Manly Danly

They’re not based on a real culture. They’re based on cats. Anyone who has a cat knows they’re mischievous, thieving, sneaky little bastards who love treats, catnip, fighting, climbing, and jumping around. They’re clever, curious, mysterious, and love basking in the sun and hunting in the shadows.

You cannot, in good faith, insist that a group of fantasy characters in The Elder Scrolls aren't based on any real world cultures, because the entirety of the Elder Scrolls lore is blatantly ripped from real world cultures. You cannot look at the clearly Scandinavian based Nords or the Rome/Mediterranean based Imperials or even the Orcs, which have references to historical caricatures of Mongols, and make a declarative statement that that the Khajiit are somehow exempt from that. The game developers even went as far as to make a fantasy slurs based on a real life slurs. Do you think Todd Howard pulled "snow-back" out of his ass? Or do you think he had a real life term he was inspired by?

If you truly believe all of Khaliiti traits, every one of them, is simply based on felines, then allow me to suggest a few questions to ask yourself: Why would the Khajiit, one of only two beast (re: animalistic) races, be subject to enslavement? Why are they depicted as living nomadic lives out of caravans, which aren't allowed in cities? (After all, cats in real life are cherished in areas with large populations for pest control. And their colonies are based in territory.) Why would a race of simply Cat People be so concerned with having their more "elven" appearing members be the most common diplomats, as per the UESP? (Since when has a real life cat been insecure about being perceived as more human?)

Cooling off, cuz she got hotter

If you look, then you can spot her

Baby otter, in the water

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Baby otter, in the water

Quite confused, a bit a bother

Back to land, where things are proper