As someone who is writing a story which does have furry characters, as well as characters which are Weres (like a werewolf, werecat, etc.), the main focus should be on how they are humans, but different, rather than a humanoid which looks like an animal on two legs.
Now I’m a fanfic writer turning into a writer of an original series, so take my advice with a grain of salt. But for me, if you are describing the characters, try to give clues that they are different, even though they look human.
Let me give you an example I’m planning to use. There is one character who is a were-cat, a human that can change into a cat humanoid. Even in his human form, he will have abilities that a cat would have. So when he hears something, his ears will prick up. Or when he checks items, his pupils will widen to get a closer look.
So while you may not like what I’m writing, I feel that if you want a character that is animal-like, but not a furry, focus on their abilities and then their looks, rather than the way they look over their abilities.
By the way, if anyone can add to this advice, please do.
