@thethinktanker personal opinion, it matters what the "base" is and what it's defying stereotypes by going towards. Anthropomorphic animals are base animals that defy animalism by looking/acting/talking like humans, even if just a little bit. That's what I consider furry. Humans that look/act like animals I don't. At least as a rule of thumb.
I've done the lying awake at night thing far too often.