshifting. Many otherkin feel species dysphoria and want to transform, but can’t, and physical transformation shouldn’t be expected from them. 

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Shifters can transform, but many shifters aren’t the physical equivalent of otherkin:

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• Shifting is genetic, meaning that if you’re a shifter it’s been passed down from your ancestors. You shift into the form you’re genetically capable of, not necessarily what you non-physically identify as. This isn’t to say you can’t identify as it as well, but it’s not going to be like how otherkin identify as themselves, at least not inherently. 

• Shifting is generally limited to physical, real-world Earth-plane species of a reasonable human size. I know there’s controversy over whether mythical creatures can be shifted into, but even including them then there’s a limit on what can be transformed into. In short, even if you’re a therian who happens to also be a shifter there’s no guarantee you shift into your theriotype, and for most otherkin it will be impossible.

 

Shifters would be similar to vampires in that they’re the modern, real version of the mythological, historical creatures found in myth. It’s not a nonphysical identity or delusion for many shifters, instead it’s a literal physical shift from a humanoid form to an animal form. 

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Now, this doesn’t prevent you from being both. Yes, you could identify non-physically as nonhuman and also be a shifter (ex. wolf shifter and lion therian, pokemon fictionkin and cat shifter, etc.) but it’s very unlikely that you’d be both kin and shifter of the same species, and in that case it would be hard to untangle the kinity from the physical shifter aspect of yourself. It’s very unlikely that you’d shift into your theriotype, and it’d be impossible if you were trying to shift into something fantastical or otherworldly.

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In short, there are differences between kin and shifters. One is non-physical and can involve any creature in nature, mythology and fiction, and the other is genetic and physical, while limited to a certain amount of real-world animal forms.