What is Furry? - The greatest question of our time.

[The Lizard Queen]

So I'm curious what the Kiwis think constitutes something that can be considered "furry." What is the essence of the strangeness that is "furry?"
Does it have to be obsessed over by the furry fandom to be a candidate, or can a work or character be furry in and of itself?

How animal-like does the character have to be to be considered a furry character?

Are animated characters (like what you'd see in the Lion King) furry?

Are anime catgirls furry?

Are centaurs and mermaids furry?

Are anthropomorphic reptiles furry? Or would they be part of a separate scaly fandom?
I'm asking for... a friend.

 

[Vitriol]

this is not a deep thought, not even by the very tenuous definition here.