I say go for the latter. Why keep something that's just going to gather dust when you can make someone ELSE happy, and maybe fetch a nice profit in the bargain?

Well, if you still care for the character deeply, I say keep them! Even if they aren't your mascot, or something you feel connected to, you can have them as just a character!
And if you have a costume of them, its still fun to play that character. :) But if all that character would do is sit around, collecting dust and never seeing the light of day...its in my opinion to give them/sell them to somebody who would make use of them.

I've seen lots of people take old fursona's, for instance, and just keep them as side characters, while creating something new they can relate to. :3

I had something similar happen with me, when I changed over from being known as a peacock character and switching to a simple coyote.
My advice is to follow your heart!

I personally wanted my peacock character to stay alive, and even though she didn't represent me any longer - she did help me grow as a person. I didn't feel like keeping her on a shelf, just because I wanted to provide the possibility of a growth opportunity for someone else. And at that point, I didn't mind what happened with the character.

I also know a few suit makers who had original characters and decided to part with them, by selling off the designs. It is an easy way to get your name out there...but you probably don't need that, as I'm sure you have a great following already!!! :)

Follow your heart, it'll lead you down the right path for you.

Well, I know exactly how this feels! When I joined the fandom I already had a character and immediately had a suit made of her. I used it for a couple years, had a lot of great memories, but eventually, she just didn't feel like me anymore. I designed a new character, had a new suit made, and my first suit saw less & less use. Now, the only use it's seen in over a year is when I let suit-less friends borrow her at events. I have tried to sell it, even went so far as having a buyer once, but I just couldn't bring myself to do it. It feels like I'm selling a part of myself, even though it's just a pile of foam & fabric. I feel like I would be letting go of part of what makes me who I am. I think it's because our characters are designed to be representations of ourselves, and not just costumes. I know it makes sense to sell it. I don't have the space and it would bring me some cash, but the less rational side of my brain just can't part with it.

It really just depends on you, I think. I have some that I can part with and want to see used, and others that I can't bear the thought of someone else using, and changing it to fit their own needs. If I want it to stay the same as I had it, then I won't pass it on.

I have a Siberian Tiger mascot suit and I love it, thinking of getting a fursuit version of him someday. I still have it to this day, but most days I don't up.

I just had this happen literally! I ended up selling the character so that someone else could give him the attention he deserves.

I'm at that exact dilemma right now :/

I'm super broke tho, so I'm probably gunna sell.

I've had a similar dilemma; I have an old suit of my main character. The suit did not age well so it is retired but the character is way to dear to me to give away. I sold or gave away the more generic parts of the suit like the feet and paws, but I will be keeping the head. Maybe one day find a way to mount it or something and make it a wall piece.

But I guess another option would be altering the suit so it no longer looks like your character, that way the suit can still have some life but without being related to you or your character.

Eh...I duno how I feel about that, maybe indifferent?
I've never sold a character or given one away. A creature I've put time and effort into creating, and having a story for, I could never get rid of them.

I went through the whole "this character has absolutely no relation to me what-so-ever" with my main character, Tak. However, over the past year, I'm realizing more and more that this character is the pure embodiment of my childhood and inspiration in many ways.
Sometimes you need to put the character aside for a bit to remember why you made it in the first place! ^u^

This is a tough one. Personally I would probably keep it. I have a hard time getting rid of old characters that i put a lot into. I wish I could give you better advice than this but it all depends on your perception of it. As silly as it is I view these things kind of like an old stuffed animal or blanket you had since you were a child. Hard to get rid of since you put so much effort, feeling and love into it but now all it does is sit around in the corner collecting dust. It all depends on your perception of whether or not you will feel guilty or miss it once it is gone.

I'd keep it. People get confused so easily. You wouldn't want people thinking someone else was you!

My opinion, keep it. while your mascot might change, the character and what it represents doesn't. Thats kind of why Calico has a not Calico suit. The char still means something to you, is still a part of you, and can still be used. Just might not be your main one.

I agree with this post...

Mascots are fun in there own way but it never feels like you you act the part of the mascot but some parts its not you...

People will have a set mind of what the character is like and that's what they're famous for. If you want to continue on the legacy, it has to be someone who is good at imitating the same movement and personality. Some people may catch the difference, others may think it's the same person. That's how I usually see it otherwise. When I asked someone if I could wear their costume, I asked them how they act in that suit. I personified it and matched the personality the way they described it.

In your case, we all have different personalities and we portray them through the characters we have, or our fursonas. If somehow that it doesn't feel right that the character should act that way, it doesn't hurt to change it up to the personality you feel is right for it. Also, because you don't feel like the personality you act out while in suit isn't you, it's all part of a second identity. Just like someone with multiple personality disorder, they're still the same person, but have different personalities. You are somehow experiencing the same thing, but with mascot/fursuits. I don't usually feel like myself whenever I am in suit. If you're uncomfortable that you don't usually act that way out of suit, don't overthink it. It's just the way of being a mascot/fursuiter.

Treat it like a boyfriend you've fallen out of love with, but don't have the heart to let him go. And then start CHEATING on him! Start wearing other suits and let your mascot see that you're having lots of fun with them! Eventually it'll get the idea and be the one to make the decision to leave and, and..... awe no.... that's a bad idea :(

Ooh ooh wait I know! Look on youtube for your favourite fursuit dancer and then secretly sell your suit to them but don't tell anyone! That way when they're dancing, furs will see it and think it's you! And... oh... no that's not a good idea either. I'm so bad at things like this :(

Might be bad at ideas, but great for laughs!

Tsk, oh youuuuuu