He doesn't bother to hide the way his amusement grows at how the mabari suggestion bothers the Orlesian. Anders has no stake in the Orlais versus Fereldan prejudices; it's fun to needle both groups.

"From a pirate in Rivain? Generally I'd tell you to be careful about what you receive from Rivani pirates, but seeing as you're a Brother, you've not got the usual concerns." Which should be clear. Unclear, though, is what on Thedas is between a cat and a nug.

"Does it at least purr? Or have some of the good qualities of a cat, if it must have creepy hands?" Animals just shouldn't have hands. Ever.