Fossilized

Fossilized grants your cat +2 Brace, which reduces incoming damage by 2, and causes the cat to slide like a rock whenever it gets hit. The +2 Brace provides a consistent defensive bonus that mitigates chip damage and makes your cat slightly tankier. The sliding mechanic means that every attack that connects will push your cat in the direction of the hit, potentially displacing it from its current position.

Fossilized is heritable and can pass from parent to kitten through breeding. It can also be acquired through events or applied with a Disorder Syringe from the Organ Grinder. The sliding behavior changes how the cat interacts with incoming attacks, potentially moving it out of favorable positions or, conversely, sliding it away from area-of-effect danger zones. The slide distance likely depends on the force of the attack.

Strategically, Fossilized is a mixed bag. The +2 Brace is always useful, but the sliding can be disruptive for melee cats that need to maintain specific positions. Ranged cats or casters handle the displacement better since they can attack from wherever they end up. Fossilized pairs amusingly with Wobbly Cat Syndrome (25% chance to block and get knocked back 10 tiles) for maximum positional chaos. If you value predictable positioning, the slide mechanic may be more annoying than the Brace is helpful.