no spaceships, fur belongs to feline companion

This one is driving me nuts! The short, gray fur is the hard part. It sounds plausible, but I can't place it.

For despised and boarding ship off to a new world, I get:

X-Factor - Diskan Fentress - steals a ship to run away; despised (particularly by self) because awkward and ungainly; not furred himself, but ends in lost Xcothal up grooving with brothers-in-fur.

Secret of the Lost Race - Joktar - shanghaied from gamblers den in N'Yok; despised, we learn later in book, because a cross of Terran and Ffallian blood; don't think he was furred, but winds up on cold Fenris where need furs to stay warm and have to watch out for fierce furred wildlife.

Judgment on Janus - Niall Renfro - sells himself into indentured servitude off-planet; despised first because from The Dipple and then because heathen; turns green, but remains furless.

Star Guard - Kana Karr - boards ship as raw mercenary recruit; despised by some of his colleagues because a newbie, by rest of the known universe because an Earthling; no fur that I remember.

Sargasso of Space - Dane Thorson - boards ship as apprentice cargo-master; despised (well, at least dissed) by classmates because selected only for service on a Free Trader; no fur.

Once again, it's the fur that catches in my throat.

Would someone please put me out of my misery and come up with the solution!