As their beast/human appearance depends on the characters anthropomorphization degree, the attraction to furries relies on fetishing their feral characteristics. Like horse dongs, 30-min tied dog cumming, hunter/prey relationships, puffy paws. Or in my case, since as a child we had a fur rug, it seems to me more huggable or relate to that warm/fuzzy feeling of comfort. Scales are cold tho, but are great to the touch nonetheless.
So accepting their primal sex driven instinct could lead to bestiality, while having a folder with cat gifs can head to appreciate the cuteness of that damn fluffiness. It really depends on people likings, someone who's into submissive bdsm could relate to the first while a more "fatherly" or caring figure to the former.
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