What Otherhearts Are & How to Know if You Are One

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Learn the difference between otherhearts and therians

Co-authored by Phenic Fox and Raven Minyard, BA

Last Updated: February 24, 2026 Fact Checked

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What is an otherheart?

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Signs You’re an Otherheart

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Otherheart vs Therian

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History

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Symbol

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Related Terms

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Video

If you’re involved in the therian or otherkin community, you probably know otherkin identify as non-human beings. But what if you only identify with something non-human? You might be otherhearted! In this article, we’ll explain what it means to be otherhearted and how to tell if you are. We also spoke to therian Phenic Fox to teach you the difference between otherhearts and therians, as well as other related terms.

What does otherhearted mean?

Otherhearted is a term used to describe a person who feels a strong connection or bond with something non-human, whether it’s an animal, character, or an inanimate object. Whereas otherkin identify as something non-human, otherhearts identify with it.

Section 1 of 6:

What is an otherheart?

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An otherheart is a person who feels a strong connection with another species or character. They’re similar to otherkin, which is a term for someone who identifies spiritually or psychologically as a non-human being. However, otherhearted don’t identify as this thing, but rather with it. They feel a strong bond that impacts their core self.^{[1]
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- Otherhearted people can form their connection with anything. While animals are often the most common, otherhearts can also feel connected to fictional characters and even inanimate objects. This connection is typically involuntary.
- An otherhearted person will strongly relate to and understand a non-human thing. They may even act like that thing, but they don’t actually identify as it.
- The object of an otherhearted person’s identification is their hearttype. For example, someone who strongly identifies with a cat would have a cat hearttype.
- Another term for “otherheart” is “otherkith.” “Kithtype” is another word for “hearttype.” They’re used interchangeably, and it’s up to a person’s personal preference.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Phenic Fox is a therian based in Guam. He has nearly 1 million followers across social media, where he shares his personal experiences as a cross fox therian.

Section 2 of 6:

Signs You Might Be Otherhearted

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You strongly identify with something that isn’t human. This could be an animal, a mythical creature, a fictional character, or even an inanimate object. You know you aren’t this thing, but you may see it as family, wish you could be it, or feel like you’re “almost” or should be it.^{[2]
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- Otherhearts describe their experiences in different ways. In general, though, if you feel an extremely strong connection with something (in any manner), you could be otherhearted.
Broadly speaking, both therians and otherkins identify as something non-human. Otherhearts often join these communities first but find they don’t truly fit the label because they still consider themselves fully human. They may have very similar experiences as therians and otherkin, however.
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You may yearn to be your hearttype. Even though you know you’re human, you might wish you weren’t. Some otherhearted people say they even experience “species dysphoria” because of how much they wish they could be their hearttype.^{[3]
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- Some people say they can see themselves as an animal in their mind’s eye. They often empathize or act out the behaviors and movements of that animal.

Section 3 of 6:

Are otherhearts and therians the same thing?

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No, otherhearts and therians are not the same. While otherhearts identify with something non-human, Fox says, “Therians involuntarily identify as a non-human animal.”^{[4]
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Phenic Fox
Therian

Expert Interview} Therians are more closely associated with otherkin, which is an umbrella term for people who identify as anything non-human (including mythical creatures).^{[5]
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- An otherheart can be a therian. For example, a wolf therian (someone who identifies as a wolf) could also be cat hearted (meaning they feel a deep connection with cats, but don’t identify as one).
- Do you think you’re a therian? Take our Therian Quiz to find out!

Section 4 of 6:

Otherheart History

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The term originated on the Daemon Forum in the late 2000s. The Daemon Forum is a forum associated with the book series His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman, in which daemons are animal-shaped manifestations of a person’s soul. In a thread about therianthropy, many members expressed that they related to therians but didn’t fully connect with the term. Many people then began using the suffix “-hearted” to describe their identities.^{[6]
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- The term didn’t really gain recognition until it reemerged in 2014, when it was perceived as people misusing the word “otherkin.”
- The first known use of “hearted” actually dates back to a thread on Alt.horror.werewolves, in which someone asked if they were “wolfhearted” because they adored werewolves and wolves.

Section 5 of 6:

Otherheart Symbol

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The otherheart symbol consists of a heart overlapping with a circle. People in the otherhearted community often use a symbol to show pride in their identity and to easily find other otherhearts. The most widely used symbol is a heart intertwined with a circle. The lines of the heart also intersect to create a diamond in the center.
- Sometimes, otherhearts use a similar symbol, which consists of a heart with an upside-down heart inside. This isn’t as common, however.
- The otherheart symbol was decided in 2017, after Tumblr user @aestherians made a post presenting 4 possible symbols. They put up a poll for everyone to decide on the symbol.

Section 6 of 6:

Related Terms

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Otherkin “Otherkin is just a person who identifies as a non-human in some aspect,” explains Fox.^{[7]
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Phenic Fox
Therian

Expert Interview} Some believe they have a nonhuman soul or were their kintype in a past life. Others offer a psychological explanation for their identity, often due to neurodivergence or dissociative identity disorder. Most otherkin acknowledge that they are physically human.
- “It’s [an] umbrella term,” Fox continues, “so therianthropy actually falls under the umbrella term of otherkin.”^{[8]
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  Expert Interview} In other words, therians are otherkin, but not all otherkin are therians.
- Think you might identify as otherkin? Take our Otherkin Quiz to find out!
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Otherpaw Otherpaw is a term used to describe people who engage in animal-related activities. This can include activities such as quadrobics (which Fox explains is running on all fours) or wearing animal-themed masks and costumes.^{[9]
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Phenic Fox
Therian

Expert Interview} They do not inherently identify with or as an animal (though they can) and instead enjoy playing or acting as that animal.^{[10]
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- Otherpaw is a niche area within the furry fandom, as well.
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Otherlink Otherlink refers to the voluntary identity as a non-human or fictional being. Unlike other communities under the otherkin umbrella, otherlinks consciously choose their identity. In rare cases, an otherlink can become an otherkin if their identity becomes permanent, especially involuntarily.^{[11]
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Alterhuman Alterhuman is an umbrella term for anyone who identifies as non-human or experiences an alternate form of humanity. Otherhearted, otherkin, and otherlink all fall under this category.^{[12]
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Furry “Furries are just people who have interest in an anthropomorphic animal,” explains Fox. “They usually show the interest by drawing these characters or making OCs [and] cosplaying them, which is what fursuits are.”^{[13]
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Phenic Fox
Therian

Expert Interview} People often get furries and therians mistaken, but furries do not necessarily identify as the animal they’re cosplaying, or their fursona.
- Some furries may also be therians, otherkin, or otherhearted, but they don’t have to be. Fox notes that it’s very common for someone to be both because dressing up as the animal helps the person feel more connected to it.^{[14]
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